Trainspotting - Social and cultural context

How does the mis-en-scene and the music in Trainspotting reflect the social and cultural contexts of the film's setting.
  • Post Thatcherism (High levels of unemployment and under development among the young in working class areas) 
  • Drug and Rave culture 
  • Different elements of Scottishness (Clydism, Tartarny,  Kailyardism)

The film Trainspotting is set in the 1990's in Scotland. It portrays the story of Mark Renton trying to escape the cycle of drug abuse in the darkest recesses of Edinburgh low life. The use of Mis-en-scene and sound in the film allow understand the social and cultural contexts of the films setting. The film is set post Thatcherism. Her economic, social and political policies led to mass unemployment and high underdevelopment among the young in working class areas. This led to a creation of the Rave and Drug culture which can be seen as the second 'summer of love' in 1989-90. The drug ecstasy was discovered and used by many teenagers to escape the stress of everyday life and live freely during the secret night time raves. This newly found drug culture is shown in the film as Renton is trying to overcome his addiction of heroine. The use of the music in Trainspotting is ironic. This is because in the film the songs 'Lust for life' and 'Perfect day' are used. These are ironic as the song perfect day was used when Renton overdosed. Therefore his day was not perfect as overdose can lead to many heath problems and even death. However it could also be viewed as if the overdose did lead to his death it would take away the misery of the repetitive cycle of drug abuse and it could be his way of breaking free from it.

The film Trainspotting also reflects the social and cultural aspects of the 1990's through the use of mis-en-scene. Clydism is portrayed in Trainspotting through the use of the setting. Most scenes of the film are set in underprivileged parts of Scotland where the working class are still suffering from the policies Thatcher imposed whilst serving as Prime minister. The working class citizens all lack determination to contribute to society and instead turn to the use of drugs and heroin as an escape. However Renton is trying to break this cycle. Tartanry is also challenged in the film Trainspotting. This is because typically the stereotype of Scottish males are ginger hair and beard with bag pipes and a kilt. In the film the characters are all under privileged and live in deprived areas so do not conform to the typical ideology of Scottish males. However the character of Begbie indirectly reinforces in some ways the typical stereotype as he is a violent, drunken and angry man.



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