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Friday, 11 September 2015

Representation of Disability in 'Silent Things' - Zoe Cameron-Waller


The first extreme long shot acts as an establishing shot to display a beach setting, which connotes peace, relaxation and fun. The low key lighting however, tones down this notion of fun and peace, and instead adds a miserable touch to the setting. The diegetic sound of the sea creates a tranquil setting, and the diegetic swooping sound suggests perhaps a kite flying around, and this is confirmed by the kite prop that comes into the frame, this is possible due to the extreme long shot that extends the frame and allows the audience to see everything. Gradually, slightly distorted non-diegetic music begins to accompany the shot, creating a faintly sinister atmosphere.
The camera then cuts to a mid-shot of a male and female character and the distorted non-diegetic music suggests there’s something slightly different about these two character’s, which could be representing disability in these two character’s. The male’s costume consists of black jeans and a grey shirt which looks slightly scruffy with a jumper tied around his waist. This creates a casual and ordinary look, perhaps representing disability positively due to the way he isn’t made to stand out differently from everyone else. His facial expression is strongly focused and partly bored as he flies the kite. His body language also suggests he’s slightly bored as his shoulders are relaxed and his legs are apart providing him with a stronger stance. The female characters costume consists of a pair of jeans and a pink knitted jumper which also looks ordinary and casual. However, her body language conveys that she’s uncomfortable and irritated due to the way her hands seem to be glued to her neck area as her fingers fiddle around, showing glints of disability. Her facial expression is also bored as she watches the kite in the sky. The camera then cuts to a medium shot of the girl, which highlights her constant fiddling hands, this is done to represent disability by enhancing an unusual habit she has.
The camera makes a few quick cuts of the two characters untangling the kite string. The absence of dialogue adds awkwardness to the shot and emphasises the distorted non-diegetic music and the diegetic sound of the sea. The proximities of the slight long shot of them squatting by the kite suggests they know each other rather well as they appear to be quite close in terms of distance.
The camera fades to black and cuts to a high key lit long shot of the previous male character standing with his back to the camera, and flying his kite in the same beach setting. The high key lighting changes the mood and creates a more cheerful atmosphere compared to before but the diegetic sound of the sea is still present. The camera then cuts to a close up of the man, and his facial expression looks happier than before which reflects the high key lighting. Another cut is made to a low angle worm’s eye view of the kite in the sky. The kite suggests constriction and being trapped due to the way it’s permanently attached to the string. This could be seen as an acurate representation of disability as it could be suggesting that he’s feeling confined due to his disability.
The camera cuts to a long shot, allowing another character to enter the frame and approach the man. It appears to be a different female character than before. The rucksack prop suggests travel, conveying that she’s going somewhere at some point. The proximities in this shot allow the audience to see that they don’t know each other as she positions herself fairly away from him. A cut to a close up is made to the man to show that he’s acknowledged her and knows that she’s there. Another cut is made to a mid-shot of the female character, allowing us to observe her costume which consists of a causal t-shirt and hoodie.
The camera cuts to a medium close up of the man, and shallow depth of field is used in order to show that there are people behind him, and to capture his facial expressions. Diegetic sound of shouting enters the shot, and the man’s facial expression is disturbed and irritated, which conveys that they are shouting something nasty. Another close up is made to the girl’s face displaying the same irritated facial expression. It then cuts to an extreme long shot to emphasise how loud she’s shouting as she retaliates to them. This being the first burst of dialogue represents disability negatively due to the way they are teasing. However, the way in which the girl sticks up for him, represents disability positively as she defends him. Another cut to the same close up of the man’s face displays his facial expression that suggests he’s used to it as he doesn’t appear to be too bothered, which again represents disability negatively.
