Heaven Homework Question

With reference to Emeli Sande’s heaven how realistic are the representations offered by the video

 

Emeli Sande’s ‘Heaven’ depicts street life in a working class area of East London. The video itself is filmed in Bethnal Green and includes various representations which are realistic. The three most significant representations are the portrayal of street life in London, the presentation of the individuals and Emeli Sande’s presentation of herself as an artist.

Street life in ‘Heaven’ is significant as the whole video is filmed in a real working class district of East London, Bethnal Green, contributing towards the naturalistic representations. The depiction of poverty is quite realistic seen in the two different shots of men, one who is sleeping on the ground with a blanket, and another seen sitting on a carpet at the side of a street. Both these men represent poverty and homelessness in the working class areas of East London. Individuals in reality can be seen in these areas living on streets and sleeping on grounds, hence the representation here is highly realistic and relatable. Another realistic representation of street life in the video is the shot of a mother at a bus stop on a rainy day feeding her child. This shot may reflect the everyday struggles of a working class mother, who has to work and cater for her child. Many other shots of real and natural situations such as graffiti on walls, children playing outside their homes also adds to the naturalistic representation of street life.

Another realistic portrayal is of the individuals. The video shows a montage of a mix of people from different ethnicities, classes and backgrounds, done through various close ups. One of the first shots is of a young white woman in a red backless dress, presented in an ambiguous way as she seems to be sexualised because the camera focuses on her body, but the fact that she walks away from the camera implies how she herself refuses to be objectified. Another shot is of an elderly man who makes direct eye level contact with the camera, he seems to be speaking for people of his age who perhaps experience issues like poverty, illness. Another realistic portrayal is seen through an extreme close up of a black man with dreadlocks, representing ethnic minorities and diversity in London. The portrayal of individuals in heaven is highly realistic as people are captured in their natural state and setting, they have in no way been glammed up for the camera, which seems to be a true reflection of the diversity of people in London.

The final and perhaps the most significant representation in ‘heaven’ is of the artist herself, Emeli Sande. From the very first shot of her, Emeli is portrayed as an individual who is a part of the world in the video, as she does not break the realism of the video. This can be seen in the very first shot where she looks out of a window looking somewhat unhappy, implying how she herself has had negative experiences, connecting her to all the other individuals’ portrayed in the video. Emeli Sande is dressed is also dressed in a casual manner wearing a black overall, with minimal make up which makes her a character in the video rather than a star performer. Another realistic representation of her is the locations in which she is filmed, in various shots Emeli is seen standing in the middle of streets, inserting herself into the street life of East London. However, it can be said that Emeli Sande is an exception in the video. She is the only one professionally dressed, wearing makeup, and she seems to a level of power no one else does. Her presence in the video is almost godly, which questions the extent of her realistic representation.

Overall, it can be said that the representations offered by Emeli Sande’s Heaven are quite realistic as the whole video depicts a natural way of life in the working class district of East London.  The use of real locations and individuals and Sande’s position in this world all work together to create a genuine representation of street life, individuals and the artist.