Group C- Editing

Editing is a technique used to show class and status. For example when the woman goes to the door she pauses as well as the camera, so this gives her importance.the editing goes really fast when he is inside the castle showing that he doesn't belong there and maybe indicating that what he is doing is wrong. The camera also follows him as he leaves the room showing his significance to the audience (his character) in the film. The use of parallel editing when he is inside the castle as she realises he is there it builds tension with this technique. During the opening sequence, shot reverse shot is used which makes the characters of equal importance as one is the main character and one is royalty also by the use of matching eye-lines. Rhythmic editing is used with the non-diegetic sound track as the fighting matches it and makes it almost like a montage and slow motions also used in the fight to make it melodramatic.  this may illustrate the subversion between the two characters giving the fight a light-hearted feel to it, it shows that his secret powers maybe a more significant part of his character as to the audience he is not expected to get hurt but in a realistic situation royalty would attack the peasant if he was being violated. When the camera goes back to gaius the audience now know who the character is by showing the audience a short clip of him in a POV shot aswell as a medium shot while he is looking through the window. This use of cutting with the appearance of his character lets the audience know that his character might be popular in relation to Merlin, showing him not just as a peasant but a mysterious knowledgable character in relation to Merlins magic. Furthermore in the fight scene the shots mostly focus on Merlin, this technique of focus concentrates its attention of the reaction on Merlins face as he looks frightened but without taking away from the Kings son as his skills are demonstrated on camera with the use of props such as fruit making him look powerful along with his status.

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MERLIN - TV Drama - Class & Status

Group B - Sound

The sound in the extract from Merlin helps to define the class and status an example of this would be the non-diegetic sound of deep strings and choir to create tension which builds up to when she walks in to her room this could imply that a class based rule has been broken showing that she is of higher status.
In addition the sound of the footsteps of the woman walking in at the beginning are slow this builds up tension, as she walks in she asks him "what are you doing here?" this shows she has power over Merlin and that her status is greater than his. As Merlin walks out we hear the sound of the market this may include the sounds of animals and other people, this may show a contrast between how quiet the castle was and how busy the market is, this may typically represent the sounds of the lower class. 

Group A

Camera:
The camera privilages Merlin due to the amount of screen time he is given. This is furthered through the types of camera movement used; for example, the use of shot reverse shot with his fight with Arthur which additionally uses eyeline match. this shows equal status within the shot, eventhough within the diegesis Merlin is clearly of a lower status. This status is emphasised by the use of a long shot at the begining of the extract; Merlin is made to look very small within the shot which highlights his inferior status within the castle.


The women is introduced to the scene through the use of a long shot, followed by a pause which donotes that she is of significance and high status. The scene then cuts to Merlin who is flustered and in a rush due to the sound of an approaching character.