Discuss the way social status is represented in this extract from Merlin. Make specific reference to the following technical areas: Camera, editing, sound, mise-en-scene.
The extract begins with the camera panning around the inside of a castle, establishing higher status and symbolising royalty. Immediately Merlin is centralised with a mid shot on him, this combined with the fact that he is the first character we see, connotes that he is the protagonist within this extract. However, he is wearing old ragged clothing with dull colours such as browns and greens that symbolise low status. There is ambient non-diegetic sound like whispering, setting a dark sinister tone and connoting that he shouldn't be in the castle. Through the use of close ups on him, it could be inferred that he is a significant character. The extract intercuts to the protagonists point of view and we see him look back at the door reinforcing how he's not meant to be there and re-establishing him as lower social status than those who live in the castle. The extract cuts to outside of the room and there's a long shot of a woman walking towards the room Merlin is in, creating suspense for the viewer. It cuts back to a close up of Merlin to reveal his awareness that someone is coming. The camera pans around to look at the woman, the camera is over the shoulder looking towards her. Her purple dress and gold belt establish her higher social status and are symbolic for wealth. The dialogue also makes it apparent to the audience that she is of higher status as she is patronising towards him and reminds the viewer that Merlin doesn't belong there. Although the eyeline match between them both, indicates equality.
Additionaly, the non-diegetic music ends as Merlin leaves the castle grounds. Immediately we see the contrast between the dim lit castle and the bright light outside, connoting that the castle is home to bad people, although they are upper class. As Merlin walks out into the street, there is a total difference in setting and the combination of the sound of people hustling in the street and people dressed similar to him, indicates that Merlin is amongst his peers and people of the same class. There is then a long shot of Merlin walking past Arthur and his guards, who are wearing armour, establishing their role and status in society as courageous fighters. Although it is clear they are of higher social status, the camera is still focused on Merlin as he walks towards it. This reinforces his significance. As Merlin turns around, we see his facial expression which reveals his anger. Arthur is also centralised and the camera is at eye-level, expressing that they are of equal importance, even though Arthur is the antagonist in this extract. Arthur gets less prevelance than Merlin which also represents his significance. The input of the dialogue makes it evident to the audience that Arthur is talking down to Merlin and bullying him backed up by his friends- his fellow knights. Aswell as being dressed in armour, they are also wearing the colour red symbolising high status, however the camera remains on Merlin. The camera is on a close up on him whilst he bends down as if to bow to Arthur, mocking him slightly. Merlin doesn't act lower class and it's clear that Athur is surprised through the dialogue when he says "you can't address me like that" and his guards laugh mockingly at Merlin, which signifies to the viewer that Merlin is cheeky and doesn't take notice of his social status.
As the fight starts, the non-diegetic music enters, it's upbeat and increases the intensity. Jump cuts are included here to make the fight seem more action packed and more dramatic. It then cuts to a mid shot of an old man in a room causing the viewer curiosity as we don't know who he is. It then cuts back to the fight, and although Arthur is winning, Merlin is getting equal prevelance, which again represents his relevance and makes the reader empathise with Merlin as he is losing. The use of shot reverse shot allows the audience to see both Merlin and Arthurs reactions and also allows the viewer to see that Arthur is still winning. The camera changes to a high angle of Merlin as he falls into the hay, making him appear weaker and inferior to Arthur. However, the camera changes to an extreme close up of Merlin's eye which changes colour. This and the non-diegetic sound are indexical for the use of magic. The continous close ups of the protagonists face and his smug facial expression denotes that he is doing well. The extreme close up of the cabbage being squashed emphasises the danger Merlin is in. Another close up of a box moving over Arthurs feet reveals his reaction, to this which is angry as he's just been hurt. This indicates that the dominance has changed to Merlin. Next there is a close up of rope and the camera pans around to Arthur who falls onto the floor. The next shot is a high angle shot looking down on Arthur signifying that he has lost importance due to losing. It cuts to a mid shot of the old man we saw in the room at the beginning of the fight. His costume also denotes his low status, but Merlin seeing his disappointment and that being his distraction, indicates that the man is important. The shot cuts back to Arthur as he hits Merlin with a broom. With each hit, the foley, non-diegetic sound is added to exaggerate how hard he is being hit. Arthur then wins over the prevelance and puts Merlin back in his place, which is below him.
In addition to this, after hitting Merlin, Arthur sweeps the floor with the broom, which is symbolic of brushing him off. Again, foley sound is added in to emphasise the sweeping. The dialogue of Arthur saying "let him go" infers that he respects Merlin a bit more now and the fact Arthur has his own guards to hold Merlin, reinforces his high status in society. Although the eyeline match connotes equality between them. The shot cuts to a shot of the room where Merlin walks in, followed by the old man who he assume is his teacher. There is a shot reverse shot whilst they are arguing, allowing the viewer to see their facial expressions and from this we realise that the teacher is angry at Merlin, which indicates he is in control of him. The dialogue of Merlin when he says "I'm just a nobody and I always will be" reinforces his lower class status and denotes that he thinks he is worthless because of it. The close up of his facial expressions of Merlin and the teacher express Merlins sadness and the teachers sympathy towards him. The end shot it on the teacher, which reveals to the viewer that he is infact important as he is in charge of the protagonist Merlin, even though he is lower class.
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