Secret Diary of a Call Girl- Representation of Disability

Secret Diary of a Call Girl- Representation of Disability The characters within this clip are represented in a variety of ways. The characters being the ‘Call girl’, the boy and the dad. First of all the female character which the TV drama is about (Call girl) is not a stereotypical representation of what the audience would say a call girl would look like, such as a girl objectifying herself for the man. In this clip, the Call girl isn’t objectifying herself. The clothing that she is wearing is of the sort that a business woman would wear in an office. Her makeup is very simple with little foundation and her lips are not being objectified by lipstick. The call girl’s hair is natural brown and has had little done to it which again is the opposite to what the audience would be expecting a ‘call girl’ to look like. With this said, the ‘call girl’ comes across fairly normal and could not be used to being a call girl. This is also shown in her speech as at times she stutters when speaking to the boy, also she seems nervous to be around the dad and boy as she does not want to offend the disabled boy, again showing her lack of experience in the job. This could link to one of Paul Hunt’s ten stereotypes of disability which is non-sexual, as the call girl sees the disabled boy in a non-sexual way. The disabled boy on the other hand is represented as someone who the audience seeks pity with. This again links to Paul Hunt’s stereotyped areas, being pitiable or pathetic. As the audience are watching this, they do feel pity for the disabled boy as he cannot do everyday tasks; this is why he is a reliant on his dad to help him throughout the day. In this clip, his dad being in the room has a sense of awkwardness because the Call girl does not feel comfortable with him being there. This again links with another stereotype area ‘as atmosphere’ as the disabled boy makes the atmosphere, as if it was an abled boy, the situation wouldn’t be completely different. The Dad is represented throughout this clip with the best intentions for his son as he comes across as a caring and honest man. He also comes across as a relatively strong man as shown when he picks up his son with ease visually. Overall, he comes across as muscular man whom links with the stereotypically male; this is also shown in his clothing which suggests that his job involves labouring. The sound used in this clip is mainly diegetic sound, when the characters are speaking to each other. Also used are car noises when the Dad is outside in the van to set the scene that he is outside and also music to merge the scene from the outside to the inside. Editing isn’t used as much through this clip. One scene in which editing is mainly used is when the Dad is in the van and the use of jump cuts are used to show that he is nervous for his son and is anxiously waiting for him. For Mise-en scene in this clip, there are many ways in which the audience can look at. The lighting used in the apartment is very homely and warm which contrasts the character of the ‘call girl’. Also the flat being pink brings out the call girl’s feminine side and makes the disabled boy feel less masculine then he already is due to his disability and lack of power. A wide range of camera shots are used in this clip. At the start of the clip a long shot is used to show the audience the disabled boy and his dad and the back of the Call girl. This gives the audience a view of the disabled boy and his dad and their clothing and also the Call girls clothing. A mid-shot is used to show the audience watching a view of the disabled boy and another characters legs. This emphasises the fact that the disabled boy is disabled from this shot. This makes the audience have sympathy on his character.