This essay analyses the ‘shopping scene’ from the film ‘Pretty Women’.
The two micro-elements I have chosen to use are mise-en-scene and Performance
and how both elements create meaning for an audience.
As the scene begins the main character, Vivian, is seen strolling
through a busy city. The streets are lined with luxurious boutique style shops,
with an expensive content. Most of the sidewalk is lined with old fashioned,
vintage-looking cars. This communicates to the audience that this city is a
wealthy location, emphasized by the people seen shopping around her and their
appearance.
As the scene is introduced the contrast between both Vivian and the
people around her is immediately identified, everyone around her is dressed in
smart, sophisticated clothing, communicating their wealth. In contrast, Vivian
herself is seen wearing black PVC thigh-high boots, this material suggests lack
of wealth as they are a cheaper, tackier version of real leather. Boots like
this carry connotations of prostitution as they are usually worn with mini
skirts to show off more flesh; stereotypically they are worn by hookers and
strippers so she is reinforcing the original stereotype. Vivian wears her boots
with a skin tight blue and white dress, the skirt part of the dress is
extremely short and tight, it goes on to have cut out parts in the middle round
the hips to reveal more flesh, and the top of the dress is a white, again skin
tight vest top. They are held together by a silver, circular loop.
She has a red coat tied around her waist almost like she is rebelling
towards the classy sophisticated appearance even more so, as she is not wearing
her coat to cover herself. The fact that she does not feel the need to cover up
also reveals how much confidence the character contains and her occupation even
more so. The looks she is receiving off the people around are looks of disgust,
making it obvious that she does not fit in.
When Vivian enters the shop, the audience can identify a contrast
between hers and the shop assistance’s appearance. Vivian’s make up is very
natural which connotes to the audience that she is very care-free, she has a
youthful, intriguing and exciting look towards her. She is not interested in
how she presents her self, her interest is more captured by having a good time.
Her hair also reinforces her attitude towards her life as it contains a look of
wildness, it is big, tight curled and red which again connotes to the audience
an element of her carefree personality. The colour red connotes fiery and
fierce, and the curls signify wildness; which reinforces her chaotic
personality and lifestyle.
Where as, the shop assistance’s appearance contrasts with Vivian’s,
their makeup is extremely prim and proper. They look as though they have taken
a large amount of time and effort with their appearance as they want to give off
a classy impression towards the shoppers, which reflects the store they work in
and the style of clothes they are selling. Their hair has a carefully styled
and ridged look towards it. Overall, their appearance could signify their narrow-minded
outlook on life. They are extremely snobby and instantly judge whoever and whatever
they lay their eyes on.
Most of the people passing by Vivian on the high street are holding
quite a few shopping bags; this again signifies
wealth to the audience. Where as, Vivian is not carrying any, this
could suggest to the audience that she is not as wealthy as everyone around
her. She is strolling down the high street with no newly purchased possessions
which is another reason why she stands out to the audience as different and
contrasting.
Vivian walks around the streets with a smile on her face, happily
browsing at the clothes in the shop window, connoting her air of innocence. Whilst
entering the shop she begins to bite her nails and look around awkwardly,
communicating to the audience that she feels judged by the shop assistants.
This is emphasised as they all suddenly stop what they are doing and gaze up to
her with a look of disgust. Both the shop assistants look Vivian up and down as
though she does not belong there; connoting that they are insulted by her
fashion sense, as though she is a lot lower in society then themselves. They are
constantly looking down on her making her feel even more awkward whilst wearing
a sly smirk upon both of their faces. Vivian appears shocked towards their
expression and the way they are both treating her as she cannot understand what
she has done to insult them. She finally walks out on to the streets with a
look of disappointment, covering herself up in embarrassment. The fact she
covers herself up allows the audience to almost predict the narrative, focusing
on her outfit and the drama and judgments created around it.
Firstly one of the ladies who work in the shop ask “can I help you?” in
a confused and unfriendly tone, as if to ask why she is shopping in such an
expensive place way above her budget. Vivian replies “no, I’m just checkin’
things out’ in a friendly informal manner. The audience can already indentify
the contrast between both of their voices as the shop assistant is portrayed as
a judging, high class snob and Vivian has a sweet, innocent tone to her voice.
Vivian’s voice being innocent and sweet also contrasts with her occupation as a
hooker, as her tone challenges what she does, but also has connotations of
trustworthy and naïve which could reinforce her occupation as she is willing to
trust whoever. After a few other judgmental questions asked Vivian decides to
ask her “how much is this?” again in her sweet tone, despite the way she is
being treated, the shop assistant replying “oh I don’t think this would fit
you”, meaning she doesn’t want to see this outfit on her as she doesn’t want to
gain the shop a bad reputation. Vivian replies “well… I didn’t ask if it would
fit I asked how much it was” the audience are able to detect that she is
getting angry and frustrated within her tone of voice. “How much is this
Marie?” almost mocking her and receiving her friends judgment also, Marie
responds “Its very expensive” suggesting that they have been able to figure out
by judging her, her occupation and are
adamant that she cannot afford this item, despite their lack of knowledge. The
lady repeats Marie to add an extra emphasis of what she said, trying the make
her feel even more intimidated and bullied. After all of this discussion the
lady demands “I don’t think we have anything for you, you are in the wrong place,
please leave!”, Vivian decides she is fed up and wants to leave anyway and she
does not respond.
The shop assistants are an extension to their surroundings of a
perfectly organised shop. This is evident with how they constantly alter tiny
details and attempt to diminish imperfections; communicating to the audience
that they strive to live in a wealthy, sophisticated environment. The interaction between the shop assistants
and Vivian communicates the film’s message of how society judges. An example of
this would be Vivian wandering around the shop with the shop assistants being reluctant
to approach her and enter her space as if she is dirty and carries some sort of
disease. This connotes meaning to the
audience that Vivian doesn’t fit in and the shop assistants remain physically
distant from her signifying to the audience that she is not welcome in the shop
and does not belong in their ‘world’.
The micro-elements that I have focused on communicate a message to the
audience that society is very judgmental. Most people in today’s society are
most likely to look down on people who are less fortunate or are in a lower
class than them selves, and instantly judge them. Mise-en-scene connotes this
because of the makeup and hair on certain characters and the way they dress. Appearance
is seen as an essential in society; that people must appear attractive and well
groomed. Performance is also a successful micro-element to explain judgment
that I have chosen, as it is generally used to connote judgment within society,
because of the way people act towards others around them or ‘below’ them. No
matter how friendly or how much some people try to get along with others
sometimes they still manage to shut them out, mostly due to appearance. People
mainly do this because they do not want to end up being judged themselves by
associating with certain people.
