In the following essay i will be examining the way representation is shown in the opening scene of the secret diary of a call girl, i will be looking at the Sound,Mise en scene, Editing and Camera: how it is shown throughout the scene.
The editing was shown by the shot that was transitioned from the dad lifting blake to lay him down on the bed, this reveals again his dependancy on others.However there was cuts between the point of view of the flat and the shots of the father portrayed his thoughts and is also confirmed that his actions were shown through him being in the van.The time jumps through a jump out which suggest that he is awaiting some time.The jump cuts in the van with the father which show his anxiety of him, who has to let his son with someone else while he isn't there.
The mise en scene was shown at the beginning when there is a tilt shot, the opening shot is wide and it reveals the wheel chair of the central character which is an ionic symbol of disability. The shot where he is partially undressed, this reveals his lack of ability to do simple tasks which conveys that he must be treated like a child. Similarly, the appartment doesnt have a rampe; it has stairs which means this is not suitable for wheelchair users. The fathers distracted behaviour in the van reveals his discomfort with the awkwardness situation.
Non diegetic sound is introduced and the atmosphere becomes slightly less awkward however the verbal and non-verbal communication shows elemets of unease still. The mastershot is privileged over individual shots, but the girl is higher in the frame than Blake to show she is in control.
On the other hand, the Sound represented by the common experiences like being touched intinately. The non diagetic sound begins at the end of the scene when the call girl [CG] begins to get initemate;(Starts from the sound bridge from the care scene.)
The dialogue reveals the fathers concern about his some can do and the call girl and blake both say email; this indicates that blake is not completely alinated from the world, however blake has arranged this via email which suggests that he wants and is capable of having alot of freedom.The characters sounds are quite weak through their voices which makes their dialogue a contributing factor to the representation of disability because it enhances the awkwardness.
The Camera shots start with tilt down at the start to reveal blake, portrays that the character is disabled, also shows the adjustment which the call girl has to make when addressing someone standing. A medium long shot which show both wheelchair and stairs which encourages to see blake's perspective of the call girl and the way that the society treats disabled people.
What are the stereotype of disability?
stereotyping is the attitude that all members of a particular group are the same, or else fall into a very small number of types. This is particularly true in the few cases where persons with a disability appear in media. Not only are people with disabilities stereotyped, the full range of disabilities is not reflected in media portrayals. Perhaps the most common stereotype of persons with disabilities is the victim, a character who is presented as a helpless object of pity or sympathy, Representation of people with disabilities, points out that “disabled people, when they feature at all, continue to be all too often portrayed as either remarkable and heroic, or dependent victims.The wheelchair allows the character to be obviously disabled, whilst still looking ‘normal’, and does not therefore present any major challenges for audience identification.”
Are disabled people seen as sexual?
The society does not think of us first and foremost as sexual beings. Most of us are considered objects of care, somebody one has to be nice to. Disabled people are often seen as sick. Sick persons are not expected to have a regular life with social responsibilities such as work, which portray that disabled poele are not seen as sexual.
