Ideology in Trainspotting

Ideology is a large part of what makes Trainspotting Trainspotting. It not only forms the

foundation for the character change we will see characters like Renton and Tommy go

through in the film, but also establishes the kind of world in which the characters live.

Now, I find that there are two types of ideology at play throughout the duration of the film,

which may or may not be odd. There is the ideology of the characters which is presented

by their dialogue/actions and shown in certain scenes and moments. Their feelings and

thoughts that Heroin use is a fun pastime that fulfills their life and gives them extraneous

pleasure. And then there is the film's ideology which is presented by the director in most

scenes of the film. The notion that Heroin addiction is a detrimental and life ruining aspect

of these characters lives, and that it only ever harms them, never helping. There’s really a

duality at play in the film which is evident in the use of shots, mise-en-scene and performances

of the actors, and I believe both ideologies are perfectly showcased in the films cold open, as

well as the moment in which Renton visits “The Worst Toilet In Scotland” in order to retrieve his

Heroin suppository.

Let’s start where the film starts. We start off with Renton and Spud running from the police

while high octane, non diegetic rock music plays over the scene. The music is the first indication

of the character's ideology. It creates the sensation that their drug fuelled robbery is fun and exciting

and the audience sees the scene from their perspective. Renton and Spud are always shot in close

up shots which are positioned high up whereas the police are in a medium long shot with the camera

positioned low down to the floor. This represents the idea that the characters see themselves as

distinctly different from the police while also being in a higher state of social status as they see that

they are free from social norms and constrictions. This is supported by Rentons opening voice over

monologue where he puts forward that you could either follow these societal norms or shoot up

Heroin. This is his ideology, at least at the start of the film. Be trapped by society, or be free from it

via substance abuse. As the scene continues on, music blazing and Renton rambling continuously,

we track back from Renton as he runs. Spud has been left behind for the time being which could

suggest the film's ideology is seeping into this moment for Renton. What I mean is, and we’ll get to

this later one, the film suggests that life as a drug addict is a lonely one and we see this as Renton

runs by himself before getting hit by a car. This is to represent the film's ideology quite literally jumping

out at Renton. It’s meaning is that substance abuse will only harm you which is shown by the car

hitting Renton. Although, Rentons response links back to his ideology. He laughs at the car, as if to

mock the film's ideology. Rentons laughter is representative of his lack of care for his own wellbeing

and thus the film's ideology.

We begin the toilet scene with Renton going into the toilet. We linger on the door for a moment while

some text appears on screen reading “The Worst Toilet In Scotland”. This text might as well have read

“Renton Hits Rock Bottom” as that’s what this scene is supposed to represent. We cut to a shot that’s

inside the toilet. Once again we get a shot where the subject of said shot is in a mid-long shot with the

camera positioned low. This alienates the viewer from the sequence and once again shows the

ideological idea that we are in a higher social status as we have not resorted to Rentons level. The

design of the toilet itself is reflective of Rentons situation and thus the film's ideology. He is surrounded

by human excrement. His addiction has lead him here, he is deep in sh*t, in terms of his addiction.

The camera follows Renton into the toilet, giving us an overhead shot along with a close up of Renton

looking disgusted at the state of the toilet. This is representative of Renton looking upon his own life in

disgust. Again, the film gives us the ideological implication that drug addiction will lead you to looking

upon yourself in disgust. Renton does his business and immediately rummages through his excrement

looking for his Heroin suppository. This overtly presents the idea that Renton his “crawling through sh*t”

to satisfy his urges. The films ideology is that Renton is throwing his life down the toilet for the drugs and

that he’s wasting his life on this mindless sensation. This is further represented later on when, in a

surrealist scene of the film, Renton falls down the toilet and swims through his own excrement.  

All in all the film and the characters present two very different ideological mindsets and ideas. Renton,

at least in the opening, presents the idea that Heroin addiction is fun and exciting, and somehow better

than the general mundanity of everyday life. This is opposed to the films ideology, with the film putting

forward the idea that drug abuse, more specifically Heroin addiction, is detrimental to one's health and

well being and that it will only serve to damage the individual, never helping them.