How are stereotypes represented in shameless?

Shameless presents a range of working class stereotypes, it portrays them as being morally corrupt and deviant, whilst also contrasting this image with middle class values such as caring for children. Frank is the character who creates the most stereotypes, in one shot we see him drinking and smoking in a pub whilst looking after his two babies, This scene adds levels of comedy to the scene because, whilst talking about his views on parenting there is the diegetic sound of his babies crying in the background. This shows that Frank is an awful parent and that he lacks the skills needed to look after children, it also confirms the stereotype that the people of the working class are bad parents.

The clip shows sequences, which are unrelated, this portrays the characters lives as being very problematic, for example it cuts from crime to parenting to crime, almost as if stating that there is no real difference. This also enables the audience to witness all the different characters storylines and see how their lives link whilst at the same time showing the classic stereotypes of working class behavior. The first shot in this clip is of a couple sitting down on their sofa, they are both lying very far down on the sofa and you instantly think that they are worn out from working. This is a mid shot which slightly zooms as the scene goes on enabling the audience to get to know the characters, this zoom takes so long that it is almost like we are slowly focusing on the characters true problems.

There is then a point of view shot, this shot comes straight out of the television and shows once again the lower pleasures, which are enjoyed by the working class. It also give the impression that the working class have big families, the family is spread out over the floor and the edges of sofas etc. This shows that the people in the working class don’t have enough money to tend to the needs of all. There is then an over shoulder shot of two women having a conversation if a different room, the shot is mainly focusing on their expressions throughout as they talking about the difficulty of parenting, there is then a close up shot of vodka, this continues to show the stereotype that the working class need alcohol in their lives, and the idea that they are all alcoholics.

The final scene within the clip shows a police man who is on speaking terms with one of the families asking whether or not the husband/father has stolen a car. This shows us instantly that this character is a thief because the policeman has obviously caught him committing a crime or knows that he has been deviant in the past. The idea that the policeman is helping the man out gives us the idea that he was once working class and that he is still a member of their community in many ways. When the man is asked whether or not he did steal the car, all he does is shrug and drink a beer, this instantly shows us that he did commit the crime but knows that he should not say anything which may effect him in court. The next shot is a close up shot of the man and his wife standing in a dark garage looking in towards the camera, the characters look worried and after the husband/father swears the camera then shows a large empty warehouse, this tells the audience that the characters have lost the car which they had previously stolen.

Several types of lighting are used in this clip, for example chiascuro lighting is shown to connote mystery, as there is a character on the wrong side of the law. There is not much true representation in Shameless because it zooms in on the small amount of people within society who actually fit the majority of stereotypes for the working class.