Regional Identity Essay

Regional identity is constructed in the extract to reinforce the stereotypical binary opposition between those who live in the city (selfish, impatient and stressed) and those who live in the countryside (caring, unhurried and calm) positioning the audience to find humour, rather than challenge traditional representations, in the difference between Doc Marten and the locals.

The establishing shot is of an outdated doctor’s surgery, lacking many of the modern items one would expect to see, this cultural code immediately positions the audience to regard the countryside as ‘behind’ in terms of technology and other advancements- this is a common stereotype of the countryside. The use of a wide angle allows the audience to see the contrast between the suit wearing Doc Marten (who represents the ‘city’) and the two boiler suit wearing tradesman (who represent the countryside) Doc Marten is positioned higher in the frame, which could connote power and authority, whilst one of the two workers appear lazy; he is seated, overweight and eating. The room appears uncared for, it is lit using natural soft key lighting and through the use of mise en scene we can see that there are boxes piled up.

The wide angle shot is held for a prolonged period of time, this limited use of editing reinforces the stereotype of those who live in the countryside to being calm and unhurried. The next shot is a close up of the Father, followed by the diegetic sound of the Father talking to Doc Marten. This primarily strengthens the stereotype. As the Father uses very simplistic vocabulary, making him appear uneducated. Which positions the audience to understand the contrast between Doc Marten, who uses eloquent vocabulary. In the first scene the three initial characters (Doc and the two boilers) are positioned in a triangle. With the Father at the front of the scene and the Son slightly off centre, located below him. This specific positioning of the establishing shot could connote the hierarchy of the Son and the Father. At the beginning of the scene, the Father is located at the front, higher up to the scene, showing his superiority and authority, he guides the conversation and shows control of the situation.  However, the initial stereotypical binary opposition between those who live in the countryside being uneducated and simpleminded is challenged when the Son begins to speak about a famous book. He uses intellectual language to describe it, which he dissenters from the traditional stereotype. When doing so he blocks the initial positioning of the embryonic shot, in where the father is positioned above the son at the front of the shot. As the Son stands up, the use of a high- angled shot indicates the switch in authoritative roles as he almost looks down upon his Father, positioning the audience to understand that he has now received authority, purely through his intellectual ways.  Although, both the Son and the Father switch authoritative roles, dependant on the diegetic conversations they’re having, throughout the first scene Doc Marten receives natural authority. He is positioned at the back of the establishing shot; however, he is stood up whilst the other two characters are sat down. This indicates the natural power Doc has, as he is always above the other characters when speaking to them. A 180-degree rule and eye line match in the first scene, could indicate the competition between the demand of authority between the Father and Doc. However, Docs’ eloquent vocabulary almost belittles the other characters, strengthening the initial stereotype of those living in the city to be intellectual and impatient.

The Father and Son are dressed in boiler suits, reinforcing the simplistic ways of living in the countryside. They both appear scruffy and uncared for, which indicates the common stereotype of those who live in the countryside to be living in poverty. This is further strengthened during the first scene, when the diegetic sound of the water from the sink begins. Later followed by the diegetic conversation between Doc and the two boilers. Doc seems rushed and stressed when the sink breaks, and a point of view shot is used to show his alarmed reaction. In contrast the two boilers seem calm and unaware, another reaction shot indicates this. Fortifying the traditional stereotype of them being slow and uneducated, as there confession is to fix common issues like a water leaks, however they’re not taking any action. Montage editing is used to increase the pace of the editing to connote panic as Doc frantically tries to stop the leak, due to the Father and Son not taking any action. By Doc taking leadership and trying to fix the issue, the stereotype is strengthened as those in the city are seen to be intellectual and fast pacing. It also enhances the stereotype as Doc is wearing a full suite, indicating authority, a point of view shot shows the reaction of Doc, when he understands he has to take action and stop it himself. This part of the scene is very iconic, as it appears that Doc takes the role of the boiler, he doesn’t give the impression of being an industrious worker. However, he takes action and tried to stop the leak connoting an experience with manual labour. A close up shot reverse shot is used when Doc’s conversing with the Father, Son, girl and Dog, the repetition of the close up stipulates the stress and anger he’s feeling about the situation. The diegetic sounds of the water, telephone and barking accumulates, adding tension to the scene, making it seem more frantic and stressed. However, Doc appears to be the only fast moving character, quick editing into a series of close-ups further indicates the stress. Non-diegetic tense music begins accompanied by a high-angled shot of the dog, immediately indicating the inferiority of the dog, which could further connote something bad is going to happen to it.

