Human Traffic - Questions

1.      How can Human Traffic be considered a socialist realist film? You may wish to consider how the film makers technically communicate a social realism, what issues are raised and how they might affect the audience.

One of the ways in which Human Traffic can be considered a social realist film is that many aspects of the film are true in modern society. These being drinking alcohol in large amounts, drug use and the dance scene; all aspects of modern day Britain. The characters in the film can also be related to, with them having genuine jobs they would expect to have in society, and also coming from real homes, such as Moff coming form a middle class family, compared to the stereotypical view that they are all working class families involved in this behaviour. The effect this has on the audience is that they are now able to from a bond between certain characters, as they may be able to relate to them.

2.      How does the youth culture depicted resist or subvert mainstream society?

The main way that youth culture is depicted to resist mainstream society is the frequent use of drugs by all of the main characters, as well as most of the other background and bit part actors.

3.      How can you consider this film to be British?

One way that this film can be considered to be British is through all of the actors and characters being British, and all of the locations being used also being British. Another way that this film can be depicted as being British is by the excessive use and coverage of alcohol, with Britain being seen as a ‘booze nation’. The coverage of the dance seen can also be seen as helping to depict this film as British, with Britain also being seen as a ‘dancing nation’.

4.      To what extent are the characters in Human Traffic unable to express their identity?

Cultural hegemony has helped to restrict the characters from showing their true identity by placing the ideas of mainstream society onto them. One of the ways that this has been done is to give the characters low paid, none expressive jobs. For example, Jip is working as a sales assistant in a clothing chain, which is a world away from his true identity of being a party animal.

This thus creates ‘alternative’ identities for each of the characters. For instance, Koop works as a music salesman, being vocal and boisterous helps him to sell music, whereas his true identity is being a paranoid man. The same can be said of Lulu, where she works as an office worker, which is seen to be boring and mundane, whereas outside of work she is very energetic and likes to party.

5.      How is the social-realistic verisimilitude created in the text?

One of the ways that the social realistic verisimilitude is created within the text is by the use of real footage. An example of real footage being used in Human Traffic is the clips at the beginning, showing the UK dance scene. Another way that this effect is created is by the actors looking at the camera, and also by the characters talking to the audience. This gives the audience a sense of a connection with the actors; also it creates the social-realistic verisimilitude within the text. This effect has also been created by the insight that we gain into the private lives and fantasies of the characters, for instance we gain an insight into Jip’s sexual problems.

6.      What anxieties does each of the characters have? Where do these anxieties stem?

Jip – sexually paranoid – Family situation (his mum is a prostitute)

Lulu – doesn’t find much to fancy men – possibly because of bad experiences.

Moff – family are down on his behaviour – family situation (they don’t like the way he is living his life)

Koop – paranoia – social practises (possibly because of the amount of drugs he does)

Nina – flirts a lot – British reserve (it’s just in her nature)

7.       In consideration of the effects and uses and gratifications model, does Human Traffic promote drug usage?

I do not believe in any way that Human Traffic promotes drug use. There are moments when the film does make you feel that drug use has its benefits, but there are also moments when the audience see that drug use has many flaws. I believe that what Human Traffic does is give an unbiased review on the use of drugs, outlining both its flaws and benefits. For example, although we may see that some of the characters get a ‘buzz’ from it, we can also see the aftermath of drug usage, such as Moff (a frequent user of drugs) saying he will never do it again.