Class language and Representation

Language 1) Write an NCIS analysis for the episode - using notes from the screening in class. Co-owner of a Lonely Heart Narrative: 00:00 - 03:10 Recaps previous episodes. Corakinus tries to regain control of his heart. April is seen carrying a sword. 04:30 - 11:17 April playing violin and discovers hand turns blue, when she gets injured. Mattheuz discovers Cabinet of Souls (not empty) and that Charlie is protecting it. Ram discusses leg to father. April challenges her History teacher and breaks her locker. 11:17 - 20:50 Ram and April's relationship develops, Huw (April's dad) confronts her, Huw paralysed the mother in an accident. Corakinus aware of April sharing his heart. 23:45 - 28:17 Ram and April are caught by her mother. Tanya is confronted by Charlie. Headteacher is suspicious of Ms Quill. Jackie (April's mother) establishes ex-husband's return. 28:17 - 32:55 Headteacher seeks advice from Ms Quill in return for her freedom. Charlie and Mattheuz argue about the cabinet until Tanya interrupts mentioning about Ram and April. 32:55 - 42:19 Huw confront mother about April's powers, which after April attacks him. She then gives her mother the heart and ability to walk. April tears through space and time using her blue sword to fight the Shadow Kin, which Ram then follows her through. Character: Shadow Kin, Corakinus, April MacLean, Andrea Quill, New Female Headteacher, Jackie MacLean, Ram, Tanya Adeola, Charlie, Mattheuz, Huw MacLean, Iconography: 00:00 - 03:10 Sword, Torches, Blue flames, Smoke, CGI characters of aliens ( bright orange eyes). 04:30 - 11:17 Violin, Wheelchair, Cereal bowl, Portal, Dramatic tense music, Blue bruise, Pink petal, April's orange eyes, Cabinet of Souls, Mobile phone. 11:17 - 20:50 Projector, Electronic tense/dramatic music, Car, Sword, April's orange pupils, Pink petal (enigma code), Alienated music, Red eyes, Blood, Heavy breathing, Soft music. 23:45 - 28:17 Foreboding music (dramatic sounds, non-diegetic), Reference to 'deadly' pink petals, Dead squirrel covered in petals, Sunglasses (dark - secret identity), Mobile phone. 28:17 - 32:55 Petals in bowl doubling after fed blood, Bleeding finger, Pink/red costume/lipstick of Headteacher, Bright orange and blue colours. 32:55 - 42:19 Tense/mysterious building music (non-diegetic), Swords, Increased heartbeat, SFX, fast-paced SFX links to rising action, Blood from father and Diegetic sounds. Setting: 00:00 - 03:10 Shadow Realm (placed underneath the universe). 04:30 - 11:17 April's Home, Charlie's Home, Ram's Home, School (Coal Hill Academy). 11:17 - 20:50 In Car, Outside, April's Home, Shadow Realm, Classroom. 23:45 - 28:17 Outside School, April's Home, Headteacher's Office. 28:17 - 32:55 Headteacher's Office, Outside, Shadow Realm. 32:55 - 42:19 Outside, April's Home and Shadow Realm (cross-cutting = juxtaposition)  

  2) How does Todorov's theory of equilibrium apply to Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Equilibrium: April is the co-owner of Corakinus' heart. Disruption: April reveals her superpowers to her father. Recognition: April's father confronts her mother about April's behaviour. Reparation: April is battling with Corakinus to survive. New Equilibrium: April travels to Shadow Realm to defeat the Shadow Kin. 

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do each of the main characters in Class fit into? Hero/ine (seeks something): Charlie/April/Andrea - Trying to save his race from the Shadow Kin/Wants to defeat Corakinus and gain control/Helping Charlie so she can seek redemption and gain freedom/independence. Princess (the reward for the hero, but also needs protection from the villain): April MacLean - Considered 'damsel in distress' and needs protection against Corakinus. Villain (opposes the hero): Corakinus - Fighting the heroes and being selfish/aggressor in this war. Donor (helps the hero by providing a magic object): Andrea Quill - She is the leader of the quest (Doctor) encourages her to support them in their quest. False Hero (falsely assuming the role of hero): Ram Singh - Companion to the 'hero', also helps the narrative progress. Dispatcher (sends the hero on his/her way): Huw MacLean - Informs April's mother about her superpowers. Helper (gives support to the hero): Tanya Adeola - Communicates to the rest of the group to inform the developments in the quest. 

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Enigma Codes (non-verbal code - mystery): Conversation between Mattheuz and Charlie about Cabinet of Souls. April becomes aggressive in her History lesson - potentially sharing Corakinus' emotions. Mother regaining ability to walk - links to Sci-Fi genre encouraging narrative to next episode. Action Codes (physical code): Pink flower petals - repetition of them seen as deadly. Blue swords - significantly links to Sci-Fi genre as links to violence of antagonist (Corakinus). Orange pupils - linking her and Corakinus together.

 5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience? Light v Dark: Planet Earth (Humans) and Shadow Realm (Shadow Kin). Humans v Aliens: Tanya, Mattheuz in contrast to Corakinus, Ms Quill and Charlie. Good v Evil: Heroes, Dispatchers trying to defeat antagonist Corakinus and retrieve April's heart back (restore normality). Love v Hate: April defending her mother and attacks and confronts her father.

 Representations

 1) How is gender represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Gender stereotypes are somewhat subverted as there are usually male heroes but in Class, April can count as a heroine as well as Charlie being a homosexual who's with Mattheuz. There are also reinforced stereotypes as teenage rumours are spread about relationships in school as well as how mothers worry about their children's sexual relations and safety.

 2) How is age (e.g. teenagers; older people like teachers or parents) represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Does the show reinforce or challenge stereotypes about young people? There is parent's evening inside the episode which reinforces the coming of age genre. Parents are protective over their children which is reinforced in the episode when Ram's father worries over Ram as well as when Jackie worries over April. There is a challenging stereotype about young people as April has a disabled mother and she is the one looking after her instead of the parent looking after their child.

 3) How is race and ethnicity represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Race and ethnicity is represented in Class as mostly subverted stereotypes as Ram is Asian and he does football. Tanya's African mother is upset at Tanya because she was talking to boys; this is a reinforced stereotype. 

 4) How is sexuality represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How does this reflect the BBC's remit to represent modern Britain? Sexuality is represented as free and not judging. This reflects the BBC's remit to represent modern Britain as people have now accepted homosexual people. Charlie and Mattheuz are homosexual; there are still heterosexual people within Class, therefore they aren't rejected or judged for who they are interested in. 

5) How is disability represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Why are disabled people generally under-represented in the media and how does Class try to address this? Disability is represented as causing a dysfunctional family. Disabled people are generally under-represented in the media because people don't usually look after them and some even think they are useless. Class tries to address this as a daughter is looking after her disabled mother; some children don't tend to look after their disabled parents so Class shows how they should be looked after and how disabled people can provide moral support.