The establishing shot of the second scene, is a shot of Doc walking through the town. The limited use of editing could convey to the audience that it’s taking a prolonged period of time for him to walk from point A to B. A dolly shot is used so the audience is able to see the old fashioned village as Doc’s walking through it:  the camera moving backward as Doc moves forward. The use of a wide angle shot allows the audience to distinguish the common stereotype of the appearance of a countryside village. Positioning the audience to easily identify the location of the village based on the cobbled floors and buildings. The traditional corner shops and buildings on the street Doc walks down, initially supports the common stereotype of the countryside being boring and dull. Due to lacking many of the modern items and decor one would expect to see in a town, this cultural code immediately positions the audience to regard the countryside as being ‘monotonous’ in terms of what’s in the local towns. The lack of vehicles, could support the typical stereotype of those in the countryside to be slow and unhurried, on account of the fact that vehicles get you from point A to B faster than walking on foot.  A medium shot of Doc is used as he enters the Police Office. The wide shot positions the audience to understand the lack of crime in the countryside, due to the initial shot of the Police officer; whom is hovering during his shift. This strengthens the stereotype of the countryside being safe and quiet, as the Police Officer appears to be hovering in order to keep him entertained, due to having nothing to do, as a result of the lack of crime in the area. The police department appears to be outdated, lacking many of the common equipment and furniture you’d expect to see in a Police Office. The establishing shot is followed by a medium reaction shot of the police officer, which allows the audience to find out where the diegetic sound of the hoover is coming from. A close-up reaction shot of the Police officer allows the audience to see the shock he is feeling based on the unexpected arrival of Doc Marten; this immediately positions the audience to understand the lack of crime in the countryside. An eye line match between Doc and the Police Officer, could connote the similar amount of authority they both have, as the common stereotype of the countryside is that the people are unintelligent. So Doctors and Police officers are the highest jobs you can receive, therefor receiving the maximum amount of authority. This scene finishes with a non-diegetic music bridge, this adds confusion and tension to the scene which could connote the reaction of the Police Officer; however, it also gives it a comical aspect. This scene is then finalised by the same medium shot that is used when Doc enters, although the central character is the dog, this shot is then followed by the diegetic sound of the dog crying, which is used to add tension to the scene.

A ‘oner’ is used to open the third scene when Doc Marten is walking down a protract road to an elderly lady. The elderly lady seems to be dressed well, in a formal blazer and blouse, this contradicts the common stereotype of those living in the countryside to be living in poverty and being poorly dressed. This woman also has a car, which could signify she is an upper-class woman with money, but it could also connote that she is conscious of time and wants to get to places quicker. The diegetic sound of a well-spoken woman introduces the scene, she speaks with eloquent language which could show that she’s well educated and almost parading her intelligence to Doc (a man who comes from the city so is stereotypically educated). The shot then cuts through continuity editing to a shot reverse shot to show conversation between Doc and the Elderly lady, this shot has a limited amount of editing to show how mundane the conversation is, making it appear longer than it initially is. The traditional stereotype of the countryside being picturesque and scenic is introduced during this scene, when the audience is able to witness the mountains and hills in the backdrop, its then reintroduced by the diegetic sound of the wind and seagulls which allows the audience to easily picture everything outside of the shot that isn’t seen to the eye.

Whereas Doc has a watch, the elderly woman doesn’t seem to possess one, which could signify that Doc is the only person aware of the time -due to being brought up in the city. However, the elderly woman is lacking awareness of time, almost oblivious to the amount of time spent speaking to Doc Marten. This could strengthen a variety of the stereotypes about the people living in the countryside, the first being that those living in the countryside are friendly. The elderly woman approaches Doc, having a fairly long conversation with him, not properly knowing who he is. She politely introduces herself which could demonstrate her friendly and polite ways, further enforcing this stereotype. She seems unrushed and relaxed about time, as she doesn’t appear to understand that Doc has somewhere to go. Her body language seems to fairly closed, as she tilts her body towards Doc, showing full eye contact, which makes the conversation personal. This could display to the audience that she want to have a long conversation with Doc, wants to form a relationship with Doc or that wants something from him.

The shot then cuts to a long shot of Doc walking past a school, the school is central to the shot, which could connote the importance of it, allowing the audience to speculate what’s going to happen. It then switches to a medium shot of Doc walking past the school, allowing us to see the direction of his vision as he does so. The speed of the editing slows down, authorizing the audience to notice a relationship when it later shifts to a medium shot of a teacher, through a window. A shot reverse shot is used to show acknowledgement of the two characters, the enigma code leaving the audience guessing what the relationship between Doc and the teacher is.  A medium shot to a close-up shot of both of these characters gives the impression that they’re getting closer, which is reinforced at the end when both characters are located on the right hand side of the shot. Non-diegetic music is used as a sound bridge to add tension to the scene, giving the impression that something bad has happened between these two characters.

The final scene is of a traditional farmer’s wife, dressed in a khaki green blazer and old shirt. She appears to be unloading vegetables which supports the common stereotype of ‘all people in the countryside being farmers’. The pace of the non-diegetic music decreases as Doc approaches the elderly farmer, adding tension to the scene. The use of strings forebodes badness, positioning the audience to think of the worst come scenario. However, the non-diegetic music is replaced by the diegetic conversation of the farmer, who speaks with a heavy Yorkshire accent. The cultural code endorses the audience to understand the stereotypes set in place about people living in the countryside, allowing them to assemble the stereotypes and apply them to the elderly lady that Doc is talking to. A medium shot allows the audience to see the composition of the scene. Doc is located behind the farmer which could connote that she is inferior to him, therefore possessing more authority. The clip is then finished by a medium shot of Doc following the elderly farmer into a local corner shop. This ending scene leaves the audience speculating what’s going to happen, giving no real conclusion to the clip.