Race is represented in a number of ways in this extract, one of those ways being through camerawork. At the beginning the two characters are talking about killing some one, and the camera focuses on the side of the face of the guy on the right showing that he has a scar on the side of his neck. This could represent their race as being violent, and is supported with the idea that they are talking about killing someone. The extract then cuts to a scene with two younger characters. A tracking shot is being used here whilst the boys are climbing the goal post. As the camera tracks up you can see parts of the goal post falling off, and the boy has no emotion on his face, maybe representing that he doesn’t care about damaging something. Also this idea of the black race being represented as not caring is supported when the camera shows a close up on the younger boy’s face when he is smoking. It is shown to have no emotion, which shows that he doesn’t care that what he is doing is wrong. When the two older characters are on the bus, the camera is in a medium shot, level position to see everyone; however the two black lads are sat higher up than the old white people in the foreground of the shot. This could suggest that the black race, especially the younger generation, see themselves as more important, and higher up from the white community. When the black guy is outside the house waiting for the other guy to shoot someone, a black woman walks past. This could suggest that the black people are a dominant race in this particular city. Also, the male character isn’t shown through the camerawork to look down on this woman, but they are at the same level, which shows the black race to have the same amount of respect for each other. Also in the extract, in a lot of scenes there are many high angles being used, this could be suggesting that the black characters are seen as having a lower social status. However, in some scenes, such as the scene where the gun is fired, the man with the gun is shown from a lower angle, suggesting that he is dominating, because of the fact that he has a gun.
Race is also represented through the editing of the extract. One example being how the shadows are emphasised within most scenes to represent the issues that are taking place with the story line. Obviously, the storyline matches the shadows as being dark, as it’s about killing someone. Also, the bus scene, there is a dual narrative as, as the younger boy says “If you get caught you know you’re gonna be in trouble”, it is still showing the older lad on the bus, and a close up on his anxious looking face. This is slightly ironic, because the younger boy is talking about his friend smoking, as doesn’t realise that what he has said actually relates to what the older lads are going to do. This represents race, because it shows that not all black people act as their stereotypes suggest, and that consequences are thought about. This is supported later in the scene when the guy is opening the door, once the door is open it cuts to the other guy, and shows that he is looking nervous about what is going to happen. As the other guy gets further into the house it keeps cutting between both lads and the one outside his face still looks nervous, but he is still their looking out for his friend. This may represent how the black race is all about ‘togetherness’ and how friends should look out for one another. This idea is once again supported, after the gun is fired, and the guy outside waits for his friend to come out before running away. Later in the scene the representation of ‘togetherness’ is once again reinforced when they meet up in the dark place, and they are arguing about what happened. However, even after they have argued they still hug, and the editing shows one of the characters emotions then reverses to show the other, and one of the characters says to the other that he has some money for him to get away, once again looking out for him.
Mise-en-scene is perhaps the best area to show how race is represented in this extract as it follows the stereotypical black culture very precisely. For example, the characters are shown to be wearing tracksuits, and a lot of jewellery. Also from the way they speak, and the words that they use, even the younger characters have picked up the same phrases, and are copying the older lads. When the extract starts, they house that they are in is brightly lit. This suggests safety, as they are just talking about killing, and not actually acting on their words just yet. However, during the gun scene the house is dimly lit, which suggests something dark and dangerous is going on in the house, and then the gun is fired which adds to the darkness of the activities. Also, when the two lads meet up again, the car park is very dark; this could suggest that they are still not safe yet after what just went on. This is linked to representation of race, because the stereotype is that black people only do bad things, for example shooting people. When the character is trying to get in the house, it takes him a few tries to get into the door, which means that if you were inside, it would take you a few tries to get out. This could suggest that once you are labelled as this stereotype, it is extremely difficult to remove that label, and once you get into the stereotypical culture, i.e. killing someone it is hard to get out of it. Another idea to support stereotypes is shown when the guy is in the house, and you first see the gun. On the wall behind the gun there are two small holes, which could suggest bullet holes. This is linked with stereotypes because it is a black person’s house, and it is linked through, black male carrying a gun, shootings occurring in the house.
Finally, race is also represented through sound and music, at the beginning when the two characters are having a conversation in the background there is a continual almost heartbeat like sound. This is linked to race, because it relates to the danger and fear that the characters are feeling as they are talking about killing someone, with the ‘gang culture’. Once the scene where the gun shot takes place, the music you can hear is amplified rap music. This represents race, as this is typical ‘black rap’ music, and is what stereotypically black people listen to. It also suggests ‘gangster’ as black people call it ‘gangster rap’ and this is linked heavily with the story, as the black guy is about to shoot someone, therefore becoming a ‘gangster’ himself.
Overall I think that each of the four areas help to represent race very clearly and well. The camerawork establishes setting and character straight away, and race is shown clearly to be linked with both generations through the editing, and the dual narrative. However this extract only shows race to be represented mostly stereotypically throughout.
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