Case Study (Utopia): Essay Question

What is effective about the opening to "Utopia season 2 episode 6"?

In the opening of the last episode of season 2 of Utopia, you see that the antagonist is a sociopathic character. In the opening scene he speaks about opening a child's throat with a knife and from saying that and how he says it, it depicts him as a sociopathic character. Also from his voice you can tell he is a violent man despite the fact no violence is taking place. This also helps from the sight of his dominant figure and his stern voice which makes the woman scared whilst she talks to him. In addition the camera angles used whilst at the antagonist are mid-shots to show his face whilst he talks but when he gets up, the low angled shot shows how intimidating he is compared to the woman and the child he just scared and the casual walk he takes as he leaves makes him seem as if he didn't care at all. This would potentially shock audiences as normally on TV it isn't acceptable to condone violence but as it is after the 9pm water shed, the ideas of violence come at the users will.

In the opening scene the use of the male being an antagonist and the female shows how people would be stereotyped in todays world. The male being all defensive and talking over the woman may promote a stereotype that most males would act like that and in a way which would act hostile like in the opening scene. It also depicts how women could be innocent around the presence of a man and that they become naturally defensive of their child's welfare which is shown by the woman around the antagonist at the beginning of the episode. The use of close up camera angles during the dialogue between the two characters shows the woman's emotion as the antagonist speaks and it may depict how scared and emotional women may become around a threat.

In the opening scene the use of sound make the scene effective. The use of non-diegetic sounds makes the audience feel suspense in the opening scene and with the use of the uncomfortable sounds it may make the audience ask questions about the antagonist as he confronts the child and his mother at the bus station and in addition the us of diegetic sounds like commuters and bus noises adds a sense of realism into the opening scene in which the antagonist and the woman confront. This may shock the audience as it may make them think its in real life and that this could happen to them.

Overall the opening scene is effective because of many different techniques which add a straight forward narrative into a 2 minute clip which can then engage the audience into the episode.

The research I have done in this essay question will be able to help me when I begin my thriller task as I can use some of the conventions which were present in this opening into my own thriller and do utilise some of the stereotypes to possibly promote some emotions and feelings towards possible characters.