Section C - This Is England (Meadows, 2006) Flashcards by Harlington Media

The Falklands War

This Is England

10 week war: Britain vs Argentina - ownership of Falklands islands

War divides Britain - war over belonging

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Thatcherism

This is England

Thatcher’s policies on privatising industries

Industries -> redundant
3.5mil unemployed, particularly North

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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

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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

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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

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Miners’ Strikes

This Is England

Miners on strike 1984-85, protest against privatisation/mines closing -> unemployment

Unrest with government (Combo)

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Dependency culture

This Is England

Lifestyle characterised by dependency on benefits

All unemployed - no income, relying on benefits

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Society

This Is England

People living together in relatively ordered community

Society gone: divided into sub-cultures and ethnic groups

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Individualism

This Is England

Principle of being independent/self-reliant

Subcultures allow individualism to grow as society becomes independent of government

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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

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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

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Bourgeoisie

This Is England

Small section of society; owns most of wealth

Government/company owners - not seen, but impact felt (political graffiti)

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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

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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

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When main message most clearly communicated

This Is England

Milky’s assault - directly after Milky talked about his big, close family

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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

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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