Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Merlin

Status

Class

Social classes can depend on where the citizens live and work, how much they earn and how they behave. For example, in Merlin we can see a clear difference between Arthur and Merlin, due to the fact Arthur is the Prince of Camelot and Merlin is just a servant.

Depending on how high up the social scale you are, depends on what status you hold. Higher ranks or social standing shows how well respected you are in the community and how important you are to the general public. Arthur is obviously well respected because he is royalty, whereas Merlin isn't seen as important because he is a

serving boy.

Class and Status

Mise en scene

We begin to see Merlin smiling and this shows he thinks he is winning and proving Arthur and everyone wrong as they think he can't accomplish anything due to the fact he is simply a serving boy.

When Arthur has won the fight he uses the broom to sweep dust onto Merlin as he is on the floor, to show that he is finished with the fight and that Merlin is the loser. This also shows that people treat Merlin badly because he isn't that important.

Editing

At the beginning of the scene there are straight cuts whilst Merlin is walking through the Village. This shows he is comfortable in that area as the citizens are of the same class as him. The editing is slow paced as it shows how dull Merlin's life is because he is a servant.

Actions cuts are then used to portray the tone and facial expressions of both Merlin and Arthur within the conversation. The editing is done at the same pace as the conversation switches from character to character. This is to let the audience know who is speaking and what they are saying.

When Arthur starts demonstrating his skills, the editing becomes fast paced and several different angled shots are shown to show the fight Merlin has to come.

Editing

Clip #3

When the fight has finished there is a straight cut to the next scene between Gaius and Merlin in their quarters. The scene changes so quickly and easily due to the fact this location is normal for the characters to be in, due to the fact they live and belong there.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/640489

Over-the-shoulder shots are used again during this conversation to show what Gaius and Merlin have to say, but there are no high or low angled shots used during this scene because they both work for Royalty and are both respected in the same way.

We can also see they are of the same social class and status due to the fact they share their quarters with one another and serve Camelot.

Sound

In this scene we hear Arthur shout in pain, and this shows that both Merlin and the use of magic is capable of inflicting damage on people. It also challenges the idea that because Merlin is of a lower class than Arthur, he has not chance of winning or standing up for himself, as it is not his place to do so.

Clip #1

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/640442

At the end of the fight, the music's crescendo ties in with Arthur's final blows, and this emphasizes the idea that Arthur should have won anyway. It makes the ending of the fight more final, as well as showing that Arthur has proven his point and Merlin has lost.

Mise en Scene

At the end of the scene when Merlin is talking to Gaius, he says the words "I'm just a nobody, and I always will be". This shows us he is upset about the fact he will never be shown respect because of his position in life, even though he hold great power within his magic.

Location: We can see the difference in class and status from the contrast between the Castle and the Village of Camelot. The Castle stands for royalty and wealth, whereas the Village contains a market and homes that look old and damaged.

"If I can't use magic, I might as well die" shows us that he doesn't value his life, only his ability.

Clip #2

Clothes: When we meet Arthur and Merlin we can instantly see who is more important and of a higher social class, as Arthur is wearing protective clothes and Merlin is wearing scruffy servant clothes. We also see Knights of Camelot and guards who are wearing red capes and this shows they have important well respected jobs.

Sound

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/640459

Actions: People in the village are performing physical jobs such as chopping wood, and this shows they live hard-working lower class lives. Also, when Arthur throws the weapon to Merlin, and he drops it, we can see he has no power over Arthur, the role is reversed.

Non-Diegetic sound is being played to enhance the fight between the two characters and make it more exciting. We can also hear that Merlin seems to be making more noises of pain than Arthur, and this shows he is less powerful and more likely to get hurt because he hasn't had training like Arthur has. This also reinforces the fact Merlin is of a lower social class and isn't as important, as he has never learnt how to fight and is finding it difficult, so he resorts to using his Magical abilities.

Camera Angles

Merlin even uses the words 'oh god' to show he is in trouble as he thinks he is going to get hurt. We can see he thinks he is useless and has no chance of saving himself, and the audience can imagine that is what the bystanders are thinking too.

At the beginning of the scene there is a High-Angle shot to show where Merlin is on the social scale and what class he is. We can see he is lower class because of the Mise en Scene and sound, but this camera angle shows how everyone looks down on him and the audience has the opportunity to do the same.

In this scene, the camera angles are reversed as high-angled shots are used when Arthur is on the floor instead of Merlin. These shots hint at an idea of the fact everyone is powerful and everyone should be equal. However, by the end of the scene Arthur has won the fight and the roles have gone back to normal. The fact that the same equilibrium has been reached shows that society and status cannot be changed by just one man, as the views on class and status have remained the same throughout history, and it is not wise to challenge them.

When the conflict arises, Action shots are used to portray the conversation between Arthur and Merlin, as well as over-the-shoulder shots. This could reinforce the idea that the two men should be equal, but aren't because of the way their lives are.

When Merlin drops the Flail the camera then goes from low to high, so the audience is reminded he isn't wearing battle gear, and isn't well prepared for this battle, because he is a servant and of a lower class than Arthur.

Editing

The editing becomes more fast paced due to the fight unfolding and becoming more eventful. The quick editing shows us that Merlin is feeling frantic and possibly fear when battling Arthur.

Camera Angles

When the fight moves into the bigger open space, a long shot is used to show the predicament Merlin is in, and what the situation is. The shot is also used to make Merlin look vulnerable, due to the fact he is on his own and doesn't have much protection.

Action cuts are used to show the nature of the battle, as well as the ongoing chase between the two characters. These cuts are used to show the audience that there is more to Merlin that meets the eye and he is capable of taking care of himself, and not backing down even if he faces a higher, more important force.

Arthur then stands on top of a cart and he has the higher ground; the best possible place to be when in a battle. This not only shows Arthur is more likely to win the fight due to his training, it also shows that Arthur is higher up the social scale, as well as a higher class, than Merlin is. When Arthur is on the cart a low-angle shot is used to show his importance, and how Merlin is not his equal due to the fact they lead different lives.

Sound

Merlin then falls to the ground and a high-angle shot is used again, to show his vulnerability and the fact he is losing the fight. It also shows how he is of a lower social class than Arthur, and how other characters within the show see and treat him; a servant who is helpless and always underneath the important characters.

As Merlin is walking through the Village, we can hear sounds such as people talking and buying things, as well as animals making noises. The fact that animals such as goats are in the same place as people makes us think that the Village is a common lower class place as the animals are their livelihood and they have poor jobs working on a Market.

When the conflict between Arthur and Merlin starts we can see Arthur has power over Merlin due to the fact he gets away with teasing him, laughing at him, and calling him 'Dumb', whereas when Merlin tries to insult Arthur, he has to add 'my lord' onto the end. This shows the respect people have for Arthur because he is a Prince, and the lack of respect Merlin gets from everyone.

Arthur has also been 'training to kill since birth' so that shows he had a royal upbringing and is more talented than other people, because of his childhood lessons.

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi