How typical are your chosen texts of their genre?

  Fish Tank is a controversial, low budget film which presents a bleak message of the harsh reality of society. Social realism is the main genre of Fish Tank and aims to reflect the social issues of real life whilst being as close to reality a possible. The opening scene reflects this genre well from the use of diegetic ambient noise alongside the main protagonist Mia who is heavily breathing which creates a sense of realism. The film is set in run down council estate which is shot using a handheld camera using a shallow depth of field which goes in and out of focus to show what is going on. Natural lighting is used throughout the film to make it more realistic. Mia is dressed in a cheap tracksuit and often swears which reflects her working class status.
  Social realist films often revolve around issues of modern society which are also portrayed in Fish Tank. There is no sense of family or community, the film follows the rise and fall of hope and despair of the variety of characters and due to the bleak message of reality that has been portrayed Fish Tank is pushed aside and marginalised and therefore is aimed at a niche audience. Genre has gone through many changes since the 1960's where 'Kitchen Sink' dramas of the same social realist genre where represented differently. For instance in "A Taste of Honey" there is a scene where a woman sleeps with a Black man, this was seen to be extremely controversial at the time and the scene does not fully show what happens unlike Fish Tank where the audience have to see Connor and Mia sleep together which is uncomfortable for the audience but reflects real life issues.
  Fish Tank was set in Tilbury which is located near London and has a huge social deprivation and a reputation for crime and anti social behaviour.