Mod A - The Castle

Question 1

How is costume used to establish the Kerrigans as a typical working-class Australian family?

Answer 1

• Establishing shot of Dale as narrator - mullet, blue collar flannel, ‘bogan’ accent
• The council woman is in pearls with collared blouse, while Daryl is in a brown jacket and unbuttoned shirt - power hierarchy
• Sally’s 80s style hair in the 1990s - working class is often left behind in a world that is beginning to focus more on progress

Question 2

How is sound used to establish the Kerrigans as a typical working-class Australian family?

Answer 2

• Opening diegetic SFX - birds, lawnmower, children, sprinklers, dogs barking - indicate the Kerrigans live in a typical working-class Australian suburbia, communal setting

Question 3

How is dialogue used to establish the Kerrigans as a typical working-class Australian family?

Answer 3

• Daryl’s dialogue/accent drops his h’s and final g’s - Indicates a working-class level of language
• Blunt language style shared across community “My friend come to your house, put bomb under your car” - the neighbours are united as a community against the corporate intruders, presents an Australian Identity rooted in an affectionate plain-spoken English
• “I’m really starting to understand how the Aborigines feel” - lack of understanding many Australians have of the history of colonisation and capitalism, partly because of educational and class disparities

Question 4

How is dialogue used to establish the Kerrigan’s working-class values?

Answer 4

• Daryl’s dialogue/accent drops his h’s and final g’s - Simple, unadorned language equates with being straightforward and honest, or “principled”
• Aural motif “Straight to the pool room” and “Tell him he’s dreamin’” - Kerrigan’s fascination with material goods is based on emotional bonds and connections associated with the goods rather than monetary value - e.g. Trading Post is Daryl’s way of bonding with Steve
• Metaphor “If Dad is the backbone of our family, then Mum is all the other bones.” - displays Kerrigans’ mutual respect for their family - Australian values of fairness and equality
• Daryl’s laconic way of speaking has become a part of Australian culture, his phrases become iconic widely-understood idioms and references

Question 5

How does dialogue and language display social hierarchy?

Answer 5

• councilwoman’s “proper” English accent, complex vocabulary and refined accent contrasts Daryl’s “bogan” Aussie accent - councilwoman serves as a symbol for the emerging corporate class/culture in Australia that is becoming increasingly powerful
• Condescending tone from councilwoman, “There is an ironclad agreement between federal state and local governments and the airport commission.” - Legal jargon and bureaucratic language emphasise the higher power of the corporate class over the working class
• Colloquial language “a kick out notice” - contrasts legal jargon of “compulsory acquisition”
• Denuto’s Metaphor “They write the rules, they own the game.” - increasing power of large multinational corporations created a conflict between traditional egalitarian values and the emerging corporate world
• Metaphor/Biblical allusion “Daryl vs Goliath” - David vs Goliath - David’s victory showed the power of his God, Daryl’s victory shows the power of the working class - allegory for how might & brute strength does not always win against the small and meek

Question 6

How does costume reflect social hierarchy?

Answer 6

• councilwoman is in pearls with collared blouse, Daryl is in a brown jacket and unbuttoned shirt - reflects the disparity in class
• Denuto appears dishevelled in Appeals Tribunal court with messy hair, wonky tie, and ill-fitted suit contrasts Barlow Group lawyer’s professionally fitted suit and neat, styled hair - stark image of social power imbalance

Question 7

How does camera work reflect social hierarchy?

Answer 7

• Establishing shot of Municipal offices, pan upwards of Appeals Tribunal Court, tilting shot of Barlow Group office - increase with every level of court, representing the increase in power
• Establishing shot of Denuto’s office above a 1-hour photo shop vs Tilting shot of Barlow Group’s office reveals a sleek, tall, professional-looking establishment - contrast/juxtaposition between Denuto’s office and the Barlow group office shows the power disparity between the two classes
• Low-angle shot of Judge in Appeals Tribunal Court - power imbalance between formally educated and working class, frames Daryl as the underdog
• Low angle shot of Daryl Laurie and Dennis looking up to the High Court of Australia

Question 8

How does sound reflect social hierarchy?

Answer 8

• Diegetic sounds of typing, people talking, and phones ringing in Barlow office vs Denuto swearing at broken printer
• Triumphant non-diegetic music of High Court of Australia

Question 9

How does Denuto’s “The vibe” speech reflect disparity between the classes?

