Representation of the north in Get Carter

The audience are first introduced to the north of England is when Carter is on the train ride from London to Newcastle. As we go from London we see green plain fields, that looks natural and clean, it's also very bright also connoting that it's very pleasant . This establishes that the south of England must generally be like this as this is the most that we get to see of the south. But when we start to see what the north looks like, as we start to see it tone down in the lighting, making it low key. As dark colours are associated with grit and death, it gives an impression to the audience instantly that the north isn't a good area in total. As well as when first establishing the north we see a change in the nature, from it being natural to becoming industrialized. Showing the dramatic change in tone through the contrast of natural to industrial shows the north as a much darker and grittier place, than  the south.

When Carter arrives in Newcastle it's instantly shown as dark and saturated of colour, as colour associates with being big and lively whereas this represents the opposite, as it's devoid of any colour. Also when Carter exits the station Carter is framed in a way that makes it seem that Carter is being watched. Giving a voyeuristic experience to the audience, and also making it feel like Carter is being stared at by all of the locals, as he stands out from the crowd whilst wearing smarter clothing than those around him. Making a comment on the differences of northern and southern society. When Carter goes into the bar where the majority of the people are old and are drinking. Again making another comment on the northern society. We get a point of view shot from Carter looking at one of the people having a drink, but he has 6 fingers, this makes a comment of the people of northern England saying that they're even inferior to northern people, even genetically.

After Carter has had sex with Edna we see a marching band. This is a visual signifier of northern culture as marching bands are heavily associated with working class people, which are more commonly found in northern England. The marching band also acts as a visual signifier for decline in moral values, as prior to the swinging sixties, neighbourhoods and communities would go out to celebrate with these marching bands. But with Carter and Edna staying in to have sex and not to join them outside highlights this decline in moral values through the sixties. This is also shown through the religious sign above the bed saying "what would jesus do", this also shows that religious view declined through the sixties as it was a social taboo to have sex before marriage, but now it's seen as acceptable in society. This shows that the film comments upon the fact that the myth of the swinginjg sixties isn't exactly what it is built up to be, and instead of giving women more power it possibly has given them less. But the swinging sixties myth is about having better communities, but this film gives a different message through its representation of northern England