Throughout the 5 minute clip of Merlin, there are clear
examples of when class and status is represented through the use of mise en
scene, editing, camera and sound.
At the beginning of the clip, class is shown straight away
with mise en scene- the set is a stone palace with a table full of medieval
magical props (also is very tidy and well kept) ,it is also represented in what
the characters wear. Merlin is intrigued by
the objects which may suggest that he's never seen them before as they
are expensive and he's never seen these types of objects before.
Showing a lower class. For example the character with
the most screen time, who is called Merlin. His costume was baggy dull rags
that a stereotypical medieval male pauper would wear. So straight away this
indicates his class of being a servant in the castle. When the woman walks in
it is clear she has a high status because she is dressed in a bright purple
dress which is clean and fitted but also in the medieval ages, dark purples and
navy represented wealth in a person. This woman was also covered in jewellery
that show her class is high as she is able to afford all these luxuries.
Another major thing in this scene which represented class and status was how
when speaking to Merlin she didn’t address him and asked what he was doing in
this room which shows in the medieval pecking order she is above him even
though she is female and therefore can speak to him in whatever manner she
pleases.
In the next scene class and status is shown straight away with
the set being a farmers market which is the complete to the set before. To show
the contrast in the class off-screen foley had been added of animal noises and
other civilians laughing to make the audience get a real idea of what a farmers
market would be in that age and to be realistic as possible.
It is then shown again when the
knight dressed in heavy armour that would if been expensive showing
his power and his high status. All the normal poorer civilians in the
background with low status have drags on like merlin this outlines the contrast
furthermore again like the first scene.
Merlin and the Knight then
go on to have a fight. With the knight having that much wealth that he can afford
to easily give Merlin a weapon as well as have one from himself. This also
shows is status in the social order because he is confident in his fighting
skills to take Merlin on. He is also arrogant in his dialogue by making Merlin
address him as “Lord” to use as threat to show he knows he’s already better
than Merlin in social status terms. He also lets Merlin know how he has been
trained to fight birth which also shows he status of been born into a high-class
family.