Answer 9

• Vague, colloquial language of Dennis’ iconic “It’s the vibe of the thing.”
• Contrasts with Judge’s and Barlow Group’s more “proper” British accents and dense legal jargon
• emphasises the educational divide between classes - How do you fight someone you don’t understand without the language to do so? Language can be the barrier to power
• Ironic, Dennis is not wrong but doesn’t have the right words to express himself
• Daryl’s enthusiastic delcaration “That was fantastic!” after Dennis’ clearly lost case and dejected facial expression - Highlights Daryl’s naivety and lack of formal education
• Costume - Denuto appears dishevelled in Appeals Tribunal court with messy hair, wonky tie, and ill-fitted suit contrasts Barlow Group lawyer’s professionally fitted suit and neat, styled hair

Question 10

How does camera work represent the vulnerability of the working class?

Answer 10

• Low-angle shots of airplanes and power lines - dominance of technology and globalisation in Australia’s increasingly corporate society & powerlessness of working class
• Long shots of imposing power lines, muddy river at low tide in Bonny Doon - reminder that the working class/Kerrigans are being taken advantage of in an increasingly capitalist society

Question 11

How does dialogue represent the vulnerability of the working class?

Answer 11

• Daryl’s optimistic tone in “Adds a bit of charm. The marvel of electricity,” when looking at the power lines right next to their home, juxtaposes the unappealing shot of the electricity tower - irony of what he says vs what we see emphasises naivety
• Panning shot to the runway as Dale repeats the real estate agent’s quote “Location, location, location.” - irony
• Proud tone & narration “It’s worth almost as much today as when we bought it.” - taken advantage of by a shady businessman who knew they had little education on how the real estate market works
• Condescending tone from councilwoman, “There is an ironclad agreement between federal, state and local governments and the airport commission.” - stark statement acknowledges the lack of protection offered to the working class in a capitalist society that values profit and progress over the rights of the individual
• Editing/humour “I reckon we could be in for a little surprise” cut straight to “compulsory acquisition? They are acquiring it, compulsorily.” - optimistic tone in the statement regarding the value of the house contrasted with his dumbfounded tone, irony reveals vulnerable position and naivety
• Daryl’s lamentation/dialogue “I wish I had your words.” - those with limited linguistic capacity, education and wealth are increasingly vulnerable to powerful corporations/capitalism
• “What are you calling an eyesore? It’s a home, you dickhead!” - Rhetorical questions and expletives (swearing) reveals working class are more vulnerable as their values do not match what corporate class considers to be valuable

Question 12

How does dialogue reflect shared values between classes?

Answer 12

• Juxtaposition of Tracy’s TAFE certificate in hairdressing and Laurie’s son’s multiple law degrees “Proud as punch” - Daryl and Laurie find common values in their mutual love and pride in their children’s achievements
• Laurie repeats Daryl’s dialogue “it’s not a house, it’s a home…people who love each other, care for each other, memories, place for the family to turn to… it’s not just bricks and mortar… you can’t pay for that” - Laurie’s appreciation of Daryl’s words reflects shared values of the sanctity of the family home, fairness, and justice
• Daryl’s consistent outbursts throughout the film “it’s about the law… they can’t do that… it’s not right,” are argued eloquently in Laurie’s summation “It’s about the highest law in the country, the constitution, and one phrase–‛on just terms’” - justice, fairness, & equality as values intrinsically tied to Aussie identity

Question 13

How does mise en scene represent shared values between classes?

Answer 13

• Laurie sits in the iconic family kitchen with warm lighting and close proximity, shows Laurie’s kind and warm facial expressions and tone - Laurie’s ability to look past the superficial and find common values with the Kerrigans
• many people in close proximity gathered together to celebrate - possibility for close relationships between upper class and lower class
• Panning shot reveals multiple photos of Daryl & Laurie enjoying fishing trips together - Celebration of mateship & egalitarian Australian values

Question 14

How does dialogue display values of mateship?

Answer 14

• Dialogue, frightened tone “Jesus Christ, Jack!”
• “He’s a good bloke, Farouk, a bloody good bloke.”
• Blunt language style shared across community “My friend come to your house, put bomb under your car” - the neighbours are united as a community against the corporate intruders and presents an Australian Identity rooted in an affectionate plain-spoken English
• Daryl’s protection of Farouk, Yvonne, and particularly Jack

Question 15

How does camera work reflect mateship and egalitarianism?

Answer 15

• Panning shots of community gathered together at party - Australian values of mateship, family, multiculturalism, and inclusivity as diverse socio-economic groups are gathered together
• Final long shot of the gate taken from the home of Barlow Group executive in front of Daryl’s house - Humorous symbol of Daryl’s triumph & visual metaphor for him tearing down class barriers - egalitarianism

Question 16

Describe the cultural shift in 1990s Australia

Answer 16

• There was an increase in power of coroprate class and large multinational corporations
• they had a close relationship with federal governments
• created a conflict between traditional Australian egalitarian values and the emerging corporate world that valued profit over the individual