Discuss the ways the extract

constructs representations of
regional identity. by Niamh
Sygrove
Consider:
Camerawork/angles/movement
Sound
Editing
Mise-en-scene
Regional identity within media is often represented based on the location in
which the TV Drama is set or where the character is from. In the Doc Martin
extract, the audience is presented with Portwenn, a fictional seaside village
thats based in Cornwall. In Cornwall, England, they are known for a stereotype of
citizens living within a rural area, with most of the adults there obtaining farming
occupations. Within this extract, the representation of regional identity both
agrees and disagrees with the original conventional ideas of the Cornwall area
and its people
To begin, the audience experience an establishing shot where we encounter two
plumbers and Doc Martin inside a dimly lit home. With the lighting being so dim,
it appears that their location is very dingy. This can mimic the representation of
Cornish characters as they are stereotypically known to have hardworking jobs
that specialise in manual labour and therefore with the multiple shades of greys
and browns within this scene, the audience could infer that this symbolises their
repetitively dull working routine.
The camera angle then changes to a low angle, focusing in on the sink in the
room that the two plumbers are attempting to fix. Whilst this emphasises the
fact that they obtain working class occupations, it also exaggerates the idea of
superiority and importance, as the camera angle portrays Doc Martin, a higher
class man, stood up in the room looking down at the two plumbers of a lower
class. During this angle, the audience also get to experience the difference in
their characters clothing. Whilst Doc Martin is dressed very classy in a suit, the
two plumbers are in their everyday working attire; overalls. This again portrays
the idea of superiority and importance as we can infer that Doc Martin appears

successful in an expensive looking outfit, whilst the two plumbers appear scruffy
and less presentable.
Later on in the scene, a conventional two shot is used with Doc Martin when he
intrudes on the plumbers, creating a sense of awkwardness for the entire scene.
His character seems out of place because of high upper class he appears in
comparison to his subordinates. This idea is mimicked in the scene as well as the
two plumbers are in the foreground of the setting whilst Doc Martin lingers in the
background, creating distance between the two (which could be interpreted as
Doc Martin creating distance between the two different classes). This agrees with
the Cornish stereotype that small villages such as itself obtain intimate
communities within their characters, and Doc Martin causes himself to disagree
with this stereotype as he appears like an outsider character based on his status,
that is disconnected from this differently formed community.
Focusing in on the regional dialect of the extract, we experience the father
plumber responding in an attempted piece of confidence, but also inadequate
manner towards Doc Martins questioning over a certain aspect of their dialect.
This part of the scene lasts for a majority of the extract, where we as the
audience get to experience the father plumbers stuttering traits. We can infer
from this that the plumber is in fact lacking in intelligence which then
emphasises the idea that he could be portrayed in a lower light in comparison to
Doc Martin himself as he actually is a bright, intelligent character. It also
suggests that the father plumber may in fact be trying to impress Doc Martin as
hes an outsider from the village, which we can then infer from this that Cornish
people are stereotypically not used to making conversation with people outside
of their small, intimate community. The entire first scene of the extract stays
specifically with diegetic sound, as there is no music or any other added in
background noise being added, it is simply just dialogue, creating a sense of
realism within the conversation going on in the opening scene. The boy plumber,
however, appears wiser than his father, strengthening the conversation so that
we are able to understand the two plumbers jobs more by explaining to his
father which pipe to look at.
Later on we are presented with a shot of the corridor, focusing on the
receptionist. However, we see the younger plumber answering the phone in the
background to show hes assisting Doc Martin by trying to solve the issue. From
this we can infer that he is much more proactive and responsive than his father.
Afterwards, a medium close up of Doc Martin is used and shows that hes
infuriated and is finding the characters lack of intelligence and knowledge
incredibly dull. This can be emphasised to the viewer that hes a more uptight
character than the others that are in the scene. He isnt familiar with such laid
back attitudes as the ones that hes experienced in Cornwall, and so this
continues to differentiate him from the rest of the stereotypical Cornish
community, removing himself even further from their stereotype.
Next, time is pressed as a jump cut is then used to show the viewer a following
pan of Doc Martin and a dog that has found its way into the previous scene. This

