In the clip from Downtown Abbey, director Brian Percival uses various techniques to construct the representation of class and status, such as editing, camera, mise en scene and sound.
In the editing, the contrast between the lives of the upper and lower class is shown through the fast transitions in the clip, for example in the kitchen when the servants and frantically rushing to prepare the food for the upper class. Another example is the long shots with slow pace of higher class throughout the extract. Notice that the pace tends to be slow when the upper class are in the shot and fast when the lower class are in the shots. this could suggest that the upper class have it easy, and that the lower class have a tough life. This makes us feel empathy for the lower class as they struggle through life being servants. The BBC could be trying to convey the message that the lower class are important too and we should all show them respect.
The lordship gets the majority of the screen time as he is seen as more important, conforming to the stereotypes. Therefore BBC are supporting this stereotype and sticking with the time period as it was like this is the olden days.
The upper class are dependent on the lower class this is shown due to the order of shots used by Percival. For example the shot of the servants preparing the food for the upper class is shown before we see the upper class sit down and eat it. This clearly highlights that the upper class cannot operate without the lower class. Which could convey the message that the lower class a needed to sustain the luxurious life style that the upper class have.
The chronological narrative highlights the status quo of the lives of the upper class, therefore conforming to the stereotypes. This is normal for the characters that everything is provided for them, such as they have the paper boy delivering to them but are unable to go to the shops themselves to get one. This shows that they are reliant on the lower class to receive what they want. This presents the upper class as snobby and lazy which therefore conforms to the stereotypes, it also portrays the lower class as hard working which again conforms to the stereotypes. As the drama is an age drama which is quite old, the stereotypes shown in the extract match the stereotypes of the past.
In the camera, Percival uses a high angle, wide shot of the paper boy on his bike to show that he is of a lower class from the ladyships point of view. This is incorporated into the establishing shot at the beginning of the extract, where we see the massive house and grounds then the small boy, this presents him as inferior and less significant than the other characters. even though he brings the shocking news that troubles the house. However the use of the rule of thirds shows the boy to be in the center of the shot. This could suggest that although the upper class see him as inferior, the BBC show him to be of some importance in the clip. The BBC want to present all classes as equal and doesn't believe there should be a divide between them.
The establishing shot of the stunning grounds in which the upper class seem to own makes the audience envy them. It also goes on as a tracking shot to show the gigantic expensive house in which they live in. This setting shows the upper class to be snobby so conforming to the stereotypes, we later see that there is a hierarchy of the people who live in the house, and that they are all of different statuses. This shows juxtaposition as we see in the shot the paper boy compared to the wealthy house
Both the butler and his Lordship were the same costume which could confuse the audience as they will be unsure as to who is of a higher status, but due to the continuous mentioning of his Lordship it soon becomes clear. A shot reverse shot shows both of them looking at each other from both of theirs point of view. This equals them as shot reverse shot puts them on the same level as they are both the same height. The BBC convey the message that they should be seen as the same level of importance.
The two shot mid shot upstairs of the Ladyship receiving food from the maid shows that they are of different classes, and the maid is serving her. This again, conforms to the stereotype of the upper class being of a higher status. However her Ladyship is laying on the bed which puts her on a lower level to the maid who is standing up, as this is from his Lordships point of you, this could be trying to convey the message that he sees them both of equal importance and status.
The lighting is predominately brighter on the upper class characters possibly suggesting that they are more knowledgeable, this could be why the lower class have to be so hard working. However we assume that people are born into classes but they can be of different statuses within the same class. The lighting is dark on the lower class this could imply that the BBC are trying to convey the message that the lower class are dirty and intellectual therefore shown in darker colours.
The costumes represent status as there are many people in the house shown throughout the extract, the upper class characters tend to be in suits and the lower class in maid outfits. For example when his Lordship hears the terrible news that the titanic has sunk we see a shot of what i presume to be the main family living in the mansion. The young girl in wearing a bright,beautiful, pink frock which displays the families wealth, the dad (his Lordship) is in a suit, and the mother is in a dark blue frock as her costume. This makes the audience feel jealously of the easy life the upper class seem to have.
The off-screen, incidental music begins when her Ladyship feels remorse for her friends when she finds out that they also sunk in the ship (titanic). But she shows no empathy for the other poor people who sunk on the ship which shows her to be snobby, which conforms to the stereotypes and makes her seem as a awful person. Although we, the audience feel sorry for her, we start to lose empathy as the music only begins when the upset has some relevance to her.
Calm music is shown whenever we see the upper class in a shot, this shows the peace of their lives through layering, this is the status quo for them. A good example of this is when his Lordship is walking up the stairs. His Lordship and her Ladyship are common phrases that are repeated in the extract, which shows that they are of the highest status in the house and in most peoples minds all the time.
There is frequent use of parallel (synchronous), off-screen sound which matches the mood of the clip, this is shown when his Lordship first receives the bad news. This makes the audience feel empathy for the characters in this part of the extract. The director, Percival uses this to portray that both classes have struggles and that the upper class life isn't always peaceful, therefore ruining the status quo.
In the section where we see one of the women maids who has a higher status than the other maids. We hear the diagetic, on-screen dialogue of the women saying to the lower maid 'wouldn't want his Lordships hands to be as black as yours'. This speech is clearly derogatory to the maid, as it implies that she is dirty, worthless and inferior to his Lordship, again showing the differences of classes. This makes the audience feel empathy for the lower class as they shouldn't be treated like this and should be seen as equals. Although this clip is from a different time period when equality wasn't seen as important.