Shot reverse shot is used to show their conversation, and when the girls refers to him as being ‘strange’ he replies with “I have Asperger syndrome”. This confirms his disability, but also provides an explanation for the constant kite flying and the limited dialogue as this condition consists of difficulties in social interaction, nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. The way in which he confidently admits his condition to her represents disability positively as he’s self-assured about who he is and why he is the way he is. The camera cuts to another close up of the girls face again, showing her unsure and slightly confused facial expression, emphasising how she doesn’t know what to say. Shot reverse shot is used again as the conversation continues. He ends up also referring to the girl as ‘strange’ which turns things around and adds a comical touch to the shot as she smiles and laughs.
The camera cuts to a mid-shot of the previous girl that was in the opening of the sequence. As she begins walking towards them, a whirring non-diegetic sound erupts into the sequence, which restores the sinister atmosphere and slightly distorts things, maybe suggesting there’s something bad about this character. A cut is made to a close up of her face which displays a bothered and irritated facial expression, suggesting that she’s jealous of her friend being around this other girl.
A two shot displays the travelling girl and the man having a conversation, and the other girl approaching with uncomfortable body language. Shot reverse shot is used again to display the conversation between the girl and the man. She appears to be struggling to get her words out, which suggests that she has the same disability as him. Her rudeness creates an awkward atmosphere as the travelling girls facial expression is displayed by a side view close up of her disapproving/annoyed face. The girl awkwardly turns away and leaves them; her uncomfortable facial expression mirrors her stiff body language showing that she’s feeling uneasy. The distorted non-diegetic music returns as she walks away. The two shot of the travelling girl and the man sitting down clarifies that they now feel more comfortable with each other as the proximities are closer. The distorted non-diegetic music quietens as conversation flares up again. Shot reverse shot is used as they begin talking about the ferry. His disability is clearly shown here due to the way he struggles to verbally communicate with her as his sentences are slow and broken up; his eye contact is minimal which highlights his struggle with non-verbal communication as well. However, he seems to be very educated and has lots of knowledge, which breaks that stereotype of disabled people being apparently dumb, which represents disability as positive. 
An extreme long shot of them sitting down is used to advocate that they are being watched from a distance. This is confirmed by the close up of the previous girl watching them from the bushes. She appears to be mumbling to herself, which conveys to us that she’s disturbed, but also shows glints of her disability as her hand fiddling continues.
The camera cuts to a long shot of the travelling girl and the man standing by railings in a different setting. Diegetic sound of a ferry erupts into the scene, which confirms the change in setting and suggests they are waiting for the ferry. A cut to a close up of the man displays his uptight facial expression, and the way in which he’s inhaling and exhaling suggests that something is wrong. The diegetic sound of the busy port begins to drown out and become distorted and vague, conveying that something is happening to him as he struggles to focus on his surroundings and the noises. Another close up of his face shows how uncomfortable he has become. Shallow depth of field is used to show how she has acknowledged that something isn’t right due to her worried facial expression. Loud off screen diegetic sounds of thumping and banging begin playing to demonstrate his emotional state. He begins pushing her hands away from him as she attempts to comfort, which attracts the attention of two nearby officers which is displayed through a mid-shot of them looking over. Their importance is conveyed through their costume being luminous jackets. As they escort the man away, the diegetic sound returns to normal and non-distorted. They also escort the travelling girl away too as if she’s in trouble, but once she says that she doesn’t really know him and that he’s just “some guy [she] met on the beach” the officers share a worried look, which is displayed through an over the shoulder shot of the front officer looking back at the other. Non-diegetic music begins playing which takes over the diegetic music and drowns it out, causing the scene to seem serious and tense.
A series of cuts are made from the previous disabled girl trying to get pass a policeman to get to the man. Her body language is increasingly uncomfortable and anxious as she continues fiddling and mumbling to herself. The non-diegetic music continues to make the scene seem tense. A sharp sound non-diegetic sound is made when the policeman tries to touch the man; this mirrors the other girl and how disturbed she is. Her desperation to get to him is highlighted by the way she keeps swaying as if she wants to run over.
The sequence ends with a circular narrative as the start is the same as the end. The two disabled people begin flying the kite again as they were at the beginning, which again represents the Asperger disability due to the way they are repeating the kite flying activity.

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