How is class and status presented in Downton Abbey?

Class and status are presented in four key ways within Downton Abbey. 
Firstly, through camera shots and techniques we see a number of effects created in the 4-minute sequence. The most important shot will have to be the panning shot in the first 2 seconds which changes focus from the cyclist to the wide shot of the building. This hints at class and status as we first assume the cyclist to be the protagonist, however, there is more to it as the building makes him seem insignificant. This enforces the idea that everything is insignificant to the building and that the building and materialistic concepts are much more important within the frame so class and status are presented in this way. 

Another use of camera techniques is when the rich male walks down the stairs. We see that the camera is focusing on him the whole time with the exception of the dog. At first, we assume that the man may be a personal assistant to the rich people as he is in a formal suit. However, the moment the dog enters the frame we are assured that this male is one of the key people within the sequence as the shot changes to a wide-shot encapsulating the grand architecture and location in which he is walking in. This highlights that he is rich and class, as well as status, is presented because he isn't in the servant quarters of the building. 

Furthermore, the use of mid shots in the first minute in the kitchen creates an overwhelming and stressful atmosphere as the servants are preparing breakfast for the upper-class citizens. This translates that there is a clear class and status divide as they are having to work on time to prepare the breakfast for the upper-class people. 

The sound in downtown abbey is mostly diegetic and non-diegetic. The non-diegetic sounds tell the audience how to interpret the scene and what the atmosphere is like. We see that the non-diegetic sounds in the first 20 seconds create a grand opening and stressful atmosphere which is continued into the kitchen scene with the servants. The non-diegetic sound creates a clear class and status divide as the sound changes depending on the character and people involved within the frame. The use of the sounds when the building is introduced whilst the cyclist is cycling is very grand creating an overwhelming sensation to hook the audiences into the sequences. 

The diegetic sounds finish off the scenes and shots as well as presenting the class and status divide. The sound of the bells in the first minute in the kitchen as well as the steam coming from the iron all highlight how the workers are limited to having diegetic sound so limited within the frame. Whereas the rich upper classes are introduced with non-diegetic sounds so they have greater screen presence within the scene. 

The mise-en-scene enforces a distinctive class divide between the upper class and the lower class. The colour palette for the workers is dull and pastel whereas the colour palette for the upper class is colourful and vibrant creating a sense of authority. The lighting is mostly dull and natural for the kitchen sequence whereas it is slightly too bright for the upper class. The composition within the frames also creates a sense of authority. We see this because in the kitchen sequence there are lots of servants giving an order to one another but no one seems to have full power. The crowded nature unifies them and shows that they are of the same class. However, there are less upper-class people in the frames during their scenes and show that they have greater authority over everything. 

Finally, the editing within the sequence is done immaculately. The continuity editing is seamless and so we go along with the nature of the sequence. We see that the editing is quite sharp during the kitchen sequence to convey a highly productive atmosphere whereas the final conversation between the two people at the end is smooth and the scene seems slower and relaxed. The sharper editing may highlight the fact that the lower class people are restricted and confined by time whereas the upper class does not have to worry about this and so they can complete their tasks at their own efficiency. 


Overall, we see that in the 4 minute sequence of Downton Abbey class and status are presented in a plethora of ways which connote difference aspects of the nature between the class and status divide.    

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