Representation

Question 1

Binary opposition: reality vs fantasy

Answer 1

set in reality but fantasy elements portray effects of drugs. develops the spectators understanding of taking drugs

Question 2

Binary opposition: men vs women

Answer 2

• the men are violent, the women are spectators to the men
• the men active plot points, the women are supporting roles
• gender stereotypes reinforced in the club scene: boys say they were talking about football, girls say they were talking about shopping when they were both talking about sex
• Told through Renton’s POV: a male voice and male story
• Diane is heavily sexualised through the male gaze: introduced in a fetishistic manner

Question 3

Binary opposition: users vs abusers

Answer 3

• Renton, Sick Boy and Allison are all full time drug users
• Tommy, Begbie and Renton’s mum still smoke and drink excessively even though they are accepted in society

Question 4

How are drugs and addiction represented?

Answer 4

• Renton is infantilised by his addiction: “One more hit”, heavily dependant on heroin, like how a child depends on their parent
• camera in opening scene tracks past baby and focuses on drugs: encourages audiences to take a different perspective on drugs and aligns drug addiction with youthful rebellion
• Renton’s overdose and Tommy’s death show negativity of drugs
• toilet sequence: the white drugs vs the brown everything else
• we’re put in Renton’s POV when he ODs which lets us see him lose touch with reality

Question 5

How is sexuality/gender represented?

Answer 5

• Renton: “One thousand years from now there will be no guys and no girls - just wankers”. he doesn’t really see gender, he believes everyone will end up the same. sees gender equality as the norm - a very liberal take.
• nudity in the film is intrusive, but there are no close ups so it could be more invasive
• Diane is in control of her destiny and situation even though she’s very young.
• females are only presented as love interests

Question 6

How is surrealism represented?

Answer 6

Renton in his room after his OD:
- sees Begbie under the covers
- baby crawling on the ceiling, her head turns around and she falls onto him right before he comes out of the trance
- Spud sat on his cupboard
- hallucinates seeing a lifeless Tommy sliding along the wall
Toilet scene:
- Renton crawls into the toilet and ends up with a contrastingly calm ocean as he looks for the drugs. shows his perspective of how he sees the drugs as the ‘light’ to his dark reality