Upstairs downstairs analysis - Social Class

How is the representation of social class represented in this extract?

Throughout this extract mise en scene, camerawork, sound and editing is used to represent social class through this television drama. In the first scene, the mise en scene is used to immediately show the audience what the scene in about and which social class is represented in it. The characters in this scene are all dressed in tuxedos for the men and dresses for the women are sitting around a large table that has lot of expensive looking food. This instantly tells the audience that these people are from a higher class because the working class from the time period could not have afforded to dress this way, have butlers and lead this type of lifestyle. Another aspect of the mise en scene the represents this social class is the way these character speak. These characters are all well-spoken as they speak with correct grammar and courtesy, one of the characters addresses his own father with “yes sir” which is not a way working class people would speak to their father. This type of language suggest that these people are highly educated, which reiterates the fact the they are of higher class because only the upper classes could have afforded education in this period.

 In this upstairs scene, some non-diegetic sound of a violin, which is played throughout this scene, is used to set a calm and elegant tone of the scene. There is also diegetic sound of conversations and of butlers pouring drinks in the background. By having this sound of butlers pouring drinks in the background suggest that this is such a common thing in their lives that they don’t really acknowledge it very much. The characters in this scene are also speaking about very stereotypical upper class things such as the universities they graduated from, politics and business, which all reiterate the fact that they are of a higher class. In the upstairs scene, conventional camera shots are used such as close ups, over the shoulder and two shots. These shots are all static and no movements such as panning or tilt, which could be a representation that these people’s lives are calm, under control and not chaotic. Most of the camera shots in this scene are in focus with the speaking characters, and out of focus on the people in the background such as the butlers. This is used to keep the audience engaged with the main character in the scene and not get distracted by events in the background, however it also gives the audience the impression that lower class people (such as the butlers) are not as important as the upper class, so they are shunned to the background of this scene, but also in society. The editing in this scene is very low and smooth, as one camera shot is used for about three or four seconds before it cuts to the next camera shot. This slow editing matches the tone and atmosphere in the scene which is very relaxed.  

In the next scene in the extract of the downstairs of the house where the maids are, the mise en scene immediately shows the audience these people are working or lower class and shows the huge contrast between two classes. The lighting in the scene is dim and much darker than upstairs as they only have a few candles, whereas upstairs they have a large quantity of candles lighting the room up. The downstairs also have a table, however unlike the upstairs, they do not have any food on it at all, which shows that they cannot afford to have a table full of food because of their social class. The appearance and clothing worn by the maids instantly shows that they are of a lower class than the people upstairs because they are wearing grey raged clothes with aprons, which clearly informs the audience they are working and separates them from the dinner guests. 


The language the maids and the even the butlers use when they are downstairs is a huge contrast to the upper class people upstairs. Apart from the main butler, the other characters downstairs are not well spoken as the use such phrases as "Errrghh they look like something the cat sicked up" and seem to have northern accents, which are often stereotyped as being less educated and usually from a lower social class. The sound downstairs is all diegetic sound such as quick footsteps, cutlery, running taps and washing dishes. These sounds show how busy they are and helps create a frantic and chaotic atmosphere. 


The editing in this scene in very fast paced as it cuts to different camera shots quickly. This shows how hectic everything is and added to the frantic atmosphere that is apparent throughout the scene. The camera work used to film the downstairs scene is completely different to the upstairs scene. Unlike the upstairs scenes, steady-cam is used and there is more camera movements such as panning and tilt. The camera panning is used to follow the characters as they walk across the room and the camera shots or not steady at all, it shakes around a lot which makes the audience more part of the scene. This also helps show the chaos and panic in the scene as they rush to send the food up and this could also represent the lives lower class people in this period, that they do not have very much stability in their lives.