One very
evident representation shown within season 1, episode 1 of Stranger Things is
the role of single mothers. Being a major character within the storyline, Joyce
Byers, is shown to be represented as an emotionally unstable and vulnerable
character after his son Will Byers goes missing. Her weak state is represented through
not only her emotive dialogue and characteristics, but also by her clothes and
home. She dressed in dark and miserable colours, reflecting her emotional state
and similarly her house is untidy and unkept due to the trauma and upset she is
facing in the episode. During her screen time, the lighting of the shots is
mostly darker and dimmer, reflecting her overwhelming upset and paranoia. Joyce’s
frantic and unstable characteristics are shown throughout the episode by the
use of quick cut shots between her and the people she is speaking to, allowing
her emotional state to be represented through the use of camera shots and
editing.
Showing a form
of contrast to the unstable state of Joyce, Hopper, the towns Sheriff, fits the
stereotype of an American officer by bringing an element of calm at the Byers
home. The short cut shots between Joyce and Jonathon are interrupted by
tracking and panning shots when Hopper arrives representing how Hopper is
taking control of the case and is attempting to eliminate panic amongst his town’s
citizens, especially the traumatised family of the Byers. His uniform is
authentic and shows the stereotypical Sheriff of 1980’s America. Their cream
boiler shirt and trousers along with a sheriff hat, police badge, walkie-talkie
and police car all represent Hopper as an authoritative member of the town,
there for showing that the police force have not been misrepresented within this
episode.
During Hoppers
visit to the Byers household, he goes out to the shed in the garden, attempting
to find clues as to what took Will Byers the night he went missing. It is
during this scene that representations of the supernatural are shown. The light
in the shed begins to flicker, mirroring the lights that were flickering before
Will was taken. As well as the lights creating suspense, uncomfortable and
mysterious noises are heard. Gurgling sounds and rumbling sounds suggested to
be coming from the supernatural monster that took Will are seen to cause Hopper
distress, not only representing the monster/supernatural as something fearful,
but it also represents Hopper as perhaps being scared. This contrasts his early
calm and controlled representation.
