How does Hotel Babylon represent Ethnicity?

How does Hotel Babylon represent Ethnicity?

Hotel Babylon is known for a drama series set in the sexy world of the luxury five star hotel, on a journey beyond the facade of the smiling faces and glittering chandeliers and into the frenetic, non-stop world of the hotel staff. It discovers who the staff are and the background of the ethnic workers within the hotle.

The main two ways in which creating any sought of image is through mise-en-scene and sound. Mise-en-scene is everything going on ‘with in the scene’, this may be costume, set, lighting, casting, etc. Sound is the noise you are able to hear. This could be music, language, effects, or voices etc.

One of the many ways to create ethnicity is through casting of actors. We are presented with multiple ethnicities to create a group of minim wage employees working as the hotel staff such as cleaners and cooks. They range from Latina, African, to Chinese. Having many different actors of different races in a busy environment makes a scene of cultural hustle. Thus giving the allusion all the staff is multi cultural. This is shown when all of the staff is rushing to the room in which they are hiding from the immigration team. We see different skin tones and features allowing us understand the variety of races.             

The costumes are a dividing technique between the front and back of house. With the receptionist and barmen and others from the front of house, are usually clothed in smart suits as they are representing the hotel and what they stand for. On the other side the uniform changes dramatically when it concerns cleaner and cooks etc. With them there is a standard uniform showing the audience a clear divide between the two different staff units.

Sound is a key way to show ethnicity. We hear in the staff canteen and room when everyone is sat eating and on their break that there are many different people talking multiple languages and accents. This gives the audience the ability to hear the representation on ethnicity.                                                                            

The sound of typical jobs happening is another sound technique. Immigrants are famous for doing the jobs British people aren’t applying for. This could be shown through the sound of someone hoovering or sweeping.