Learning Objective: Identify how body language can impact on representation of young people.
Key Words: Body language, gesture and movement
Body language as a visual Code.
Body language is an important aspect of any performance.
An actor's body language plays a crucial part in telling the audience about the character they are playing.
Albert Mehnarabian
In personal communication, the words of a speaker are just a part of his efforts to communicate. The pitch and tone of his voice, the speed and rhythm of the spoken word and the pauses between his words may express more than what is being communicated by words alone. Further, his gestures, posture, pose and expressions usually convey a variety of subtle signals. These non-verbal elements can present a listener with important clues to the speaker’s thoughts and feelings, thus substantiating or contradicting the speaker’s words.
For example, if a person states, “I do not have a problem with you!” while avoiding eye-contact, looking anxious and maintaining a closed body language, it is likely that the listener will trust the predominant form of communication, which to Prof. Mehrabian’s findings is non-verbal (38% + 55%), rather than the literal meaning of the words (7%).
What is body language?
Body language is the way in which our bodies communicate our own or a character's attitudes. An audience or viewer can watch it to pick up on someone's age, emotions, status, or health.
For example, a student being told off by a teacher in a tv drama can easily tell the audience that she's not feeling sorry for what she's done by:
curling her lip
showing a bored look in her eyes
having her head slightly lowered
putting a hand on her hip
having her hip stuck out, with her weight on one leg.
Still_01
In this still from the comedy series 'Little Britain', the schoolgirl character's body language suggests defiance - she has her hand on her hip, and is not making eye contact with the teacher. Notice the teacher character's body language too - his face is stern, and he is looking down directly onto the schoolgirl character.
Body language can say a great deal more than the words we use. There are three main types of body language that you need to think about as part of your speaking and listening skills - eye contact, body position and gesture and movement.
Different types of body language
Body language is the most important aspect of face-to-face communication. Anything you say can be enhanced or undermined by how you sit or stand or how you move your eyes. If you look bored then the audience will be.
The purpose of any face-to-face communication is to engage the people you are talking to. They will then listen to what you have to say. If your body language is right, they will already be persuaded that you are worth listening to.
There are three main types of body language:
eye contact
body position
gesture and movement
Eye contact
02, 03 eyes
Eye contact is vital. If you want someone to listen then you need to look at them - not for too long, of course, but enough to show you are addressing them and that they might want to listen. If you are in a one-to-one situation, such as a job interview, you need to look away every now and again (for example, looking thoughtfully into the distance when you are asked to question, before looking back at the interviewer as you give your answer).
If you are presenting, then you should aim to make eye contact with as many people as possible. Don't stare at anyone in particular, just keep moving to each individual and try to hold their gaze for a moment. If you are in a role-play then you need to look at the people who are talking and make sure that people (such as your teacher) can see you looking at them.
Finally, it is really important that you look at people when they ask you questions and you should give a direct reply when you answer.
Body position
You can tell by looking at someone whether they are excited, bored, relaxed or stressed. If their shoulders are slumped, their head hanging down or their arms and legs are tightly crossed it sends a message about how they are feeling.
To get someone interested in what you're saying you need to look interested yourself. So if you're sitting down, you be should lean forward with your arms open and not crossed. Crossing your arms looks defensive (as if you are worried or scared about something).
If you're relaxed, then you can sit back and cross your legs as long as it is appropriate to the situation. In a job interview that could seem too casual. If you are role-playing a confident boss it may be right. If you're standing up you will need to hold your head up and have your arms open - that way you can get the final aspects of body language right.
04_hands behind head
One of the most common body language gestures, when someone holds their hands locked behind their head so as to support the head with the palms of their hands, they are showing superiority, cockiness and arrogance. You’ll find some of the guys in the corporate executive offices show this gesture, though not for long as executive leadership courses will strike this sign of arrogance out of them.
05_chair straddling
When someone straddles a chair, they are showing an aggressive body language gesture while protecting themselves symbolically with the chair. This gesture shows a desire to dominate the conversation.
06_Legs apart
The most popular body language gesture in the body language of legs. Standing or sitting with the legs spread is the most common superiority / dominance position of men because it clearly puts the crown jewels on display. Often when one man assumes this position, other men in the group will do so too.
07_Body Language
The man on the left is straddling his chair in an attempt to take control of the discussion or to dominate the man on the right. He is also using the direct body point at the man on the right. He has clenched fingers and his feet are locked together under his chair, showing a frustrated attitude, which means that he is probably having difficulty in getting his point across. The man in the centre feels superior to the other two because of the hands-behind-head gesture he has taken. He also has the figure 4 leg lock position, meaning that he will compete or be argumentative. He has a high-status chair that swivels, leans back and has wheels and arm rests. The man on the right is seated on a low-status chair that has fixed legs and no accessories. His arms and legs are tightly crossed (defensive) and his head is down (hostile), indicating that he does not buy what he hears.
08_Pen in mouth
Putting a pen or other object in the mouth is a clear sign of insecurity.
09_head duck
Raising the shoulders and pulling the head down between them lets a person protect the vulnerable neck and throat from injury. It's the action used when a person hears a loud bang behind them or if they think something will fall on them. When it's used in a personal or business context it implies a submissive apology, which detracts from any encounter where you are trying to appear confident.
When someone walks past others who are talking, admiring a view or listening to a speaker, they pull their head down, turn their shoulders in and try to appear smaller and less significant. This is known as the Head Duck. It is also used by subordinates approaching superiors, and reveals the status and Power play between individuals
10_11_Lean forward
When you’re talking to someone and they lean their head forwards, you can feel assured that they are interested in what you are saying.
12_Head up
When the head is lifted high with the chin jutting forward it signals superiority, fearlessness or arrogance. The person intentionally exposes their throat and they gain additional height which allows them to 'look down their nose' at you. Large chins are the result of high testosterone levels which is why chin-jutting is associated with power and aggression.
13_Head down
When the chin is down, it signals that a negative, judgemental or aggressive attitude exists. Critical evaluations are normally made with the head down and until the person's head lifts or tilts, you can have a problem, professional presenters and trainers are often confronted by audiences who are seated with their heads down and arms folded on their chests
Gesture and movement
Look at a television conversation with the sound off, and you will notice people's gestures as they talk. How people sit or stand is noticeable, but what really emphasises face-to-face conversation is how people use their expressions, heads, hands and shoulders to make a point or emphasise words. Gestures bring life to a conversation.
Spread arms can express the size of an idea or object.
A closed fist can express strength or anger.
An open palm can ask for calm (if the hand is raised) or appeal to reason (with fingers pointing down).
Moving the whole body can express energy or urgency.
Walking around a room can also engage more people because you can close in on them to give a more personal edge to a presentation. Moving too much can be hectic, though. It can distract from what you are saying. So think about what is appropriate - and make sure that when you move you know where you are going and why.
Task 1:
Complete this Online test and print out your score:
Complete this Online test and print out your score:
Task2:
Analyse the Kidulthood opening scene with consideration given to body language.
The wearing of the uniforms could symbolise rebellious nature, not wearing it properly according to school rules and not looking smart quite the opposite. Mixed cultures are portrayed and the idea of male aggression is evident.
This could raise the issue anti-social behaviour within a plot line which has been covered in the program. Waterloo road does focus on teen-related issues such as under age sex, binge drinking and youth aggression.
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