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.
Location
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.
Costume
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 hoop.
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.
Make-up and Hair
When Vivien enters the shop, the audience can identify a contrast
between hers and the shop assistance appearance. Vivien’s make up is very
natural and care free, she has a youthful, intriguing and exciting look towards
her. She is not interested in how she presents herself, 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.
The colour red connotes fiery and fierce, and the curls connote wildness; which
reinforces her chaotic personality and lifestyle.
Where as, the shop assistance’s 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.
Props
Carrying quite a few shopping bags; this again signifies
wealth to the audience
Physical expression
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 emphasized 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.
Vocal delivery
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.
Interaction between
performers (staging/ choreography)
Women fit in with the shop, they are always altering tiny details which
shows everything has to be perfect, Vivian is walking round the shop as though
she is lost and doesn’t fit in and the others are looking at her as she needs
to get out of the shop and she doesn’t belong there
