British Social Realism – From
Documentary to Brit Grit by Samantha Lay
Social Realism in the
British Context
Issues and Themes
What is content usually linked to?
Content is usually linked to themes and issues. These are
usually combined to a film maker’s intent.
What does Lay say about intent and filmmaker’s choice of issues?
Lay suggests that a filmmaker’s choice of issue relating to
British social realism, will often relay a message or mission to inform,
throughout the theme.
Understanding how and why specific issues come into prominence at different points in history can reveal what?
Specific issues from any era will reveal how society adapted their social and cultural attitudes.
Why is looking at the way an issue is dealt with in different time periods important?
The themes and issues of any period can be contrasted to a
different point in time to answer questions and highlight the importance of
change. Moreover, they will also identify the central theme for each period and
depict how issues were resolved and dealt with.
What is implied by the phrase “slice of life”?
The phrase “slice of life” within social realism texts
implies life as it was or is.
Why is an understanding of socio-historical context important?
An understanding of socio-historical context is important,
because it emphasises reality at a specific point in time.
For Lay, what is significant about the idea that film texts are “constructs”?
Lay’s idea that film
texts are “constructs”, as they are constructed in a realist mode and it is
through these constructs that themes and issues can be analysed to convey what
reality is being portrayed and from whose point of view.
Explain fully how Lay differentiates between issues and themes?
Lay explains the difference between issues and themes by
stating that issues relate to distinctive social problems that were/are
topically apparent of that period. For example drug dealing, alcoholism and
sexual abuse and these can be referred to as labels. Many issues; however as
time moves on, are subject to change. Different issues can be identified
relating to society of that time.
Lay
explains themes are deeper; they are not as explicit as issues. They lie behind
issues, collecting them together to give an overall theme. Some of these themes
can be identified as changing gender roles, national identity and the struggles
of the traditional working classes.