Discuss the way ethnicity is represented

Hotel Babylon 

At the beginning of the extract of Hotel Babylon ethnicity is portrayed through an atypical representation of a Black African male protagonist. I understand he is atypical, because the mise-en-scene conveys he is wearing the costume of a suit which connotes he is a business man as usually black men wear hoodies and aren’t usually well educated to be a business man. His well groomed manner could also be interpreted as being homosexual because the combination of his costume (ears are pierced) and body language (brushing down his suit) could be symbolic signs of homosexuality which is against the black ethnic stereotype. However another way this combination could be interpreted is pride for his job as his facial expression of a smile. Then I realised he works in a hotel because the long shot of him walking along side a swimming pool is an iconic feature of hotels. His sexuality is reinforced through the diegetic dialogue “I better get back to the desk” as it is a stereotype that male concierge can be homosexual. However, this is atypical for a black African because they are usually Catholic as this religion is against homosexuality so Benjamin try’s to hide his sexuality through facial expressions of not making eye contact. When the atypical character sees the Jamaican stereotypical male antagonist the male protagonists the mood changes which is communicated through his body language and facial expressions again, which becomes uncomfortable. This is expressed when he takes a step back, while looking to make sure no one sees them together. I acknowledged that the Jamaican is stereotypical because the two characters juxtapose each other through costume; the Jamaican man is wearing swimming trunks which are viewed through shot reverse shot at an over the shoulder angle. So the audience can compare the two characters from behind and front so we could see how different they are from one and other. Moreover this was done to show the reaction of the characters as well. Natural Diagetic dialogue also puts emphasis on the contrast of the characters as the first male Benjamin has a Standard English accent whereas the male antagonist Taw has an informal dialect for example “bro” and “Ganja”. This colloquial natural language reinforces his stereotype because ganja means marijuana in slang terms and black people are known for taking drugs. Conversely, the shot reverse shot of the male shows his hesitated reaction and the facial expression of an awkward grin. This means they are diametric but Benjamin doesn’t want to show his new and improved personality, that doesn’t take drugs anymore, which is communicated in the eye line match because they have the same background. It is reinforced that Benjamin is the male protagonist as he has more screen time than the male antagonist which proves he is more important and has more prevalence especially as he is also the last person shot in the scene which makes the audience sympathize with Benjamin as more diegetic dialogue “that’s the old Benjamin I know!” as he hesitates connoting two interpretations. On one hand he could be regretting his past - not wanting to be like the old Benjamin. On the other hand he is homosexual and the fact that girls will be at the party makes him hesitate. Either way the audience empathize with Benjamin.

The following communication of ethnicity is the stereotypical eastern European cleaners and a stereotypical old Chinese business man. These characters are stereotypical because firstly the maids have manual job of a cleaning. I understand that they are cleaners because the uniform symbol of this. The occupation has small celery so some go into prostitution which is proven by the diegetic dialogue “He pays Double for Double” with a kind of eastern European accent reinforcing their ethnic background. The natural diegetic music called Lady Marmalade is turned on by the Chinese businessman with a close up of the CD-player but is probably edited with foley a non-diegetic sound-track to emphasis. It is a stereotype that oriental people are sneaky. They are also known for being quite intelligent which is conveyed through the close up of the money on the table, which he has acquired from being well educated and qualified to make his own business. The older cleaner is more stuck in her own ways as she is used to it, whereas the shot reverse shot shows the younger girl’s reaction getting increasingly more uncomfortable through her body language and facial expression conveying anxiety, until she runs out of the room. The stereotype is emphasized even more when the older cleaner stops the Chinese business man form turning the music off and phones someone creating the diegetic dialogue “I’ll call for reinforcements” through a medium shot. This connotes that there are even more eastern European cleaners that do prostitution.

Then next portrayal of ethnicity is stereotypical oriental manager. She is stereotypical because they are usually intelligent and hard working this has been conveyed when she uses the diegetic dialogue “the third time this week” that the cleaners haven’t put toilet paper in the rest room connoting that the cleaners aren’t working hard enough as she is of higher importance which is also connoted through the symbol of her suit – mise-en-scene- costume. This then intercuts to the managers scene through to the chefs scene and back to the oriental manager outside of the Chinese businessman’s room. This builds up the tension, suspense and anticipation for the audience as they hear the non-diegetic score of sting instruments. The stereotype that oriental people are sneaky is reinforced with a close up of the oriental female protagonist of this scene. The audience acknowledges that she is the female protagonist because she has prevalence in the two scenes she’s in. Also she is the final person shot in the whole extract which means she has the most attention from the audience and will be the main focus of the next extract.

The final part of the extract ethnicity is conveyed by stereotypical English managers, English Chef and eastern European chef. first of all, the English managers are both dressed in suites with Standard English accents they are both the same ethnicity which is conveyed through the eye line match as their conversation is viewed through a tracking shot where there is low key lighting which connotes they are talking about something bad and secretive which is reinforced through the diegetic dialogue “you worry too much” in a hushed tone as they are talking about someone and don’t want anyone to hear. The tracking show is then followed into the kitchen where the lighting turns to high key. Physically, the two chefs are facing away from each other at different sides of the setting which symbolises they have different views socially. On one hand the eastern European chef kissed the English chef this signified love, but on the other hand the English chef’s facial expression of annoyance and anger juxtaposes this. This is reinforced when the eastern European makes diegetic dialogue “you British sloth, you English plebe” which expresses racism after the English managers left. The audience understands that they are stereotypical because of their accents, the eastern European is probably Italian and the English chef is loud and cockney for example when yet more diegetic dialogue - “ Deserving pallet, deserving pallet you wouldn’t know what deserving pallet was if it came up and slapped you between your piggy little eyes” . The tension increase with the volume of the non-diegetic sound until the foley sound of the knife is exaggerated the threat of the weapon or kitchen utensil to shock the audience even more as the knife. This prop then motivates the music to enhance the non-diegetic score to even more of an anticipation builder. As the volume raises even more with the rapid pace of the editing through a shot reverse shot, while the diegetic dialogue “you want to make something out of this” is spoken, the beating sound track turn to an electrical remix which eventually goes back to Lady Marmalade to the oriental female protagonist’s scene.

In my opinion, there are many atypical and stereotypical representations of ethnicity in this extract from hotel Babylon. However there are more stereotypical as it adds a comical element to the series for the audience, because it has what everyone assumes hotels are like.