An Analysis of Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman - the quintessential rags to riches romance. This clip lends itself to a good "narrative analysis." In this type of analysis, the events are defined in terms of how they shape the story. Knowing that this movie is a romantic comedy (of sorts), one can reasonably assume based on prior knowledge, that there will be a happy ending. Any loose ends will be tied neatly in a bow at the end. The audience then uses "prototypical schema" to fill in gaps and predict outcomes. The archetypal narrative pattern in this movie falls in line with the stereotypical Cinderella story. The handsome prince and the princess fall in love and live happily ever after. There are certain cultural values being exhibited in this clip - money, power, love, success. It plays on the viewers own desire for love, leading many, especially impressionable adolescents and young adults, to strive for this unrealistic romantic relationship in their own lives. Mr. Right should look just like the handsome Richard Gere, have millions of dollars, and rescue you from an otherwise difficult life. This is a perfect time to talk about the "feminist analysis" - primarily the sexist portrayals of men and woman in film. Considering the fact that Julia Roberts is a prostitute, the movie presents the image of women as sex objects within a patriarchal society run by powerful men. Though the movie attempts to move beyond that image, asserting that a man can love a woman for more than her body, the ending still embodies a skewed version of reality. Richard Gere is portrayed as a hero for rescuing Julia Roberts from her life. Opera music, red roses, a fairytale ending. The cultural construction of the roles of men and woman are clearly defined in this clip, representing masculinity and femininity on opposite spectrums. Oh, I'm sure I could say a lot more... but I happen to like Richard Gere... a lot. He's one of my favorite Buddhists. :)

Snickers Kiss!

In this 30 second SuperBowl Commercial, the first shot is from a distance (establishing a long shot) of two mechanics huddled over the engine of vehicle. Autoshop sounds can be heard in the background. This serves the purpose of setting the scene. This is followed quickly by a zoom shot of one of the mechanics reaching into the pocket of his shirt for a delicious snickers bar. The camera closes in on the snickers and then there is a medium shot of the action of the mechanic putting the snickers halfway in his mouth. You hear the ripping of the package. The 4th or so shot is a closeup on the face of the other mechanic looking longingly at his partner. There isn't any sappy background music or other farfetched effects. You can see the profile of the first mechanic in the foreground. Immediately, it's a close up of both them as the second mechanic goes in for the "kiss"... SMACK! Right on the lips. At least he got half a snickers out of it. The moment they realize they're locking lips, the camera backs up as they jump away from each other. This is a low-angle shot where the audience is looking up at the second mechanic (the kisser). He says, "I think we just kissed." The camera flips back to the first mechanic as he replies, "Quick, do something manly." This flipping back and forth occurs a couple more times as the men rip open their shirts and pull out their chest hair while screaming bloody murder. The scene ends, of course, with a picture of the inside of a "Snickers: Most Satisfying."

I laugh outloud every time I see this commercial. As a Super Bowl commercial, it's been designed to engage the audience, make them laugh, and keep their attention as they wait for the big game. The camera angles change rapidly, keeping pace with the expectations of the audience. If the commercial can't keep attention, certainly the football fan will be off the couch and getting a snack, rather than sitting through television ads. In this fast paced world, commercials have 30 seconds to get the job done. If they fail, ultimately, their product loses out over the competition. There are a lot of clever commercials out there vying for attention.

Vlog Assignment

After being sufficiently frustrated searching for just the right vlog for this assignment, I stumbled upon the perfect site for me. All I have to say is - YEEHAW! This website is Daryl Hannah's (star in such films as Splash, Roxanne, Steel Magnolias, Kill Bill, etc) chance to share her other passion in life - the environment. Her website, www.dhlovelife.com, complete with blogs and weekly vlogs, explores a greener way of living. I am a true environmentalist at heart and so I LOVE that with the click of a button, I can learn about what's currently happening all over the world as well as get a sneak peak at places I otherwise wouldn't have an opportunity to see. I continue to be educated about issues that are important to me such as global warming, organic foods, GMOs, biodiesel, etc. Clearly, this vlog is designed for people like me - environmentally-conscious individuals who want to make a difference in their lifetime. However, I also think that this vlog is for anyone who wants to learn a little bit more about green living. It's designed to be unobtrusive, educational, and above all, inspirational! In the particular clip that I watched called "Bike Culture," Daryl interviewed real people - bikers - who are on the roads everyday. They shared their experiences and what they love about bikes and biking. She also exposed the phenomenon "Critical Mass," advocating their plight and encouraging viewers to join. Using music as well as jumbled clips that range from interviews to Daryl riding her own bike to shots of the city, Daryl captures her audience's attention, never leaving them to be bored watching a single shot. Of course, her celebrity status allows her to employ devices that I novice might not be able to, BUT her vlogs somehow seem to remain simple. I was completely impressed.

Please click forward to the 6th episode if you'd like to view "Bike Culture" - otherwise, watch them all! :)

Welcome to My World!

Hello!

This is my very first attempt at blogging.
Welcome to my world.