Representation of Class and Status in Downtown Abbey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IscFlwFNB6I


Camera Shots:
The first shot that we see in this scene is a crab shot which follows the actions of one of the servants, which  then opens up into an establishing shot where we see the setting of the country house in the background. This introduces the audience to the setting and gives us an idea to the characters we might expect to see.


We then see a mid-shot/ point of view shot of one of the characters who lives in the country house, we see her looking from the window as the boy passes on the bike in the perspective of a high angle shot. This may represent how the boy (who represents those of a servant status) is inferior to the woman in the house (who represents the people who live in the upper quarters of the country house).
We then see another point of view shot when we see the bells ringing in the servants quarters. We can see here that these characters have a lower class and status than those of the others in the house. They have to respond to these bells to meet the others needs which shows that they are inferior and have a lower position in the house and therefore in society than the others.


We then see another shot/ long shot/ establishing shot, where we can see all the characters seated vertically along the table with the head servant at the top of the table. From this we get a mid-shot of all the characters which allows us to see their costumes. This suggests to us that the characters are of a lower class and status as they are dressed in servants outfits, which is fit for their working purpose in the house.  We also see the food that is laid out for them on the table for their breakfast which is simple and practical. It is not fancy or well laid out like the upper class residents would have.
Shortly after this we see a point of view shot when we see the boy ironing the paper. We can see from this the type of jobs that they have to carry out which suggests that they are of a lower class. We  can see that they are inferior to those in the upper quarters of the house as they work to ensure that all of their needs are carefully met and have to pay attention to something as petty as making the newspaper looking presentable.


Later on in the clip we see a high angle shot of the main man in the house with his dog, walking down the stairs which switches to a side crabbing shot/ establishing shot. We can follow the movement of the character down the stairs who seems to move quite proudly and presentably down the stairs. We can see that he is a well off man from the setting around him. We can see the large glass windows behind him and the grand staircase, which show that the building is for those of an upper class status.


We then see a mid shot/ two shot of the man and one of the servants who is already waiting for the man to come down from breakfast. From this we can make a comparison of the two characters in the frame. The butler remains still in the corner and maintains a good posture where as the man moves around, looking for the different options for his breakfast. We also see a comparison in settings here. The table is neatly laid out, the room is much brighter and has flowers and grand pictures and sculptures in the background. Furthermore, the man has the whole large table to himself at which he choses to sit at the end. When we compare this to the shot we see of the servants table there are many differences. The room in which that was shot was very dull, we could see from the way the shot was framed that the servants were very crammed together. The lighting in the room also differs significantly. For example in the servants quarters it is very dull. This may show the poor layout of the room or the fact that they have to be awake much earlier in order to prepare for the others breakfast. In the upper quarters the room is very bright,  we can see the shadows of sunlight coming through which suggests that it is later in the morning and that the living conditions here are much better and more advanced.


We then see another point of view shot when the young women walks into the room and overlooks the paper that the man is reading. This allows us to see some of the stories in the paper which give us an idea of the era that the clip is set in/ along with the Mise En Scene. It may also suggest that they are all well-educated and take an interest in the news, something more typical of people of an upper-class.


At the beginning of the clip, we see an example of diegetic sound. We can hear the sound of the boy riding the bicycle past the window. From this we can see the working class status of the young boy and can see how the work he has to do is more labour-intensive than those who he delivers to in the upper-quarters of the house. Furthermore, in the background we can hear non-diegetic music. This immediately creates an uneasy atmosphere in the scene. We then see another example of diegetic sound, when the bells ring in the servants quarters. This again shows their lower status, as we can see that their role and purpose in the house is to respond to the others needs. They are lower in the hierarchy in the house. This is also representative of their position and status in society.


There is also several features of editing seen throughout this clip which help to add to the overall effect. For example, in the first part of the clip we see an eye line-match cut. Here we see the character looking at the object/character off screen, followed by a cut to their eye line and what they are looking at. This allows us to see the woman looking down at the young boy on the bike. This shows that her class and status as it represents to us that she may have more of a luxurious lifestyle, whilst the boy (of a lower class) has to get up early in the morning to work.


Following this, we see an action shot. This is when the woman rings the bell, the shot is the cut so that we see the bells ringing in the servants quarters. It matches the first shots action. From this editing we can see that the woman is of a more authoritative position in the house as her actions determine what the rest of those in the house do as a result.


We then see a cross cut used which switches the action from the servants gathered eating around the table to the boy who was riding the bike. This switch shows two actions occurring at the same time in different locations.  Later in the clip, we then see another eye line match shot/ insert, when the head servant looks at the bells ringing behind him. This again allows us to see that the people of a lower class and status have to respond to the others needs and have to be alert at all times.


We also see several examples of Reverse shots throughout this clip, for example in conversations between characters in the frame. For example, when the servants are preparing the food we see several cuts which link their conversation. However, when the main man of the house is having his breakfast, the two characters seem to be kept in the same frame so that we can see both of the characters. This may show the rushed atmosphere in the servants quarters, as these cuts make the scene seem more jumpy. Where as in the breakfast scene the cuts are kept more minimal and more subtle.