Socio-Economic Class
The theory of social class is a socio-economic syllabus that sets the criteria of social divides in society. It uses issues such as culture, social norms values and occupation in terms of the income generated from this, in order to place people in an echelon of society that best describes them.
Throughout the world, the theory of class has different impacts and criteria. However in America the social hierarchy is made up of four social divides:
The 'Upper Class' whose social status is perceived via their material wealth and social respect, the middle class whose main characteristic is their professional standing in the occupation fields i.e. doctors and lawyers, the lower / working class who are perceived through their normative laid back behaviour, and the underclass who are seen as the outcasts in the whole social system.
The way in which people perceive these classes divides is as a result of media representation. For instance, large media institutions such as Hollywood and Disney base their film narratives around the theory of social class. An example of this is lady and the tramp and Titanic.
The media control belief that is addressed by the hypodermic syringe model of media effects argues that the broadcasting of representation influences the attitudes of the audience. It is a proven fact that a negative representation results in negative social attitudes. This is due to the creation of social stereotypes through the media, that allows audiences to associate certain characteristics with a certain sector of society. This in my opinion is the basis of social inequality and discrimination. By 'labelling' people we are merely providing social injustice and preventing the social stratification process from taking its course.
The concept of representation embodies the theme that the media constructs meanings about the world, and in doing so, help audiences to understand the underlying message that is attempting to be portrayed. The media use and integrate the theories of stereotypes, realism and ideology as well as media illusions via film form and mise en scene in order to create a 'window of the world' through media messages.
The Hollywood film 'Pretty women' it a typical example of how social classers is projected to society via the means of media forms. It is take from the comedy / romance genre and was directed in 1990 by Gary Marshall.
The film tells the tale of two lovers whose relationship is shunned by society due to the non conformity of their set-up. Vivian Ward, who is played by Julia Roberts, is a Hooker who is picked up by Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) a prosperous entrepreneur who's upbringing is what Vivian would have perceived as a fairy tale. The film is based around a fairytale generic form that portrays prostitution as an acceptable occupation.
The director of the film, Gary Marshall, uses the introduction of the film as a means of induction to the main characters. Through the use of juxtaposition, the social contrasts between the two main characters are established.
Through scenery, the director of the film gives the underlying portrayal of the type of life that the two characters lead. It refers to each of their surrounds and how it is associated to their way of life. The establishing shot at the commencement of the film shows a group of upper class business associates that have gathered in an exclusive setting to meet the renowned entrepreneur Edward Lewis. The location is very elegant, and suggests that Edward is a member of the upper echelons of society.
In contrast, Vivian, the inner city rent girl is pictured in a dingy suburb apartment which is cluttered by irrelevant life memorabilia such as teddies and photographs that have the heads of the boys cut out of them. This suggests that there may be a sector of her life that she wishes to hide and forget. The general décor is tatty and suggests that she is from a lower class and does not care for her life standards but instead is only concerned with carrying out her job as an immoral prostitute. The room conforms to the stereotypical picture of a young teenage girls bedroom. Never the less, in reality she is a fully-grown women suggesting that her lower class lifestyle is restricting her personal development.
Vivian is then pictured leaving her apartment and entering the dark streets of Los-Angeles. From here she walks the streets that are infested by pimps and hookers who are lured by drugs and money. Surely this is not the Afro-Negro meant when he said - 'welcome to Hollywood, the land of dreams!'. The streets are dark and police are shown investigating a suicide. This use of law and order officials connotates to suggest danger, which is a stigma that is associated with the lower classes of society.
Vivian then enters a bar to meet her friend Kid. ...
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Vivian is then pictured leaving her apartment and entering the dark streets of Los-Angeles. From here she walks the streets that are infested by pimps and hookers who are lured by drugs and money. Surely this is not the Afro-Negro meant when he said - 'welcome to Hollywood, the land of dreams!'. The streets are dark and police are shown investigating a suicide. This use of law and order officials connotates to suggest danger, which is a stigma that is associated with the lower classes of society.
Vivian then enters a bar to meet her friend Kid. This establishment conformed to the stereotype of a down town sleaze joint. The people within it were under the influence of illegal substances; they were dressed in a provocative manor. 'Pops' who was the owner of the joint, appeared old and dirty and the upper set of the club occupied pool tables that were only just visible through the chocking clouds of smoke. This is a setting that is associated with gangster genres, and with it came an al Capone look-alike pimp who was smothered by 'ladies of the town'. Surely this is a representation of the lower echelons of American society that would not have been experienced by the vulnerable social elite. From the club, Vivian and Kid proceed to the dangerous streets to carry out their prostitution duties. It was surrounded by other women of the night , black market sales men and dirty old men who are seeking a quick lay. However, the use of palm trees tries to misrepresent this sinful job. However, not even a glamorous setting could fabricate the danger that the women are placing themselves in.
