Merlin Essay

Camera 

The use of a high angle camera shot whilst Merlin is exiting the castle and walking down the stairs to the market is representing how merlin is at a lower authority and is being looked down upon by you the viewer in the castle. This therefore suggests that the director has used the transition from a level shot to a high angle shot to represent how people quickly judge and relate people to class stereotypes. During the transition from level to high angle merlin is represented as a traditional middle class/lower class person, as the level angle suggests that he believes that he belongs in the higher class society (castle), however we then see him being represented as a less powerful and lower class person when we see the high angle shot showing him as lower and smaller from the higher class point of view.

The fight between Arthur and Merlin signifies the contrast between their classes.  It is shown when a majority of the time Merlin is on the floor looking up at at Arthur like how he metaphorically looks up at him because he is a higher class and Arthur is lower.  This is shown from the high and low camera angles.

The opening scene of Merlin looking through someone else’s possessions shows him as being the main focus, positioned in the centre-third of the shot. This emphasises that he is currently the most important character – however, once the lady enters, who is clearly of a much higher social class as can be told by her clothes, this changes and he is pushed to the side slightly. This shows the shift of power and importance, making the lady the main focus instead of Merlin. 

EDITING

The use of quick fast pace shots of Merlin’s movements inside of the Ladies chamber suggest that he does not belong. The quick short shots create a feeling of being unwelcome and that Merlin is out of place. The lady is clearly of a higher class and would not expect someone of a lower class like Merlin to be there. The use of the fast pace quick shots suggest that Merlin should be quick about his actions as otherwise he will be caught. 

In the clip, special effects are used to alter the representation of class and status. During the fight scene, special effects are used to make Merlin’ eye glow and make objects move on their own. By giving Merlin magical powers it gives Merlin more control and power in the situation. This subverts the stereotype that lower class citizens do not have any power or control over upper class people. This makes the audience support and feel happy that someone of Merlin’s low status is able to gain power over an upper class citizen.

SOUND

The use of diegetic sound in the Merlin clip portrays class and status through the lack of sound compared to the chaos of sound.  For example in the first scene Merlin is walking through the castle and there is a lack of sound. The only sounds in these scenes are quick dialogue and loud footsteps as it shows power through volume and quick authoritative speech. This is contrasted to when Merlin walks outside the castle into the open market as there are sounds of animals, wet footsteps, as there is mud underfoot, and heavy chaotic chatter. This shows the difference between the higher class and lower class through sounds as the higher class have quick and powerful sounds compared to the chaotic and cluster of the lower class sounds.    

The use of the dialogue in the Merlin clip adds to the attitudes towards class and status pre- fight scene Merlin is bold towards Arthur and challenges him in attempt to argue. This shows to the audience that merlin is not threatened by Arthurs higher status, however Arthur and his knights are amused by this and the stage directions of laughter makes a mockery of Merlin’s character particularly because Merlin is clearly of a lower status. The laughter is visibly supposed to belittle Merlin’s character in this clip; however Arthur’s action can instead make the audience feel discontent with how Arthur treats Merlin as appose to feeling sympathy towards Merlin. Especially because of this disappointment with him living up to social stereotypes.

The use of sound in the Merlin clip shows representations of class and status through the sound of the regal female character’s footsteps. The sound of her footsteps are exaggerated to sound louder than what is natural through the use of foley. The exaggerated foley footsteps create a perception to the audience of the woman possessing higher status and power than Merlin’s character. Furthermore, the foley exaggerated footsteps create the notion of Merlin being of a lower class and status, reflecting the stereotype which is laid in this clip. This is done through the woman’s footsteps being the loudest, most overpowering sound in the clip (louder than Merlin’s sounds). Overall, the woman is made to seem the most authorative in this scene through the use of sound and foley.

When the lady in the purple dress enters the room, the loud non-diegetic music that was previously playing stops. Having the music stop in time with her entrance emphasises her importance and could suggest how the upper-class are more important than those in the lower-class. This is done because by removing the music, all distractions are taken away and the audience's focus is on the woman and her conversation with Merlin. It also shows how someone of a higher class can cause disruption to a situation so easily- like the woman caused a disruption to the scene.

MISE en SCENE

In this film clip, the lighting and use of colour is important when assessing the representations of class and status. When inside the castle where all of the autocracy live, the lighting is dull and the colours are bleak which shows how the life of the wealthy are boring and uneventful even though they are privileged. This contrasts with the bright light and bold use of colours which are shown outside. By doing this, it represents the poorer part of the country in a good light, making their lives seem more adventurous and interesting. 

In the castle courtyard, the setting is very grey and dull, but also very clean. The only people in this shot are people in expensive clothes and of a higher class/more importance. This contradicts the shot of the outside market where everything is a brown/dirty colour and where knights stand out in front of the lower class who are in rags or loose clothes. The grey setting in the courtyard carries the connotation of the higher class being boring and having to follow certain standards, whereas the market is much busier and there is a lot more happening in the scene. This could imply that there is more freedom in this area for the lower class. The clothing/props of the characters also match the setting that they are in, a grey/lighter colour in the castle courtyard, highlighting the upper class and the brown and darker colours (uglier) in the market area, highlighting the lower class and showing a clear difference between the two.

The women is seen as rich and powerful. This is shown to use with the use of her purple dress in contrast to Merlin’s dirty, dark clothes. The women’s dress is seen in a rich material that looks new and clean. This dress would make the audience believe she has money and power as her dress looks well-made and new. This is a contrast for the audience for Merlin’s clothes which is dark clothes and look clean and used. His clothes don’t fit him which furthers the point that he his lower class to this women. The audience would pick up the contrast of the women’s dress fitting well compared to Merlin’s clothes which fall of him. This portrays to the audience that merlin is more stereotypically lower class compared to the women who is seen to have a higher status due to the quality of her clothes compare to his.

The actor playing the poor character is scrawny and youthful looking which shows us how he cannot afford a well-balanced diet to grow and develop properly. His baggy clothes help emphasise his lack of figure and wealth, as someone with money would be able to buy tailored clothing. The rich character is the polar opposite of the poor one, as he has a muscular build and a straight posture with tight fitting clothes and even armour. It allows the audience to really see the stark contrast between the rich and poor when they are standing next to each other, and also subtly shows how the rich have a higher social status over the poor.