Hustle extract analysis

In the clip from hustle gender is represented conforming to stereotypes showing men as more powerful and calm and showing women as lower and trouble makers.

Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze is one of the strong media elements which are used prominently within the clip once the second (blonde) woman enters the scene. This woman within the scene represents the male gaze as its strongest showing her as attractive, young and stereotypically blonde as well as being well spoken, showin she is wealthy and probably had a good education. The woman is shown to be extremely flexible about using her husband’s money (she wasn’t fazed by the price of the dress), showing of expensive jewellery and telling everyone about her husband’s wealth causing the audience to perceive this character to follow with a stereotype of woman not working and needing men in their life, further implied after she loses the ring and says “her husband is going to kill her” proving he has authority over her. The shop assistant also enhanced the idea of the male gaze within this clip as he (although his sexuality is called into question using his job, voice and appearance to exaggerated  this) shows her skin tight, short revealing dresses for what comes across as being for his own amusement. He also is shown to be taller than her, using camera angles to enhance the idea of him looking down upon her when she is trying on the dresses showing that she is an object to be looked rather than the intelligent person she is revealed to be at the end. Mise en scene is a very important part of this clip, as it makes the audience automatically know who is who within the scene. Mise en scene makes it obvious that when the first woman enter the scene, that she is poorer, wearing darker clothes, being older and covering up her body. The main section of the scene in which mise en scene is important is when it shows the men in their club. These men are only shown briefly in short sections throughout the clip therefore mise en scene is the main way in which to show the audience what is happening and who these men are. When we see the men, they are all dressed smart (suits, expensive watches and neat hair styles) and are in a mansion like environment (expensive looking furniture and surroundings) which immediately gives the impression of wealth and power, further implied by when they start drinking out of crystal whiskey glasses. The darkened lighting within this part of the clip also gives the impression of them being calm and mysterious and sets the overall feeling of that section of the clip.

When the blonde woman is first introduced into the scene, the camera focuses in on the ring using an eye-line match to emphasize that this will be an important object of the clip. This eye-line match also works in with the previous part of the clip as it shows a visible binary opposition (Levi Strauss, 1969) with the poorer woman previously shown in the clip. The poorer woman is represented as being lower when she is shown by many things, such as her clothing and attitude in the shop (looking confused as she walks in, being shy towards the shop assistant) and also by the camera angle when the blonde woman walks in the background she is higher up then her despite being in the background and out of focus. Camera angles are also used to emphasize a point when the man walks into the shop using a panning shot to show that he is wearing an expensive suit and that he is a person of importance within the clip. This camera movement also shows the male takeover of the scene, the man taking over the previously predominantly female scene. Another way in which the scene shows the male takeover is the transitions between scenes, normally using a whip effect coving the female scene with the male scene.

Sound is also another important part within the clip, especially the use of direct mode of address, breaking the forth wall within the clip which is unusual for a TV Drama as it is controversial, some people don’t like it as it ruined the realistic  feel of the Drama. Another way sound is used is as a part of the Mise en scene of the shop assistant adding to his impression of not being stereotypically male, making him have a higher voice which added to the overall effect (working in a dress shop, wearing tight fitting suits etc).

Overall, all of these add to the final effect of the scene showing woman as weaker compared to the strong, powerful, relaxed, rich looked men in their club. It shows the woman as lower using camera angles, different voices and sounds, how they dress and how the camera looks at them to give the effect of them (especially the blonde woman) needing men within there lives.