Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of age

Waterloo road clip

It is possible to argue that this extract can construct a representation of age through camera work, miss-en-scene, sound and editing.

Firstly, in the first scene it uses a combination of establishing shot and panning shot, this clearly shows the three characters that will mainly be involved in this scene being two school boys and a male teacher. It also establishes the miss-en-scene that it is in a school hall with it showing the clear distinction between teachers and pupils through the dress as the teachers are wearing smart business wear and pupils a school uniform. By the teachers wearing this smart business clothes it follows the stereotype of them being work orientated and strong willed whilst telling the boys off for the camera where as the boys stood in uniform that isn't correctly on with lose ties closely follows the stereotype of teenagers not being bothered about school also how they are acting very arrogantly to the teacher.  The extract uses over the shoulder shots so the audience can follow the conversation between the teacher/s and pupils. Furthermore as the second teacher arrives to find out the camera is broken the cutting rhythm is shortened to highlight the increase in tensions going from a normal conversation to more hostile this portrays the stereotype of there being conflict between different age groups in this situation it being between adults and teenagers.

The next scene is interior and includes a two shot of a boy and girl clearly walking down a school corridor as the mise-en-scene is depicting the students in school uniform and it being very busy also students with school bags and books, it uses a combination of a two shot and an establishing shot to do this to show the location where they are. Shortly following this a second girl joins before attacking a boy, intense, loud music is used to show the increasing tension and make the audience feel like what is about to happen is bad. This follows the stereotype that teens are boisterous and out of control due to her fighting/attack in school which would obviously be against the rules.

The scene after this is set in a classroom as it has a desk at the front with a teacher with a projector and students sat looking at the teacher. Obviously the teacher is an adult and follows the stereotype of adults having more power over young people shown by how they follow his instructions. Again the loud intense music is introduced to increase the tension and creates a sound bridge to the next scene in which the girl has cornered the boy she attacked in a room.

In this interior scene involving the boy and girl the cutting rhythm is shortened which highlights the animosity during the fracas the increased cutting rate also follows the stereotype that teenagers are selfish as she is acting and attacking this boy because she wants to and not really any other reason. The increase in the cutting rate also incorporates over the shoulder shot to show the argument and the reactions from what the other person just said this is a countertype as it it showing the teenagers care or are bothered about what the other person is saying whereas they are usually portrayed as being selfish or 'not old enough' for emotions. 

In the next scene when the older teacher is apparently dressing like a teenager a high angle shot is used when looking at the girls who are mocking him and a low angle shot when looking at him. This shows that he has more power as he is seen above them because of his occupation but also because he is an adult so he has sort of automatic power over younger people with in this case it being teenagers/students.

Overall, stereotypes are followed in this extract of Waterloo road with the mise-en-scene, editing, sound and camera shots.