Sian Lynes | Representation and Ethnicity This extract is from the BBC TV drama Hotel Babylon.

This extract focuses on the differences ethnicities of the characters and purposely is demonstrated in the plot of struggling against immigration laws. However, unification is common theme as it shows that despite the conflict of binary opposites within their different ethnicities it forms them together through the disequilibrium of the plot, complying with Barthes narrative theory, as they fear immigration. The establishing shot of the camera immediately illustrates disequilibrium as the mid-shot with a reverse zoom enable the audience to see through mise-en-scene the white British police officers through their typical black and white uniform. This represents to the audience that they are masculine and hold instrumental power over everyone else which is reinforced through the overthe-shoulder shot as the two police officers isolate the other character in the frame. This is evident further as parallel editing is used to show the continuing power of white men stereotypically as a close-up is used to track the immigration officer as he walks towards the hotel desk. The camera emphasises his power as a cutaway is used to focus on a black man, emphasising a stereotypical view that he has less power because of his ethnicity which is reinforced as the audience can see he cowers from behind his newspaper. This represents the police and immigration officers in a negative light which is reinforced through the non-diegetic sound of high tempo music which connotes that they view their actions as an operation with no regard for any persons affected. The mise-en-scene further represents the difference in ethnicities and their social position. For example, immigrants are shown to be employers of less power such as cleaners, chefs and maids through their set uniform. Whereas the white woman wears a pristine white suit and high personal maintenance which illustrates to the audience that she is of high authority. This in reinforced through dialogue as she orders another employee to look for forms but this unfolds to the audience that it was an order to hide the immigrants. This represents a pitied representation of ethnicity to the audience as the immigrants are shown that they do not belong in terms of social and racial equality. A high-angle mid-shot is used to focus on Jackie sitting at her desk but illustrates to the audience her low power because what appears to be an office desk is a store cupboard with stock shelves behind her. The high-angle also connotes that she is weak in this situation; although this is contradicted through mise-en-scene as she is wearing a suit and therefore holds authority over the immigrants. This illustrates that to the audience that because of her racial ethnicity of Asian she is represented as exotic and is of higher social class because she can be aesthetically observed. But her dialogue of Australian accent shows her English speaking which identifies her higher position over the immigrants who can only speak their own language. Also, in comparison to the high-key lighting to signify the extravagance of the hotel the lower quarters of the hotel is shown in dark low-key lighting. This highlights to the audience that the immigrants of different ethnicities are trapped and confined as they are not legally or socially free from discrimination and also as they find it difficult to be recognised of the same equality. This idea is continued through the camera angles and composition as a mid-shot is used looking through bar railings. This further signifies that the because of the ethnicities of the immigrants they are constantly cut off from society as they cannot risk being deported. The unstable hand-held shot of the camera reflects to tense and fearful atmosphere as they rush to hide. The bars may also symbolise the fate that the immigrants may face if caught as they risk going to prison. Parallel editing is used to juxtaposition the chronological events of separate characters. This is primarily shown when a cutaway shows a long take focusing on Ibrahim hovering unaware of the drama

Sian Lynes | Representation and Ethnicity below. His disappearance is emphasised as a fast zoom is used to form an extreme close-up on Jackies face to show her fear at the revelation; this aids the audience in realising another character is missing but also represents Ibrahim as pitied since he is unaware of the occurring situation. A tilt is used to focus on Ibrahim from the bottom of his feet to his head to make the audience aware that he is on a hotel floor making him vulnerable. This is emphasised as he is shown on the edge of the frame so the audience are also aware of the lift. The camera shots are relatively stable here in comparison to the action editing using quick and short takes to emphasise drama and the unstable atmosphere that the characters below are experiencing. This is reinforced through sound as it switches between the ambient sound of the hover and the non-diegetic sinister music showing the characters in the cramped room. This illustrates that Ibrahim is unaware of events that should be concerning him as the audience can see that he is of black race showing that he too is unequal. Quick and fast close-ups are used to show the distress of the characters hiding but also to identify the variety of ethnicities that are hiding. The differences in ethnicities are also crucially signified through the use of dialogue. For example, the character John Boyak who is the immigration officer has a strong cockney dialect which represents his white ethnicity as being aggressive and dangerous and reinforces to the audience his evil antagonist character. Whereas in the final sequence a pan shows the different tables and focuses on the varying accents and languages of each ethnic group, such as Russian. Non-diegetic sound of a slow rhythm is used to accompany the final sequence of the characters at different tables which reflects their sad and emotional day of losing their friend Ibrahim. This suggests that despite their cultural differences in background they share the same position in UK society because they are not legally or socially equal. The stereotype is applied through a close-up shot of the character Adam that he is religious as the audience can see that he is praying before he begins to eat. This emphasises his difference in ethnicity as well as his religious beliefs but reinforces his cultural differences. These cultural differences are again emphasised as the separate ethnic groups sit on different tables showing that they also find it difficult to relate with other cultures than their own.