Micro element essay- finished first draft:

 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.