An analysis of Status in Rome

The clip of Rome shows many different scenarios that were happening due that certain period. Many representations are made throughout the clip in order to show the importance of status at the time.
The first shot that we see is an establishing shot which seems to focus upon of soldier as there is a tracking movement placing him always in the centre of the screen. This camerawork seems to be extremely polysemic; the first reading would be that the use of an establishing shot presents all soldiers as well as the one we are following; this could connote to the audience that all the warriors are of low status due to them being unidentified. Furthermore, the use of high angle shot degrades the soldiers and signifies to the audience that people with low status mean nothing and connotes them as worthless. However, an oppositional reading would be that the tracking movements highlight the soldier in the middle of our screens, giving him more status than the others around him. Therefore, this far from anchored camerawork results in confusion in regards to denotations; this confusion inflicted on the audience could mimic feelings of the soldiers; connoting them as unintelligent.
In the next scene we see the two men presented in a two shot at low angle. This low angle shot enhances their figures on the screen, making them bigger and providing them with more power and status. What’s more, in contrast to the previous establishing shot of the soldiers, they are a variety of over the shoulder shots and close ups. These shows are often used in order to focus upon a certain characters emotion. This denotation added to the established high status connotes to the audience that it is only people with high status and power whose opinions really matter. This could signify to the audience that the culture of Rome at the time was extremely materialistic and power hungry.
The scene to follow shows soldiers on horses; the character of Lucius is shot in a mid shot on his own in contrast to the two people he is talking to being presented in the same shot. By using a similar shot type for all of thee characters it connotes that they are of similar ranks. However, by Lucius denominating the screen on his own it is clear that he has slightly more status than the other two that he is addressing.
The next scene focuses main on portraying the status of Julius Caesar. When Lucius is addressing Julius there is an extreme high angle shot focusing upon Lucius, so much so that the camera work becomes noticeable, decreasing verisimilitude. Not only does the extreme high angle shot emphasize Julius’s superior authority but due it gives the idea of surrealism because of the extreme gradient; this surrealism could connote to the audience that to even talk to Julius was almost dreamlike and an extreme privilege.
To conclude, camerawork is used throughout in a very basic yet effective manner. The representation of characters is neither positive nor negative but merely a reflection of the time period due to this being a period drama. It shows us how materialistic everyone was by manipulating the audience into people being better than others, which isn’t accurate at all.