Representation Essay: Homeland

Watch this clip through and write down who/ what groups out of the 4 core areas of society are being represented and in what way.

In this espionage thriller drama, 'Homeland', we see the representation of gender and ethnicity where stereotypes are portrayed in a way that is fitting into the ideology of the producers. The likelihood of this series being American made provides information that the producers can project their own ideologies and representations that align with what they see as fitting for a specific worldview. Stuart Hall's reception theory can be incorporated to fit the dominant reading, as viewers are interpreting the media text as what the producers are wanting them to interpret and make the ideologies of the two - producers and consumers - align and combine into very similar beliefs.

There is a stark contrast between the location of the male and female characters in power in this scene. The woman is in Baghdad, a Middle-Eastern country, as revealed by the text that appears on screen at the beginning and the very wide establishing shot, whereas the man is in a different country entirely. There is a representation of class and the differences by the use of mise-en-scene between the two as we see the man in formal evening wear and the woman in a crowded and busy section of Baghdad. Ethnicity and religion is presented by the clothing being long with little skin shown. In addition to this, religious headwear is a common appearance in the streets of Baghdad, providing insight that this country is mainly religious oriented to potentially a religion that is Muslim or something similar. The use of diegetic sound informs us as the audience of the type of life within the area. There are cars beeping horns and people shouting in frustration. The long line of cars shown in a wide shot gives us an idea as to how citizens go about their daily lives. An establishing shot of the village shows lots of dull colours in the area with a dirt that might come from the overcrowded population and the close housing. It also provides us with the representation of the ethnicity shown in the scene. The shots are hand held which creates a shaky effect that alludes to the chaos and busyness of the life or residents there, a stark contrast to the people in the American setting, as they have sophisticated conversation as opposed to the shouting in the streets of Iraq. In the setting where the man is attending an event of some sort, soft but eloquent music can be heard in the background - diegetic sound - and there is fine dining as the people in this shot are implied to be superior and proper unlike the people in Baghdad.

The shots of the village in Baghdad are all hand held and short shots with quick cuts, which show the hustle and bustle of a busy and small crowded area. In comparison, the shots with the deputy director are all long shots, that are steady with calm movements in the background. It is a more peaceful setting and it shows that they are not as concerned with what they assume to be such trivial matters that don't need their input or help because they hold a certain superiority and don't seem to care all that much about the man who is about to be executed but is withholding vital information that very much is a concern for the Americans as it is about a potential attack on American soil, therefore endangering the lives of innocent citizens as well as people of power.

A sound bridge is used to link the two different settings together, while also providing a continuity that keeps the narrative flowing in a way that is not disjointed but rather keeping up with the progression of events. The dialogue of the two people engaged in a phone call makes it seem like the dialogue is narrating the story. "David, you're a CIA deputy director, you can do this" shows that the Americans have different laws and power compared to Baghdad. Wide shots show how strict the customs and principles can be in Baghdad. For example, a wide shot of the prison shows a confined area, with tall concrete walls. The windows have been covered in steel bars to ensure full confinement, and barbed wire is placed around the top of the concrete walls to further cement the idea that security there is not taken lightly, but taken to the extreme, and we see torn cloth in the barbed wire which alludes to attempted escapes in search of freedom. The guards setting up the gallows show that they take things very seriously, and heavy armory -the guns on the guards - creates a very threatening tone as there is a death sentence. This plays into the stereotypes provided as what the producers are creating this view people of their ethnicity as being dangerous and in need of these strict laws. 

There is a notion that the Americans in this scenario are the 'saviour'. The woman in this scene is desperately trying to save this man who has been imprisoned yet has vital intel on a potential attack on American soil. However, the men in the scene only seem to be obstacles that are blocking her path as they are unwilling to help her or the man who is facing a potential execution. Another example of the power that the Americans hold is seen when the woman gives a sealed envelope of money to one of the guards there. She clearly has connections and the money to get what she wants if she so needs to use it. This can also be a display of the corruption that the Americans are passing on by the use of bribery. In addition to this, the threat that "unless you do, I won't protect your family" is a simple but effective way of getting him to comply with her orders.

The scene in the cell has low key lighting which would normally imply an intimidating or threatening character that seems threatening, as provided by all the security measures shown prior to the exchange between the two characters shown in a shot reverse shot. However, this is the scene that disregards the sentiment that he is a threatening and dangerous person, which created an effect that dehumanised the man. The woman promises protection for his family if he provides the intel she wants. Despite the very real possibility that he would be betraying or letting down a large part of the community by providing this information. The fact that they inserted the topic of his family who could be in danger due to him being wanted by both the Americans for any information he can give, and the people who are containing him in the holding cell and awaiting a death sentence. When he finally does give the woman the intel she had been promised, he doesn't hesitate to remind her of the promise she made to him. "My family! You promised to protect them!" as she is taken away by the guards. This provides a very human aspect to what was originally stereotypically portrayed to be a dangerous man. It is clear he is doing this for his family.

This whole scene is centered around the one woman doing the job of what would have been considered a dangerous job and in the past would have been taken on by the strong men in the TV show. It is a refreshing sight to see that the gender roles have somewhat been reversed when it comes to the heroine/hero of this scene. The men only seem to be preventing and prohibiting her from doing her job, even going to the extent of rejecting her plea for help for what she deems is important, but is not in the eyes of the CIA deputy director and appears to be a trivial matter. The representation of gender is further emphasized with the idea that the men are the ones that are considered to be dangerous but still hold a certain level of importance and authority as the woman's superior. This is the dominant reading that can be interpreted by audiences as it something that the producers believe and aligns with their ideology as the message is clear to viewers.