In contrast, Edward is pictured driving to Los Angels in his Lotus. The dominant part of the shots during Edwards long drive were of Los Angeles during the hustle and bustle of night. This was used to signify how Edward was transcending from the ouster countryside to the inner city where life as he knew it would be changed forever.
As we can see, before we have analysed any other aspect of the film, there is an obvious class divide between the two characters. It they are to follow the normal course of love then there paths will never cross. In reality, and in the world of Hollywood film we know this will not be the case.
The use of costume in the film reinforces my opinion that the director is trying to highlight the social divides in society. Edward is dressed in the conventional business suit. It appears to be of high quality and complimented by new polished suit and tie. His general appearance is smart and he is extremely well groomed suggesting that he is from the higher sectors of the social hierarchy, especially when compared with his future lover, Vivian. She is decorated with provocative, revelling clothing that conforms to the stereotype of a Hollywood prostitute. She is wearing a tight blue mini skirt, old, long leather PVC boots, a blonde wig, a white skin tight top and a red long coat, all of which is accompanied by large silver and leather hand bracelets and necklaces. All of her attire portrays a provocative women that fulfils the criteria for the stereotypical view of a prostitute. As well as the main characters, the main social groups that are filmed around them also highlight the divide in social class. Women and gentlemen filmed in Edwards business gathering are dressed formally and according to their class i.e. suits for men and non revealing pretty dresses for the women. However, in contrast, in order to highlight how the two classes are differentiated , Vivian's social group are dressed in that similar of Vivian. For example. Kid, Vivian's best friend and business partner was dressed in a revealing short denim suit and the pimp in the club was dressed in a tight vest and provocative hat.
The main prop used in order to highlight the divide between the two classes was the use of the Lotus. This is something that Vivian dreamt of but knew was out of her reach. Therefore the connotation of this could be Edward was, like the car , out of her reach and Vivian wanted to have something like him.
The most influential factor of representation is the visual image of actions that are trying to be portrayed because it is what causes stereotypes in the minds of the audience. The body language of the actors suggests certain characteristics that are associated with certain classes. Edward is very nervous in the car and appears tom be vulnerable in the city alone. This suggests that he does not travel alone often because his lifestyle involves the use of fancy sofas and aeroplanes. In contrast, Vivian appears confidant and immoral. Her stance in the street is very seductive and suggests that she is selling her body for money, actions that would be shunned if they were to be carried out by a person of higher social status. Vivian's walk to the car is a very unique example of her provocative body language. It is orientated around her job and aims to attract her clients.
A distinguishing factor in the divide between Edward and Vivian as well as their peers is the difference between his formal language and her colloquial language. Different classes can sometimes be identified by the type of language that is spoken by them. This is certainly the case. Phrases such as ' fasten your seatbelt, I'm going to take you for the ride of your life' is not a sentence that would be constructed by the highly educated elite.
The diagetic sound that is edited onto this sector of the film contributes to the identification of the two classes. Vivian's shots are dominated by a high tempo modern beat. In contrast, Edwards is slower in tempo but till possesses beats. However it tends to be associated with each of the characters when it is played.
Never the less, no matter what message is trying to be conveyed, it is the way in which the film is shot that determines how the representation is interpreted by the audience. The shots range from high angled birds eye views to low angled shots which when analysed effectively contribute to the class identification within the film.
The majority of shots used in the film are medium, which are used to show the facial expressions and actions of the actors. However shots such as a high angled shot when Richard is looking out onto his guests from the window at the beginning of the sequence, suggests that he looks down on them and they are all inferior to him. When he walks down the stairs from this sequence to leave, the director uses a low angles descending tracking shot that suggests that Edward is on a pedestal but he wishes to come down to their level and be normal.
Several close up shots of hands for example in the beginning of the film with the entertainer and the drug dealer 0n the Los Angeles Streets distinguishes between the social pursuits of the two classes. A long shot is used of the car to show its elegance and to signify the difference between Edwards and Vivian's driving. In the car, medium close ups are used to show all the actions of the two, and to highlight the differences via comparison between them.
The shopping sequence in Pretty Women is set in the notorious location of Rodeo Drive, home of the most fashionably elite labels in the world. It is certainly the opposite of the type of street that Vivian worked as a hooker on at the beginning of the film. This therefore suggests that class divides even exists within streets.
The establishing shot pictures the functional nuclear family walking down the drive after a day out at the shops. In contrast to this functional surrounding, Vivian emerges wearing her provocative clothes that do not conform to the normative in that particular location. She is aware that she does not fit in which is evident from her confused body language that she adopts when walking down the street.
She then walks into the shop with the intention of spending the money Edward has given her to buy clothes.
