Case study: ‘Labelled’ By Shakiyl Cox Jaden agyeman-charles

What is the message that is being conveyed? ‘Labelled’ is a documentary made by Shakiyl Cox. He is a 23 year old graduate who lives in suburban's within America, before this he lived in a ghetto area. Shakiyl is trying to spread the message of how the media allows people to implement themselves in the wrong way and this causes stereotypes and people to be ‘labelled’. Shakiyl Cox then interviews his parents and they explain how they are often asked why they don’t talk ‘black’. They then go on to expand on the topic and say because they speak well enunciated and don’t play basketball they are often singled out. The aim of this is to show people there shouldn’t be the label on how black people and other races talk ‘different’. Shakiyl also interviews people of other races such as his girlfriend which is white. She explains how she has realised herself that black people are portrayed differently and are seen financially unstable. The message which made me analyse this documentary was from Shakiyl Cox’ teenage brother. He pointed out that black people aren’t represented well on television and it causes normal citizens to be treated differently. He then reinforces the point of television shows choosing black people that often are dramatic and this just makes the show interesting, without that there would be no point.

How does film language represent this?

Cinematography & lighting – camera shots, movement and angles, lighting

Sound – diegetic/non-diegetic – does it relate to what we see? Throughout this documentary, there are diegetic sounds

Mise-en-scene – props, location,

What responses could the audience take from this?