Kapin (16) and Zion (22)

Target audience: those working in the Singapore Fashion Council (SFC)

Script for English WA2:

Zion Hello staff of the Singapore Fashion Council, I am Zion and today I'm joined
with my partner Kapin. Did you know that the popular fashion product, china
denim actually has a negative impact on the chinese workers and the
environment. To show this, we will be sharing our analysis on the
documentary China: Denim by Al Jazeera.

Kapin Yes, as Zion said, we will be using this documentary to show the negative
impacts China denim has on the workers. But first, we will have to know
what the documentary is about and its context. The documentary is about
the effects of the high demand of fashion and denim on the workers in China
and the environment. It also brings to light the effects on sandblasting and
potassium permanganate on the workers. To analyse this documentary, we
will be using Semiotic Modes and Cinematic Techniques. Let’s start the
analysis.

Zion The first semiotic mode we will be analysing is visual. The documentary itself
is full of visual cues and examples that help us understand the situation
better. Firstly, we have the visual aids on showing the effect on the
environment. As we can see from the photos from the documentary, the
denim industry in China really has a toll on the environment. The
surrounding of the factory is full of waste products, such as chemicals and
unused denim material.

Kapin Another use of visual aids in the documentary is the secret camera footage.
The secret camera footage helps to reveal the situation of the workers in the
factories. It also reveals the denim companies that these factories produce
jeans for. Companies such as American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie &
Fitch and Hollister. Co are exposed through this secret camera. These
companies take advantage of the Chinese workers at the factories who are
desperate for money to use for sandblasting, which has a negative effect on
the workers and the environment.

The second semiotic mode we will be analysing is gestural. The

Zion documentary is full of gestural cues, mostly derived from the interviews and
interactions with the locals. One example is the Chinese man at the far left.
He is pointing at the camera, and looks mad. This is because he was getting
confronted with evidence of his factory sandblasting. Another example is the
scene where they were interviewing a local farmer about the negative impact
the factory has on the surrounding areas. His scrunched up face shows the
frustration, disapproval and displeasure he has towards the factory.
Kapin Another use of gestural cues in the documentary is the body movements and
gestures. One example is when they confronted the employees of Tianxiang
Factory. The workers seem to be visibly upset, as seen from their tense body
gestures. One of them is pointing rudely at the camera, while the other one
has his arms crossed, showing their anger and tension. Another example
would be the people protesting outside of American Eagle Outfitters. They
were raising signs and some were holding them up high, showing their
displeasure about the workers’ being mistreated.

Zion The last semiotic mode we will be analysing is spatial. The documentary is
full of spatial cues. One example is how cramped the working conditions of
the factory is. From the pictures shown on the screen, you can clearly see
that the jeans are packed closely together, and the workers are put in a
cramped, messy space without much space to move. This shows the pitiful
working conditions that the workers are subjected to.

Kapin Furthermore, even the living conditions of the workers are horrid. One
example is the dormitories of the factory. You can clearly see that the
dormitory is cramped, with bunk beds that almost touch the ceiling which
leave barely any space for the workers to sit in. Furthermore, their
belongings and clothes are hung from the ceiling and put on their beds or
small tables, showing how little personal space they have to themselves.
The messy outlook of their dormitories also show the lack of space in their
dorms.

Zion Lastly, we will be analysing the lighting and colours. To show this, we will be
using a contrast between the factories that the local denim companies use
versus the factories that the companies like American Eagle outfitters use.
As we can see, the local companies use more bright, vibrant and colourful
factories, which actually look like humane places to work in.

Kapin On the other hand, the factories that the American companies use are dark,
dim, and colourless, which is not really a humane and ideal place for
humans to work in. You can really see the contrast between these two types
of factories, and obviously one is good and the other, bad. We feel that it is
unethical for these Chinese workers to work in such dark and really unsafe
places.

Zion So you might wonder, what was the point of this analysis?

Kapin This analysis is actually to show the dangerous effects of the denim industry
in China to both the locals and the workers, and get the help of you guys to
eradicate the support of companies that take advantage of the denim
industry in China. We hope by this presentation, we would be able to
convince you to do so.

Zion This leads to the end of our presentation. I hope we were able to raise
awareness about the denim industry in China, and improve the way of life for
both the locals and the workers.

Kapin Thank you for your time and kind attention!

(both stand and bow)