Section C - This Is England (Meadows, 2006) Flashcards
The Falklands War
This Is England
10 week war: Britain vs Argentina - ownership of Falklands islands
War divides Britain - war over belonging
Thatcherism
This is England
Thatcher’s policies on privatising industries
Industries -> redundant
3.5mil unemployed, particularly North
Subculture
This Is England
Cultural group within larger culture: separate interests/beliefs
Focus on skinhead subculture - Shaun joins Woody’s gang
Subcultures united by rebellion against society
Disenchantment
This Is England
Feeling disappointment about someone/thing you previously respected
Combo returns - Woody realises his true nature
Milky’s attack -> Combo loses Shaun’s respect
All disenchanted with school, government, society
Working class
This Is England
Social group of people employed for wages - mostly manual/industrial work
Almost everyone = working class -> unemployed (miners strikes, steelworks)
Lol/Mr Sandhu = employed
Miners’ Strikes
This Is England
Miners on strike 1984-85, protest against privatisation/mines closing -> unemployment
Unrest with government (Combo)
Dependency culture
This Is England
Lifestyle characterised by dependency on benefits
All unemployed - no income, relying on benefits
Society
This Is England
People living together in relatively ordered community
Society gone: divided into sub-cultures and ethnic groups
Individualism
This Is England
Principle of being independent/self-reliant
Subcultures allow individualism to grow as society becomes independent of government
Social Realistic Aesthetic
This Is England
Art movement: draws attention to everyday lives of working class/poor
Life in 80s’ Northern England - relatable, truthful, political/social messages
Continuity editing, natural cinematography - no expressive shots.
Uncensored, improvised dialogue, quiet score, non-diagetic sound = minimum
Binary Oppositions
This Is England
Pair of opposing related terms
Woody/Combo:
Woody = kind, accepting. Combo = racist, attacks those in way.
Both paternal to their gangs. Woody favoured > Combo - anti-nationalism
Ethnic minorities vs White British:
Combo/N.F hate them, yet innocent. Woody’s gang accept Milky. Ethnic minorities sympathised, yet focuses on white Brits - explores how hate groups created
Bourgeoisie
This Is England
Small section of society; owns most of wealth
Government/company owners - not seen, but impact felt (political graffiti)
North/South divide
This Is England
Differences in life standard between North and South of England
Film set in North - lower wages, poorer healthcare, lower house prices
Maslow’s Hierarchy
This Is England
Belief all humans have hierarchy of needs that need to be met
Shaun moves up and down hierarchy throughout film
When main message most clearly communicated
This Is England
Milky’s assault - directly after Milky talked about his big, close family
Does main message question or support ruling ideology?
This Is England
Main message = understanding why people act way they do
Film questions ruling ideology (violence happens no matter what)
Idea of belonging - goes with ruling ideology
IDEOLOGY
Which political ideas explored explicitly?
This Is England
Idea immigrants taking jobs, government not helping locals
Belief Falklands’ war = pointless -> deaths
IDEOLOGY
How Shaun moves through Maslow’s Hierarchy
This is England
Start: 2nd tier - food, clothes, house/shelter, yet no friendship/sense of connection.
Meets Skinheads: 3rd/4th tier - intimacy, connection, respect of others
End: 2nd tier - potentially lost all he gained
IDEOLOGY
Marxist idea of base and superstructure
Capitalist society = economic base (industry, finance, banks) and ideological superstructure (culture, education, church, family)
Superstructure creates set of beliefs that keeps society running
IDEOLOGY
How Marxist idea of Capitalists presented?
This Is England
Government never seen, yet controlling society
Characters feel impact of government, can’t do anything about it
IDEOLOGY
How Marxist idea of Labour presented?
This Is England
Characters = working class, mostly unemployed Shopkeeper = immigrant, employed
Many born in England = unemployed
NARRATIVE
Vogler’s Hero Model
This Is England
Ordinary world: Shaun with school bullies
Meets someone/given something - skinheads take him in
New world, new rules - Meets Combo, joins National Front
Greatest ordeal - Combo attacks Milky
Enlightenment - Shaun at beach
NARRATIVE
Todorov’s Equilibrium Model
This Is England
Equilibrium - Shaun hanging out with skinheads
Disruption - Combo arrives, Shaun joins National Front
New equilibrium - Shaun on beach
NARRATIVE
Type of narrative and why
This Is England
Linear narrative - no flashbacks, cuts, etc.
