Representaion of Ethnicity

Textual Analysis - Hotel Babylon


Hotel Babylon is a British TV series aired on the BBC. With in the series, there is a huge focus on mixed ethnical backgrounds. With in the extract we were shown how different ethnicity is presented as a negative thing. The white migrant officers seem superior to the illegal migrant workers. This displayed through the terror the police bring to the workers. Through out the clip there is also evidence of ethnical stereotypes such as religion,


In the opening seen of the clip, we are introduced to the white migrant officers and police through a hand-held camera shot. This is accompanied by loud and very intense non-diegetic sound. The two work together to create tension. The suspense they bring suggests that they are the antagonists. There is also a lot of focus on the contrast between the costumes that the officer and the receptionist are wearing. When the immigration officer enters the hotel he is wearing a black blazer and black trousers. Black is a colour often associated with evil, the fact that the character is wearing black also suggests that he is the antagonist in the clip. In contrast, the receptionist is wearing all white. This coloured, opposed to black, is associated with good. This presents her as the antagonist. The audience can therefore infer right from the start of the clip who's side they should be on.


Stereotypically Migrants or people with a different ethnical background living in England have a reputation of being criminals. A shot-reverse-shot that reveals the receptionist's face, when the authorities walk into the hotel, demonstrates that the police bring fear. Criminals fear the them as they do not want to be caught and punished. The fact that we can see that they make her feel intimidated suggests that they have something to be guilty for. This fits the stereotype that particular ethnical groups are associated with criminal activity. They also use a Dolly zoom shot to reflect the fear of the receptionist.


After the workers have been alerted about the authorities they are taken to refuge in a closet. Whilst in the closet, shallow focus is used to put the attention of the audience on particular characters. Most of the characters are praying and muttering religious prayers. This follows the stereotype that different ethnical groups are heavily religious as the workers are relying on a God to help them in the situation.


Also we can here diegetic sound in the background which is the whimpers and cries of the workers. This lets the audience here the fear and terror the authorities have brought to the workers. This suggests that the white authorities are superior to the migrants. It also presents them in an evil light as they are causing the workers suffering. On the other hand they could be presenting the workers as being weak and backward. This is a common stereotype because often migrants/immigrants come from countries that are filled with poverty. This makes them struggle to conform to modern/western culture and ways of living.


In this scene the Mise en Scene of the characters conforms to a popular stereotype. None of the workers appear to have any status in the jobs they are doing. This is reflected in the clothes they are wearing. Although they are all wearing uniform, It is very visible of the type of jobs they do from there outfits  The majority of the workers are cleaners, this is a job with a very low salary.