Silent Witness

In the introductory clip of Silent Witness (Episode "Terror", Broadcast October 15 2008) the viewers are shown a muslim woman in her room getting ready to pray while elsewhere a swat team are shown getting ready to launch an attack, with the viewers assuming that the woman is their victim. During the clip, sound, mise en scene, edits and camera shots are used to represent certain aspects of ethnicity including skin colour, religion, culture,customs and language.

While members of the swat team are in their headquarters, getting their equipment ready, jump cuts are used. This kind of editing showed continuity representing the British way of thinking ;  methodically. The shot shows their organisation and order of the armed unit who are going to use their skills to destroy which also highlights the fact that they think with their heart rather than their brain; they morally think that it's ok to burst into someone's home using explosives and guns.

The negative attitude of the swat team and British people in general is emphasised by the sound of a cackling police officer. The overwhelming sound of this white male's laugh shows how superior he thinks he is. An extra long shot is used at this point which represents the fact that the superiority complex is a trait shared by many other British men like him. The negative view of the Brits contrast with the view of  muslim people. At one point of the clip there are cross cut parallels cutting between the swat team and the muslim woman. The police seem distant, dangerous and unfamiliar while the woman looks harmless and helpless as there is only one of her and many men within the team. This idea is furthered by jump cuts showing the swat team looking tense, illuminated with harsh, bright electrical lighting while the muslim woman is peaceful surrounded by dim lighting. Reverse shots are also used cutting between the woman and a member of the swat team wearing a mask. The idea of a lack of identity contrasting with the holy woman shows us how ambiguos British culture is telling the audience that they are much less defined.

The attire of the characters also tell us something about both cultures. The muslim woman is dressed in bright bright colours and she is wearing a bright blue head scarf. This shows the innocence and moral goodness of the muslim religion; it's intentions are to have followers living a good, honest life. This contrasts with the british who are wearing dark colours with black helmets and protective gear which shows how dark and evil the British way of life is; they do what they want to do and generally are not too attached to the idea of religion and leading an honest life. The idea of the muslim religion being good and honest is emphasised by a long shot of the muslim woman putting on her head scarf with a solemn look upon her face. Her peacefulness shows how harmless she is with the long shot acting as a sign of generalisation of the view. This idea is also furthered by the use of dialogue within which the woman is praying in a low soft voice showing innocence. The zooming long shot to midshot of a member of the swat team holding a rifle shows how corrupted British culture is. It presents as the British culture being corruptive bringing terror in to people's lives.


The culture of muslim people is also presented in the mise en scene of the woman's room. The walls are a bright beige colour which is understated much like Islam and the way that most followers behave, especially the women. Ambient sounds are used in the clip and add suspense while the actual sound which contain drone notes are a characteristic of traditional asian music. This ambient sound contrasts with the diegetic sounds of gun being prepared and shouts of the swat team showing the brutality and hostility of the British culture. This harshness and brutality is also emphasised by a shot of a police car illuminating the dark street with harsh, man made light representing the fact that British have done many things to corrupt the world.

Generally, the clip is giving a negative view on the British culture, highlighting them to be hostile and brutal by using the Swat team to represent the Brits. Muslim people and their religion are portrayed as harmless and good. By helping us build up these views the clip keeps the viewer guessing what is going to happen next
and if these views will be valid and correct throughout the remainder of the programme.