Discuss the ways in which ethnicity has been represented in the extract from Hotel Babylon:

 

·         Sound

·         Mise-en-scene

·         Editing

·         Camera

In the opening extract the director uses stereotypes to represent different ethnic group. Firstly we see a long shot whilst tracking of a black man in a suit seen to be atypical. The next shot is another black man jumping out of a pool. The other black man is a stereotypical black man who is established through his braided hair and brightly coloured, Jamaican shorts. This is iconic for the Jamaican culture.  We see a contrast in both of the black men as the first man connotes to the audiences that he is atypical and has changed his life so seeing the stereotypical man is a shock which is recognised by the audience from the mid shot of his reaction. The stereotypical man uses dialogue to such as ‘Bruv’ and makes suggestions about smoking marijuana which is represents his ethnic side very stereotypical. We see a shot reverse shot and the atypical man doesn’t look please with the idea.

The scene then changes to two Eastern European maids that have been represented in a negative way. We see a mid shot of their faces which reveal that one of which is more dominant and the other is seen to be weak. The dialogue from the maids ‘Double for double’ is ambiguous to the audience however the reinforcement through the close up of the door hanger and the two red star marks symbolises danger. We then get introduced to the Old Chinese man. He is very stereotypical for his culture as he is seen to be a business man with lots of money, which is revealed with a close up, paying for prostitution. We then see an extreme close up of the man’s face establishing the desire in his face for the two maids to strip. This is shown through intercutting of the maids and the Chinese man.  Furthermore the man connotes even more of a stereotype as he is being sly to get what he wants. On the other hand the maids are also being stereotypes as they too are known for being sly. When the maids start to strip we see that their lingerie is different colours which are symbolic. The one wearing Black is very confident when stripping which is symbolic as it implies that she is very stereotypical for an Eastern European maid.  However the other girl is very white and is very fragile when taking off her clothes. She then runs off saying ‘I can’t do this’ this then makes her atypical as she can’t bring herself to be provocative. The diegetic sound of the music ‘Moulin rouge’ contrasts with her feeling as it’s symbolic for a seductive mood yet she breaks this by running out. The maid in black stays in there which then demonstrates how desperate she is as she calls another person to come and replace her; ‘Plenty more fish in the sea’.  Once again ethnic is represented through the use of stereotypes.

Furthermore we then see two white British people. They have both been represented as stereotypical English in the fact they are seen to be wealthy by their smartly dressed clothes and their business look. The scene starts off with a mid shot establishing that they are important. This is then reinforced through the long shot showing that everyone around them walking past and not interrupting them. In then cuts back to a mid shot emphasising there importance linking in the fact that they are stereotypically important. Furthermore we see more of their stereotypical ethnic side as they gossip about the chefs. The director uses shot reverse shot to establish there facial reactions which indicates how the director has portrayed them to be stereotypical British as they are gossiping. Within the shot reverse shot the man’s facial expression looks more concerned compared to the woman who looks more annoyed. She also gets more screen time which connotes to the audience that she is the most dominant between the two. This the makes the woman atypical as stereotypically the man is more dominate. The ethnic race of British people is once again seen through stereotypes.

Finally the extract concludes with the two chefs. Firstly we see that there are two chefs of different ethnicity, one wearing white one black, this instantly implies an ominous tone to the audience. The chef dressed in black is eastern European; the black signifies dirt, danger and is symbolic of evil. This is juxtaposed by the English chefs who are dressed in white who is symbolic for purity, innocent, cleanliness. Straight away we see a close up of both chefs intercutting between the two. They both have equal prevalence denoting that they are equal which contrast with first opinions. The Eastern European chef is spoken to first. We see his ethnic side how he grabs the English woman’s hand and kisses it showing his respect. Here we establish him to be stereotypically which is then reinforced by him kissing the English man on the foreheads. Although between the intercuts we see the English mans facial expression as irritated by the dialogue between the English business women and the eastern European chef. When the English leave we see both chefs become rude to one another. The Eastern European Chef insults the English chef by using dialogue ‘English Plebe’. The diegetic sound of the other chefs working adds to the tension that’s occurring. This tension is also created by a range of quick jumps cut denoting each of the chef’s facial expressions.  There is then the use of shot reverse shot to show both sides of the argument however both at eye line match and they both have the same screen time establishing that they are equal. The audience then sees a close up of Gianni grabbing a knife which suggests that his ethnic culture resolves situation like this through violence. The handle of the knife is red which is symbolic for danger emphasising the violence. This is then reinforced through the diegetic sound of the knife being pulled conveying that his anger.   

Throughout the extract we see that ethnicity is represented through the use of stereotypes which demonstrate a separation between ethnic cultures.