Hotel Babylon - Textual Analysis Task

During this extract from Hotel Babylon, it presents two different representations of ethnicity. It presents the white characters in a stereotyped position of power, whilst all of the foreign characters, which are all migrant workers, are shown in the stereotyped position of weakness, alienation and in their stereotyped job of menial labour. However, it also tries to break stereotypes within its representation of the migrants, showing one of them to be a former doctor and by showing a sense of community and comradery between them.


Camera Work:

During the extract, there are several shots which show certain characters conforming to their stereotypes of their ethnicity, be it the immigration officers showing white supremacy or the illegal migrants showing fear and other stereotypes. 
At the start of the clip, there are low shows of the immigration officers as they walk in. As all the officers are white and the low-angled shot typically shows their power, it could allude to the old stereotypes of white power. Following a bit of action, there are several close-up shots of the migrants, showing them the be scared. The use of the close-up shot adds to the portrayal of their fear, conforming to the stereotype of their fear of leaving their new lives. Intercut between some of these shots are Point-of-View shots of the migrants as they look at the protagonist Jackie, showing her as hope for them, conforming to their stereotype of wanting to stay, no matter what. 
As the immigration officers go to arrest the character of Ibrahim, there is a shot with a deep focus on the officers, creating an ominous feeling which conforms to the stereotype of white power that they portray. Following this, there's a dolly zoom onto Ibrahim's face, showing his fear, conforming to the stereotype portrayed. After this, there is a shot, which has the head immigration officers solely in the frame, with him in the centre of the frame, showing him to be a powerful figure, conforming further to his white power stereotype. As Ibrahim is being dragged off following his arrest, there is a tracking shot, showing his power to be weak as he isn't in control. The same shot then lingers on the head officer for a few seconds, showing his control and thus adding further the white power stereotype. 
After Ibrahim's arrest there is a series of close-up shots of the other migrants looking sad, which breaks the stereotype, as they are bonding which each other, outside of their individual ethnicities.

Sound:

Sound is used to add to the tension of the scene and thus the fearful stereotype, as well as adding to the stereotypes of the migrants' individual ethnicities. 
The diegetic sounds of panting and other noises that present feelings of fear, emphasizing their fearful stereotype presented. There are also diegetic sounds of foreign languages, adding to each migrant's individual ethnicities, as well as showing that English isn't their first language. 
The non-diegetic sound of the music is added to create tension, with its fast pacing, which adds to the fearful stereotype portrayed. When the narrative turns to the African migrants, the music changes more tribal-like, adding to the African migrants' individual ethnicities. 

Editing:

The editing further adds to the stereotypes of the migrants and the officer's ethnicities. 
The clip is edited in the manner of continuity editing, as to show undisrupted time to effectively tell the story. However there are a few cut-aways to different locations, however it still follows in the same passage of time. This adds to the viewers interpretation of the tension felt by the migrants, as they are following events simultaneously with the characters.
The fast-paced editing during the main bulk of the extract, adding to the tension of the scene and thus the migrants' fearful stereotype. As Ibrahim is being taken away and the shot pulls to the head officer, where the editing then slows down, showing that he has power and control during this situation, adding to his stereotype of white power. After the action has subsided, the editing slows, showing the other migrants sadness for the loss of Ibrahim, showing comradery and care amongst them, breaking the stereotype.

Mise-en-Scene:

The mise-en-scene of the clip also adds to the conformity of the migrant's stereotypes.
All of the migrant workers' costumes are associated with menial labour, be it overalls or maid outfits. This conforms to the stereotypes that migrants will do any type of work, no matter how low paid or menial. The lighting in the area of the hotel of which the migrants work in is also darker than the over lit highlighting of the lobby, showing that they work in the darkest and dreariest parts of the hotel, which would further conform to their stereotype.
During the hiding scene, they hide in a small cupboard, which is very cramped, making them seem like they're being caged like animals, which conforms to a common stereotype of their treatment. When the protagonist Jackie is going through Ibrahim's locker, there are very few possessions, only having a few photos, a bag and a jacket, which conforms to a stereotype that they do not own much. 
At the end of the extract, when in the canteen, each different subgroup of migrants, like the Middle-Easterners, the Eastern Europeans or the African, are segregated from each other, conforming to the stereotype that they don't try to bond with each other, which is contradictory to the previous breaking of this aspect of the stereotype during the Editing and Camera Work.