Fish tank

Fish Tank - applying iconographies, narrative, representations and ideologies




Scene 1- in this particular scene Mia has cut her ankle whilst out with her mum, Tyler and Connor. Tyler and their mum leave to go to the car, leaving Connor and Mia behind. Connor sees Mia's ankle is hurting therefore gives her a piggy back instead.

Iconographies-  the use of natural daylight as the lighting allows us to establish that the text is social realism, as there is nothing special about the scene it is what it is. the fact the tracking shot is wobbly  gives us sense that we are walking along side them, we are physically there watching what is happening. however it also gives a sense that the text is quite a low paid film, along side the natural lighting. the use of slow motion allows the audience to focus on how she is feeling, as if she is almost in a fantasy. the focus on the slow breathing creates enigma codes foreshadowing the later sex scene. the slow breathing also contributes the fact she is fantasying, the fact she is the main focus in camera allows the audience to know she is the one feeling like this.

Narrative-  this particular part of the text supports Valdimer Propp's theory, the use of the damsel distress/ princess figure (Mia) being saved by the male protagonist acting as the hero (Connor), however later on in the text we soon discover Connor turns out to be the fake hero. we view Mia's mum as the villain as we see her abusing Mia and mistreating her, Joe is viewed as the donor/helper. As Mia is fantasising in this particular scene we view her as the stereotypical niave young girl fantasising over a physically handsome man.

Representation- due to the mise en scene, Mias clothing shows that she is very low class- tracksuit , trainers and hopped ear rings. due to accent and use of slang also contributes to her low class and lack of education. However this differs from Connor who has a more sophisticated accent, however his use of slang and manual job shows his low level of class as well. Mia is represented as naïve, innocent and pure being of a young age of 15.

Ideologies- dominant ideology in this text would be the way lower class people live. the fact that Mias mother is an alcoholic with no job, and the fact that Mia is out of education and uses slang. However what differs from the ideologies is that fact Mia is not a criminal and has ambition to be a dancer, this differs from the ideology of a chav which she portrays through the way she dresses.