Once the routine is finished the audience is then introduced to Tony. He is represented completely differently to the other able bodied characters. The first time we see him he is sitting down, motionless in a dark corner of the room whereas all the other characters are shown under spotlights. This represents the dreadfulness of his disability in contrast to his able bodied friends. By showing Tony sitting down and Maxxie standing also shows that Maxxie has greater power and presence than Tony another way of portraying his disability to the viewer. The shot used is a high angle, over the shoulder shot which also shows that Maxxie is the more dominant character by making Tony seem small and insignificant. The main way in which Tony is represented as disabled is through his speech and interaction with other characters. When Maxxie asks him if he thought the dance routine was good Tony comes across as being completely oblivious to his surroundings and after Maxxie asks him for a second time he eventually responds with mumbled ok. This is a big clue to the audience that Tony does suffer a disability.
After Tony is introduced to the audience the non-diegetic backing music changes completely. No longer is it the upbeat drum and bass that was experienced at the beginning but slow, emotional music too fit in with Tony’s personality. The setting for the next part of the scene is on a bus. The camera shows a close up on Tony looking aimlessly out of the bus window. This again shows that he is oblivious to his surroundings, as though he is in a world of his own. The camera then cuts to a two shot showing both Tony and Maxxie. This shows the contrast between the unsettled Tony and the calm, relaxed Maxxie. The camera then cuts to a close up outside of the window of another bus going alongside the bus that Tony and Maxxie are in and a diegetic, amplified sound of a horn. This makes Tony jump once again showing that he is on edge. Maxxie tries to then settle him down and whilst he is doing this again the camera goes to a close up of Tony holding Maxxie’s hand. This is a sign of insecurity showing the Tonys fragile mind.
Tonys disability is confirmed when him and Maxxie meet the group of young girls. One of the group asks him ‘are you mental?’ too which Tony replies ‘yes’.
The next setting for the opening of the episode is at Maxxie's house. Here the audience learn even more about how Tony’s disability affects him and some of what he used to be like before the accident that caused it. The first thing we see in this scene is an establishing shot of Maxxie’s dining room. Surrounding it are many rosettes and trophies for dancing.
This shows that Maxxie’s able body is superior to Tony’s disabled body. During the scene Maxxie’s Mum starts a conversation with Tony. She speaks to him differently to how she would speak to her son. She uses very simple language and asks him simple questions that only require one word answers. This fits in with the typical stereotype of people interacting with disabled people and how they treat them differently to that of someone able bodied. Maxxie’s mum asks Tony a lot of questions about how he is until eventually he just says ‘I don’t remember you’. This shows too the audience the extent of his mental illness. After the awkward conversation ended Maxxie’s Mum brings out dinner for the two. Maxxie then has too cut up Tony’s food for him and when he is eating it his Mum has to wipe Tony’s mouth for him. This fits another stereotype that disabled people cannot care for themselves. Whilst Tony is eating his food the audience can see that he struggles to hold the knife and fork showing that he also suffers a physical disability. The camera jump cuts to Tony’s Mum in his bathroom at home. Here we see that amenities have been modified to help Tony like hand rails and an alarm. This confirms that Tony has major physical disabilities to the viewer.
To conclude the makers of ‘Skins’ use plenty of clear techniques in order to represent disability to the audience. The use of stereotypes makes it very clear to the audience that Tony is disabled although his whole persona is not solely based around this stereotype.
By Matt Davison
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