Britishness in The Avengers

How was Media Language used to show Britishness in The Avengers?:

In The Avengers, Britishness is portrayed in a multitude of ways. One of those ways is through the use of mine-en-scene and camerawork. The first shot we see involves a low angle low shot of a small deserted street in a little village, something that is rather British, and to further push this stereotype, it shows us an old brick-work pub which is most usually associated with being a British commodity of small towns. Another way they portray Britishness within The Avengers is through the way the villagers behave and react to the newcomers Steed, Peel and Smallwood. Upon entering the pub everyone currently in there turns and stares at those who have just entered, which would be commonplace as most people who live in a small village and know all the inhabitants would be very interested in the actions and motivations of anyone new in the area. Every character within the pub is also shown to be incredibly British as they are all wearing things that are seen to be British. In the case of Steed it is his waistcoat and bowler hat, for Peel it's her odd cardigan that would've been fashionable in the 60's, Smallwood is wearing a fashionable suit and a bowtie. The villagers are wearing simple clothes that would be worn by farmers in the countryside. Some of them with higher positions in society are wearing suits, like the School Inspector. Piggy Warren, the pub owner has slicked back hair and a large moustache which would've been normal for someone in the military as out shows their rank.

Another method used to show the Britishness in The Avengers is through the use of sound and dialogue. The first thing heard within the scene is a non-diegetic sound cue which is eerie, not British but it shows that something odd is happening which fits with the spy theme that is often associated with Britain. Along with that is also diegetic sound which is the heavy wind that is blowing throughout the town, something that is usually considered to be British as we are only known for having horrid weather, something which further reflects this is the first piece of dialogue that we hear from the group as they enter the pub is "Ooh that's chilly" which shows the stereotype that all of us in Britain moan about the weather. Most people in The Avengers speak with a polite and high-class accent.

The final method used within The Avengers to portray the British stereotypes is through the editing techniques. Most of which is continuity editing to maintain the flow of the story. There are also sound bridges to get things to flow well with a unique blend of music. Eyeliner matches are used so we can see what other are staring at, an example this is the plane prop that dangles from the roof, and it is used as a minor plot point that is about how all of those who are British are obsessed with wars we have won and are full of pomp.