Component 3 course work (How does Andrea Arnold use micro features to create meaning in Wasp?)

Micro features: Mis-en-scene, cinematography, sound, editing, performance

One way Andrea Arnold uses micro features to create meaning in wasp is through the use of cinematography, this is seen through Arnold's use of hand held camera which creates a shaky look and feel connoting chaos and instability in the family's lives, it can also be interpreted as giving a documentary style look a common trope of the British social realism genre, which grounds the short film in reality allowing the audience to better empathise with the characters. This is combined with the mis-en-scene of natural lighting from sunlight to street lamps to further cement a realistic look and feel, scenes are also shot on location in pubs and council housing another trope of British socio realism that adds to the realistic feel. Another use of mis en scene is to imply danger with pit bulls, motor ways and wasps with the kids in the same frame showing just how vulnerable they are in this dangerous world, the symbolism of the wasp could also show the mother as sharing some similar qualities, such as like a wasp hurting people carelessly all lashing out while provoked. In terms of Editing Arnold favours longer shots as expected from the social realist genre, adding to the documentary style combined with the hand held camera movement create an immersive experience for the viewer. Close ups are also used effectively, such as in the opening with the shaky close up of bare feet on concrete, effective in creating the sensation further immersing the viewer in the scene through the sensation of touch, the image itself is also effective in establishing the protagonist as experiencing poor living standards and being from a lower class.



Comments

  1. JCoSS Media Dept2 November 2018 at 07:36

    "One way Andrea Arnold uses micro features to create meaning in wasp is through the use of cinematography, this is seen through Arnold's use of hand held camera which creates a shaky look and feel connoting chaos and instability in the family's lives, it can also be interpreted as giving a documentary style look a common trope of the British social realism genre, which grounds the short film in reality allowing the audience to better empathise with the characters." - this is a very long, quite generalised opening sentence. Ensure you proof-read your work carefully, adding punctuation where necessary.

    "The mis-en-scene of natural lighting from sunlight to street lamps" - this is okay as a generalised analysis of aesthetics ... but for me, the more powerful analytical writing comes when you pinpoint key scenes and write in detail on them. So, where is a streetlamp used, and to what specific effect?

    "Such as like a wasp hurting people carelessly all lashing out while provoked" - similar point to above: how exactly is this scene portrayed to the spectator? What micro features are used? How do, for example, cinematography and editing combine during the wasp attack to create meaning?

    So, overall, not a bad attempt, but take on board the following targets:
    1. Proofread - punctuate - paragraph
    2. Pinpoint

    Mr Boon

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