After watching the first ever episode of TV drama, Mad Men, I can see that the male gaze has been used through out the programme to create a sexist view over the women characters. The producers have used camera techniques, sounds, editing and mise-en-scene to create a clear view over how women were seen in the 1960's, which is sexist and degrading to all women, even though from the time period that it is based off, these things would have been seen as normal.
At the start of the short clip we watched, the scene opens with an Ariel shot of a birds eye view, looking down at the entrance of one of New York's many landscapes. An establishing shot shortly follows this, to show us the main setting, as the camera briefly pans from side to side before moving straight into the building's lobby. Here it focuses more on the three main male characters who are in the lift.
Once up in the office, and the focus is moved onto two women who are talking, we see them moving around the office to get from one side to the other. At this point, the tracking shot is used and for two main reasons. One is because it means the camera can get both of the characters in during their conversations, and the other is because it is a way to show the audience how busy the office is. It also emphasises how little men are present at work, and how it is mainly just women.
In the background, type writers can be heard as the workers are getting on with their jobs, which sets the era of the 1960's office. This technique is synchronous sound, as it isn't the main focus, however the type writers can be seen in the back ground so the sound is expected.
The non-diegetic sound is from the music, as no source can be seen in the shot, so therefore the characters cannot hear it and it is just background music.
The office noise and taxis outside, create the diegetic sound, that isn't monologue. This means that the sound being made can be recognised from thing seen in the shot, however it isn't being made by the characters talking.
The editing technique most commonly used is shot-reverse-shot, which is where the camera switches between characters. The reason this technique is chosen, and used so commonly, is because it can show the facial expressions that occur during a conversation.
Continuity editing is another technique that keeps the story flowing, as it merges one scene to the other so they each follow one another.
Everyone in the office uses mise-en-scene to create the 60's era, with every body smoking, as that was legal back then, and a clear use of 60's clothes and hair styles. The New York accent is stronger then the one they currently have, which also shows the year, and the old fashioned cars in the streets outside link with this too. Another feature is a black and white framed photo on one of the main character's desks, as all cameras printed in monochrome during that time period.
At the start of the short clip we watched, the scene opens with an Ariel shot of a birds eye view, looking down at the entrance of one of New York's many landscapes. An establishing shot shortly follows this, to show us the main setting, as the camera briefly pans from side to side before moving straight into the building's lobby. Here it focuses more on the three main male characters who are in the lift.
Once up in the office, and the focus is moved onto two women who are talking, we see them moving around the office to get from one side to the other. At this point, the tracking shot is used and for two main reasons. One is because it means the camera can get both of the characters in during their conversations, and the other is because it is a way to show the audience how busy the office is. It also emphasises how little men are present at work, and how it is mainly just women.
In the background, type writers can be heard as the workers are getting on with their jobs, which sets the era of the 1960's office. This technique is synchronous sound, as it isn't the main focus, however the type writers can be seen in the back ground so the sound is expected.
The non-diegetic sound is from the music, as no source can be seen in the shot, so therefore the characters cannot hear it and it is just background music.
The office noise and taxis outside, create the diegetic sound, that isn't monologue. This means that the sound being made can be recognised from thing seen in the shot, however it isn't being made by the characters talking.
The editing technique most commonly used is shot-reverse-shot, which is where the camera switches between characters. The reason this technique is chosen, and used so commonly, is because it can show the facial expressions that occur during a conversation.
Continuity editing is another technique that keeps the story flowing, as it merges one scene to the other so they each follow one another.
Everyone in the office uses mise-en-scene to create the 60's era, with every body smoking, as that was legal back then, and a clear use of 60's clothes and hair styles. The New York accent is stronger then the one they currently have, which also shows the year, and the old fashioned cars in the streets outside link with this too. Another feature is a black and white framed photo on one of the main character's desks, as all cameras printed in monochrome during that time period.
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