Textual Analysis

Reflect And Perfect

How was mise-en-scene used to create meaning?

In the extract from Luther, Luther is represented as a detective and the character of white decent is represented as a villain. Luther was wearing a smart suit, sunglasses, rubber gloves and a hat. These items of clothing are a stereotypical costume for a detective, especially as the hat, sunglasses and black clothing shows that he is trying to disguise. On top of that, the black clothing shows importance, especially when the cinematography displays a crane shot from the ground to the top of Luthers' body, causing the audience to feel inferior, meanwhile also building suspense before the attack.

Despite this, some members of the audience could interpret the characters oppositely (Luther as the criminal, and the other character as the hero). In the context of the 'attack', no one is 100 percent sure of who belongs into which Propp character placement. The fact that Luther 'attacked' or at least commit a violent act towards a man who beforehand had helped out a women with a baby and smiled, what looked to be genuinely gives you the idea that the white character was a victim. The smile he gave the woman, shows that he is a friendly person, giving the audience the idea that maybe he could be good after all. This disorientates or confuses the audience building suspense. On top of that, Luther is of african decent and unfortunately there is a representation that means that people will assume or interpret him as the criminal.