Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of disability using the following: camera shots, angles, movement and composition, editing, sound & Mise-en-scene

                In this extract from casualty, camera shots, angles, movement and composition, editing,  sound and Mise-en-scene to construct many different representations of disability, such as the stereotype that disabled people are venerable.

                One representations of disability in this clip, is the stereotype that many disabled people just ‘give up’. One way in which this stereotype is shown is through sound. In the toilet scene, the brother in the wheelchair, says “I’ve had enough Adam. This disease is winning”, implying that he has given up and sees no reason to continue fight against his disease. This stereotype could also be shown through camera shots and angles. In the bathroom scene, there is an over the shoulder shot, in the mirror that shows the disabled man to be lower than his brother. This could be used to show that the disabled brother feels inferior to his brother. This is also shown through the use of a wheelchair in the scene, to show that he is cannot walk, and that may also make him feel lower than his brother. Also, the fact that the shot is in a mirror, could be used to represent the idea that after death, people close to that person will often imagine seeing them in certain places, which could also be used to show that the disabled man has given up. It could also be that the brother cannot face each other, as they know what is coming from the brother’s incurable disease and do not want to face it.

                However in this extract you can see a power shift between these two brothers. When they move to scene in the café it is almost as if the brother in the wheelchair has more power over his brother. This is shown through the shot type. The shot type is a wide shot, to show the two brother sat at a table, neither is shown to be higher than the other, but they are both show to be equal. As they are both sitting down, the brother in the wheelchair is not physically lower than anyone else, as they are all sitting. This power shift is also shown through the dialogue. In this scene he says to his brother “fetch me a straw”. There is also quite, Christmas music playing in the background to reflect the light-hearted situation, and the disabled man is relaxed. Although this could also be shown as him giving up, and not trying to do everyday tasks for himself, it also shows that he has power over his brother, as his brother does it straight away. It could also be shown through the Mise-en-scene, in that in the café, the disabled brother knows more people, for example, he knows the waitress by name, showing that he is not seen as inferior or different to anyone else.

                Another representation of disability in this extract is the stereotype that disabled people are vulnerable. One way this representation is shown is though shot types. In the scene where the man is mugged, there are many different shot types used to show this representation. One shot type used is a medium-close up of the disabled man, to show his hesitation about what to do when he is approached by one man on the bike with his hood up. It also shows the fear on his face, in that he is clearly intimated. There is then a wide shot used to show that he is being approached in both directions by two hooded men on bikes. This shot shows him change directions, again showing his hesitation about what to do. In this scene, there are quick cutes between these shots to show the tension building and that the disabled man is getting intimidated and worries that he doesn’t have anywhere to go/doesn’t know what to do, showing his vulnerability. The background noise in this scene, is everyday noise, such as cars, showing that disabled people could be vulnerable in everyday situations.

                In conclusion, this extract shows many representations of disability, such as disabled people having less power, and disabled people having more power, in many ways, using Camera shots, angles, movement and composition, editing, sound & Mise-en-scene.