1. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
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2. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
What can we talk about?
SOCIAL REALISM structure Britishness
realistic style Sub-cultures
addresses social concerns ambiguity Region
Masculinity
representation of real Britain
motivation
Era
COMING OF AGE DRAMA?
Issues
G N R
3. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
Revisit the TITLE SEQUENCE
Take notes on THEMES & ISSUES
4. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
CHARACTERS
In order to cast the character of Shaun, Shane
Meadows held many auditions with children in
inner city workshops all over the country but
particularly
Grimsby.
It was at The Space Project, that they found the
quality they had been searching for.
Why is it important to have cast the right sort of
person?
What importance does the character of Shaun have?
Revisit
Thomas Turgoose Original
Interview
5. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
MEADOWS AND MASCULINITY
Through the character of Shaun we see a number of factors come together that form part of his
identity at that particular time, such as his relationship to his father, his relationship to the
various members of the gang and how this manifests itself in terms of a sense of confidence
and control over his life.
KEY QUESTION
How much do you think the ways these issues are represented are gender specific?
6. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
CHARACTERS
Questions
How do we feel about Shaun in the opening sequence?
What motivates Shaun?
How does Shaun change over the course of the narrative (there may be
more than one change)?
Do you think that Shaun can be described as racist? or can you see his
motivation in a different way?
.
7. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
SKINHEADS
Made in Britain (1982)
'This is England' website
Make sure you know about this subculture.
8. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
Woody Combo
First impressions?
Contrast the two characters:
Dress
Attitude to Shaun
Key scenes?
9. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
The Flag
FINAL SEQUENCE
How do the connotations of the flag change for Shaun?
10. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
Les Qatre Cents Coups
(Truffaut, 1959)
The ending of the film has lots of similarities with this one.
Revisit this clip on youtube and take notes for narrative.
11. This Is England Revision May 10, 2010
Subculture Thatcherism
Key
Falklands
punk/new wave
Sovreignty
Ska/Oi
Ideas
National Front St. George's Cross