Representation of Age: Waterloo Road

Throughout the extract the representation of age can be reflected through camera shots, angles and movements as well as sound, editing and mise-en-scene.

During the extract it is clear to see the representation of age through camera shots, angles and movements, including Barthe’s Narrative codes. An establishing shot depicts a school as well as several teenagers. It is clear to see through a closeup of one of the boys putting an item in to their jacket that they are up to no good. This reflects a common stereotype that teenagers are troublesome and that they are always causing problems. During scene 2 there is also an upward over the shoulder shot to reflect that the teacher has more power due to his age and that the younger teenager is inferior to the teacher.

Another way that the representation of age can be reflected is through mise-en-scene. This can be seen throughout the next scene when two teens, a boy and a girl are walking down a corridor. Both are dressed in a school uniform to show that they go to the school. This also shows that they are of the age to go to the school, there ties are loose as well as their shirts to display the stereotypes that the youths of today don’t care about school or anything else for that matter. Another way that age can be represented through the mise-en-scene is when the older man is wearing clothes that are usually depicted on a younger person. This is shown through baggy jeans, and a printed t shirt. This is another stereotype commonly referred to for women as ‘mutton dressed as lamb’ and that older people should not be dressed like the youth of today.

The representation of age can also be seen through the use of sound. This can be heard particularly during the corridor scene as there is a cacophony of sounds coming from the other students in the hallway to depict the stereotype that teenagers and children are noisy and arrogant to their surroundings as they are portrayed as rebellious. 

Overall I think that the representation of age can be reflected through the camera shots. angle and movements. It can also be reflected through mise-en-scene and sound.