Humans Breakfast Scene Analysis

 

• MES: Binary opposition  of the stereotypical white suburban middle-class British family, to Asian actress.
• In a wide shot of the entire breakfast table, this is binary opposition between Anita, and the Hawkins family is reinforced through MES of Gemma Chan's sturdy posture and straightened hair, constructing the character as polite, perfect, with the placement of her hands at her lap encoding her as concentrated. Whilst in juxtaposition to the slouched Hawkins family, and their messy bed heads.  
• American-British coproduction, which explains the placement of the show as in and around the city of London, as this is an expectation of a British tv-show. 
• Ensemble cast leads to a wider range of representations -> wider range of audiences -> Higher profit for Humans.
• Paul Gilroy, Postcolonial Theory --> Anita as an East-Asian, in comparison to the white Hawkins. --> Anita is constructed as a slave as opposed to a worker or a maid, based upon her costume design,  practical, and dull without expression of personality which is completely different to the baggy, relaxed attire of the Hawkins. --> Clear allegory of slavery.
• Anita is  represented as an 'other' , the Hawkins family are relatable,  and easy to identify with for viewers. But Anita stands in pure juxtaposition of this, completely different from the Hawkins. --> Idea of racial hierarchy. 
• Hegemonic white middle class -> Expectancy to see characters like those we see constructed in the Hawkins Family.  E.G. : Matty, stereotypical rebellious teenage girl. Moody, swears, aggressive tone of voice. --> Targets this audience of viewers in the age demographic. -->  Tomboy stereotype, smart with computers. 
• Toby - Stereotypical teenage boy, sexually motivated toward Anita, awkward.
• Joe - Stereotypical dad, terrible dad jokes,  laidback. 
• Laura - Stereotypical mother, stressed out, high-strung, stern to children but also caring. 
• MES: Setting of the dining room is a highly stereotypical middle-class setting, usage of natural colours connotes to mundanity, and everyday life. A sophisticated home. 
• MES: Wide variety of food for breakfast, luxurious, and hyperreal -> Indicates the Hawkins family are financially well off.
  
• MES: Artwork upon wall -> Connotates both wealth and sophistication. 
• Nuclear family, with a mom, dad, and three children. A hegemonically idealised, perfect family.  - Stark binary opposition to the character of Anita, who as a synth, cannot have children. The differences established between the two cannot be changed. However, Anita desires nothing more than having a mother daughter relationship, as reinforced by her interactions with Sophie. Yet is forced to play the role of a mother, without any positive elements.
• Star appeal of Gemma Chan, and Katherine Parkinson reinforces the wide-spread appeal of the show to completely different audiences.
• Anita must take on stereotypically maternal tasks such as cleaning, cooking, serving food, as established in a close-up shot of Anita wiping the breakfast table with a yellow cloth. -->  Hyperreal, beyond perfection. So much so that Anita annoys and aggravates Laura as a result.
• Anita offers the Hawkins family a hyperreal version of life. A perfect world which would not normally be practical without her. But ultimately, this is mundane.