Shows realism - cut-aways, flashbacks deter from reality, focuses on the plot
NARRATIVE
Enigma Codes
This Is England
Narrative device: presents audience with riddle/puzzle to be solved
Combo went to prison for Woody - why? Woody’s hiding something
Is Milky alright? Shaun’s mum says he is, but uncertain
Combo’s introduced, already knows Lol. Relationship? Learn he had 1 night stand with drunk, 16 year old Lol
CINEMATOGRAHY
How P.O.V shots used to influence spectator alignment?
Milky’s assault
Shots from Milky’s perspective, see brutality of Combo’s attack, how much anger -> assault
REPRESENTATION
How idea of masculinity represented
This Is England
Shaun’s father died in Falklands War, needs father figure (Combo)
Only child, bullied at school, needs brother figure (Woody)
Binary oppositions:
Woody = inclusive, levelheaded, solves conflicts through negotiation, stands up to bullying.
Combo = violent, racist, solves conflicts through violence, irrational
Shaun’s relationships with others shapes his character
MISE-EN-SCENE
How St George’s Cross creates meaning
This Is England
Symbolic of nationalism
Shaun steals flag from N.F meeting - impresses Combo
In Combo’s flat for rest of film - including Milky’s assault
Over montage where Shaun joins N.F
Shaun throws it in ocean after Milky’s assault
REPRESENTATION
How link between masculinity and violence created
This Is England
Though Woody portrayed positively, he’s shown to respond aggressively to Gadget, though apologises
Combo calls Pukey a “queer” for questioning N.F’s motives/actions
MISE-EN-SCENE
How graffiti creates political/social relevance for 1983
This Is England
“Maggie is a twat” - Thatcher = prime minister, caused. unrest about - especially in North
“Nashnil Front” - Can’t spell it: idea they’re stupid, uneducated
REPRESENTATION
How link between masculinity and violence created
This Is England
Woody portrayed positively, though responds aggressively to Gadget (apologises)
Combo calls Pukey “queer” for questioning N.F’s motives/actions
CONTEXTS
Thatcher’s main policies
This Is England
Conservative government
Dismantle welfare state (cause of dependency culture)
Weaken trade unions (challenged government authority)
Reject any advancements in feminism, multiculturalists and minority rights
CONTEXTS
Post-War Consensus
Policies brought in 1945-1970s - tolerated/encouraged nationalisation, high taxes and generous welfare state
CONTEXTS
How government’s popularity affected by Thatcher
This Is England
Popularity collapsed - obvious government failed promises.
Many suspected internal coup: replace her as party leader
CONTEXTS
Economic contexts when film set
This Is England
Government forced reconstruction of work/family as England product provider -> service provider
CONTEXTS
Social contexts when film set
This Is England
Less employment in traditional sectors - coal, steel, manufacturing
Thatcher’s cultural appeal aimed at white middle class: didn’t account for social diversity
Thatcher’s years = era of social counter revolution
Thatcher - “There is no such thing as society”
High unemployment - especially young/ Northerners
CONTEXTS
How skinhead subculture relates to film’s messages
This Is England
Skinhead culture starts 60s - black + white manual labourers bonding over love of reggae
Formed own English identity (braces, boots, etc.)
Tough lives -> look like fighters
80s skinheads - council kids found place together. Abandoned by society, prime targets for N.F
CONTEXTS
Production Contexts
This Is England
Independent production
Secured funding from Warp Films, own production company (Big Arty Productions), Film four and screen Yorkshire
Art house film -> cult status
NARRATIVE
Syd Field’s 3 Act Model
This Is England
Act 1: Shaun living normal life with the skinheads
Act 2: Combo arrives (disruption) - Shaun joins National Front -> Milky’s assault
Act 3: Shaun throws flag into water
IDEOLOGY
Define Hegemony - how presented?
This Is England
Hegemony = system of belief keeping social order intact: idea this is the way things, can’t do anything about it
Combo/Nationalists reject Hegemony, but through wrong way
IDEOLOGY
How Marxist idea of Bourgeoisie presented
This Is England
Not seen - focus on working class, how it influences them
If seen, would take away from film’s message
Proletariat
This Is England
Majority of population: owns little, exploitable
Shaun, skinheads and others exploited by government