technique allows us to see his character from the front, so that we can truly view
the annoyance that rubs off of his character and also the fact that he walks along
at a much faster pace than the other extras that we see in the background. From
this we can infer that hes used to a more exciting life that Cornwall doesnt have
to offer him, in which it is necessary to rush about things. This shows that he
hasn't quite adjusted to this new, slower living style, and is yet to familiarise
himself with the lifestyle of Portwenn, Cornwall.
During this scene, good natured sounding non diegetic music is played in the
background as Doc Martin drags the dog that has intruded all the way to the
police station, which is contrasting with the attitude of Doc Martin, as he is
annoyed but the music appears cheerful. This can be seen as representative of
the attitudes of the Cornish town and how that Doc Martin is a more cynical
character in comparison to the rest of the citizens in the intimate seaside town.
He can be seen as a binary opposite to the majority of the Cornish villagers,
especially the uneducated father plumber from the previous scene.
In the next section of the extract, the camera pans up from the policemen's feet
which allows us to see that hes in a strong position of authority. He is well
respected by the community he lives in. However the scene that follows
afterwards contrasts the policemans well-liked and respected manner, as Doc
Martin appears rude towards him. His very blunt use of dialogue demonstrates
his lack of interest towards the policemen's importance, which contrasts with the
other people living within this society.
After this, a jump cut is used for a following scene and the pressed amount of
time here emphasises a very strong, bluntly tone. Here we encounter another
unconventional villager, however unlike the two plumbers we experience earlier
on in the extract, this villager speaks in standard English just like Doc Martin, and
she doesn't share the Cornish accent that the other citizens possess, suggesting
she too is an outsider character. As this scene progresses, we the audience can
see many similarities between her and Doc Martin. She appears of a higher class,
and this is represented by both her dialect and her clothing, as she appears to be
dressed in a glamorous red velvet blazer, which contrasts with the outfits of the
other, more conventionally regional characters that have been witnessed
previously.
A two shot is then used to show that Doc Martins in a rush, meaning he can't
stop to talk to the woman. This emphasises the fact that hes still used to his fast
paced life, whereas the rest of the Cornish characters wouldve easily been able
to stay put and have a full on conversation with the characters surrounding
them, contrasting the stereotype of Cornish people.
Within the final scene of the Doc Martin extract, we experience with a long shot
as Doc Martin walks past a school. The camera angle almost appears
disorientated, as the pavement slants. This idea is then reinforced by nondiegetic music which is added in with fast pace editing, and we can infer that
hes out of his comfort zone here. Doc Martin also appears confused by the
intimate surroundings and characters. This is then followed by another jump cut,

that shows the shot of another character, this time and old lady, unloading some
produce from a rundown vehicle. The vegetables that we can see in the vehicle
are in a very shallow focus at the foreground of the shot, creating strong ideas of
a independent, self-ran community, in which farming is the main profession,
agreeing with the Cornish stereotype of occupation. The woman is also dressed
very stereotypically, as she is wearing a green gillet. Overall, this extends our
perception that this Cornish seaside town revolves completely around the likes of
manual, physical jobs, and that very few people there actually uphold
stereotypically 'important' positions. Jobs of high sophistication and
intelligence/knowledge are stereotypically known to be connected with cities,
whereas the countryside provides a less intellectually demanding occupation
range.
Slow tracking is shown towards Doc Martin and the old lady, as he crosses the
road to help her unload the food thats located in the back of the van. Perhaps
this was used to encourage the audience to realise that the conversation
becomes much more intimate, representing the intimate Cornish village
stereotype well. The camera tracking and dialogue within this scene strengthens
ideas that small communities like this fictional Cornish village like to gossip a lot,
and this also creates an idea that we as the audience are actually eaves
dropping on them as we draw much closer to the conversation as the scene
progresses.