Semiotics in Action: This is England (Opening Scenes)

In This Shot:

• There is central framing, which puts the words "THIS IS ENGLAND" within the middle third.  This is to give the audience a focus point and a very clear message...

• The writing is white with black smudges on it so as to seem grubby and neglected, signifying poverty and hardship.

• The words are also positioned directly in front of shoddy looking council houses; this connotes that the film is about working class people, but also has a greater reading that (coupled with the statement-like capital lettering of "THIS IS ENGLAND") has been anchored to show us that this scene is about what England is really like... 

• Poor, unkempt, and desperate.

In This Shot:

• Just as in the first shot, again there is the use of central framing. The face of a young woman is in the middle third, making her the focus point; however it's to be denoted that she is being lead by two large male police officers. Given the binary opposition of these front three figures, (and the angry looking civilians following behind,) it's clear that this scene is some sort of protest/riot.

• A narrative enigma is created though, as the audience (particularly younger members) are unlikely to know any information about the protest/riot. This mystery is furthered through questions over why the young woman is being  arrested, why there is a barbed wire fence in the background, and what it's protecting.