I began looking into more documentary's for inspirations but this time I focused on the idea of how the camera being presents effects the people who are being filmed. I looked at two which focused on community's of people:
1. 'Lift' by Marc Isaacs
I feel like in this piece you get a sense that the people are playing up for the camera in a way that they might not usually act. This is because they are really aware that the camera is recording them and are therefore thinking about the consequences of everything they are doing. They are almost trying to make themselves appear better than they are. However I think the camera man is looking to provoke a reaction from them. This is so that he can discover more about who they are.
2. Channel 4's 'Benefits Street'
I feel like with this series in general it has been made out to all the contributors that it will help show other people the state they are having to live in and they hope this in turn will get them some more help. However I think instead it is making viewers even more aware of all the bad things that get up to such as crime which even though it is only done by a few individuals is now reflecting on all of them. It is almost just re-instating the stereotype of a benefit seeker. In my opinion there are certain people on the show who are representing themselves a lot better and doing their street justice however this is brought down by those who aren't.
Good reflection Billie, programmes like this need deconstructing to make us aware that it is so easy to portray an often villified group like benefit claimants in a way that just feeds established negative stereotypes.
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