The body language of the shop assistance on her arrival is instantly defensive which is shown through the shots of her facial expression and the arm crossing of one of the assistant, which has the connotation of putting up a defensive barrier. This shows how fickle the higher classes are, and how they discriminate lower classes.
The language comparison of the shop assistants and Vivian also suggests that they are from different classes. Once again Vivian's colloquial, informal language contrasts with the formal punctually correct language of the shop assistant.
The social divide between the women is established via camera angles. Vivian is first filmed in a high angled descending tracking shot in order to highlight how she is being looked down about because of her non-conformity. When she enters the shop she is filmed at a high angled shot to imply that she is trying to aspire to a higher level of social standing. The extremely high angled shot connotates to a surveillance camera that is watching her every move due to the fact that she is standing out.
The use of vertical framing when Vivian stands next to the dummy in the shop highlights how much she is different from the normal women in Los Angeles.
When she then leaves, the diagetic sound of the piano makes the audience feel empathy for her. She is then filmed in a low angled shot covering herself up with her coat so that she doesn't stand out as much.
Vivian's failure to buy a new dress causes her dismay and therefore the hotel manager uses his contacts to find her a dress maker who can help her. The dress keeper is from the lower working class and has a greater understanding and communication with Vivian. This signifies that the closer classes are, the better they function together. Vivian still acts in a non-conformist way, but by buying the clothes increases her confidence. This shows that with money comes happiness and prosperity. But no money ,results in unhappiness .
Edward now increases Vivian's benefits by taking her personally to a retailer so that she can be granted with a new wardrobe. They are filmed at a low angle walking into the shop to show the final Vivian before her transformation. Edward uses his monetary power to make the shop manager pamper Vivian in the best way possible. This implies that money buys you happiness and motivates people to work harder.
It also implies however that society is based around money, and the fact that Vivian has to change her image in order to be accepted in 'classy' establishment shows that a large form of social injustice exists. The fact that Edward makes decisions over her clothes also implies that she is owned by him because of his money. Without money they would have never met.
The whole shopping scene also suggests that class is widely based on image. Without image people are shunned upon.
The transformation is demonstrated by the use of vertical framing when she is holding her bags when walking down the street. The assumption that class is based on image is backed up by the behaviour of the shop assistant that previously refused to serve her who does not recognise Vivian and asks her if she wants help. With the use of money, the roles are reversed and now Vivian has power over the shop assistant.
Vivian's body language is now refreshed and positive, which gives her elegance and radiance. She now has the butler to carry her bags, when previously they had tried to deny her access due to her image.
The ending of the film represents an equilibrium in the narrative, due to the fact that both characters have fulfilled what they are trying to achieve. The director demonstrates this when he film them sitting on the same level in a medium shot. Both characters generate negative body language to show how they are discontented with their separation. This creates enigmas like will Edward go after her?
The narrative is now in equilibrium because both Vivian and Edward and seen as the Hero because they are both looking for one another. However the false hero which is preventing it, is the discriminating theory of social class. Never the less with the help of the hotel manager Edward knows how to get to Vivian and is therefore seen as the donor.
The mise en scene of the last scene is the reverse of the meeting section. Vivian leaves the hotel and returns to her natural habitat leaving Edward alone to go about his business. However in order to conform to the classical Hollywood narrative, the film must have clear resolution and ending. Therefore the director concludes with a dramatic conclusion. It conforms to the theme of the film : a fairytale of a young women who is saved by a rich prince. Edward uses a post-modern version in order to re enact this fairytale. Vivian is pictured back in her apartment, but now, due to her transformation does not conform to this type of lifestyle. When Edward arrives a high angles shot shows him arriving and then shows a high angled shot of Vivian looking down on him. This is similar to Edwards high angle shot when he was looking down onto his business associates in order to show their inferiority to him. However this shot shows how Vivian's love dominates him.
High angled shots of Edward overcoming his fear of heights when climbing the ladder to Vivian shows how in order to achieve social unity all classes must break barriers otherwise social stratification will be non existent.
In contrast to the beginning of the film, this scene is shown in the light showing the happiness of their achievement. In contrast the same apartment was shown in darkness at the beginning of the film in order to portray doom and gloom. This therefore suggests that social unity also creates social prosperity.
The fact that the scene is filmed at Vivian's house with a limo outside suggests that in order to achieve such a social unity , then partners must integrate the two types of lifestyles and not just take up one or the other.
Therefore as we can see from the film above, the film Pretty Women through the use of media technology represents how social class determines sectors of the society i.e relationships and social acceptance. Through the use of media variables such as film form and, mise en scene and narrative theory, connotations can exists that mould social consensus. However, the audiences of films must take into consideration that these are Hollywood interpretations of fairy tales that are aimed at all types of audiences. Therefore the representations of social class within this film is very effective. However the representation of social issues such as prostitution and its alluring factors are not.
