The Hustle.

The Hustle Homework

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of gender using the following: 
. Camera shots - angles, movement and composition
. Editing
. Sound
. Mise en scène




The representation of gender means how are men and women are typically represented or portrayed in the media. In this case, how men and women are typically portrayed in this 5 minute clip.

To begin the clip, a master shot was used. During this master shot that lasted a few seconds, the male worker is shown to be showing power by striding while the a female customer approaches from the staircase. This then lead into a medium close up shot of the female customer. The Mise-en-scène of this shot was based on the women's appearance. The women's appearance was shown to be from a higher class, even though this is not important, the women was shown in a stereotypical view. This stereotypical view was the fact that she had shown a lot of skin with perfect hair and makeup. Women are always shown in this light in media.

After these selected shots, the Dolly movement was used to move away from this 'perfect' women before being led into a Track movement to reveal the old women which is another customer and the higher status man. Before finally turning into a action shot. Unlike the higher class women who is shown in a young women's stereotypical view the old women which is the other customer is shown to be in a lower class stereotypical look for a women. The Mise-en-scène reveals that the older women is from a lower class status due to the less expensive clothes she is shown to be wearing but also through a stereotypical view the media always show older women as. This is by showing them to be messy and untidy with their hair as they are not as perfect as younger women but also being more clothed and less skin being shown. After the contrast between ages in women are shown, there is shown to be a contrast of power between genders. This is revealed through the conversation about the prices of dresses when the camera shot swaps into a high shot looking over the males shoulder down onto the older women. This shot gives the audience the view of what a man in the media will see when looking down on those with less power and strength. This quickly goes into a shot, reverse shot to give the audience a clearer view of the Bread winner man talking to the women from a lower class status. These shot, reverse shots continue while the man is shown to fake sympathy for the older women as men in media stereotypically do not 'show emotion'. 

When the older women is shown to leave, a cut in shot was used upon the younger women's, once again 'perfect hand' pushing the dresses apart. This is led by a camera pan from hand to face. Even though an extreme close up is used for a few seconds on her face, her emotion is shown to show smugness against the lower class women. This also proves another stereotypical view upon younger women being 'stuck up' and 'snobby' to those from a lower class.

During the second scene, a diegetic sound is played of the women moaning 'Oh yes' before being followed by a pan shot from her feet up to her head. The sound in this clip but also the pan shot which reveals her dress represents the stereotypical view of younger women being 'Sex objects'. This shot reveals the view of a women being obsessed with revealing skin while being slender but also satisfying her craving for lust. The sound effect was only used for the craving of her lust and success but also the dress to reveal her slender body. Her crave for shopping is also shown when she makes a simple noise before agreeing to buying the expensive dress.

On the next scene, the men are again also shown in a stereotypical view. This view is that men have a lot of money from being the bread winner of the family but also belong to a men only club. The Mise-en-scène of this scene reveals the men being dressed smartly in suits while playing pool, smoking cigars  while also in a old fashioned yet expensive building with a built in bar. They are also all shown to be drinking mature whiskey in specialised whisky glasses. Through out the whole scene, the two men are shown to be talking about more mature subjects than what an everyday man would talk about. The editing move was used at the end of this clip, when the older man would point a non - continuity shot was used.

When the editing technique was used, the next scene was used to show yet another stereotypical view. This stereotypical view was based upon a women's capability to control her emotions. The action shot first used revealed the women spinning around and shouting while the male stereotypically stands there calm and shows that he can control his emotions and keep calm in this serious situation. The close up shot used on her bag was then used to show the audience closely that the stuff in the bag was being thrown about to give a more dramatic atmosphere. After a few shot, reverse shot of the action and the close up of the bag, a close up shot was then used based on the male's face to continue his stereotypical emotion of not being bothered.

After this dramatic scene, the stereotypical view was still used when a pan movement was used to follow the female as she becomes more stressed and starts ripping the dresses around the rails looking for her ring. A hand held camera movement was also used to give the audience a more realistic view as the women continues pulling everything apart while the man starts to become more worried about the mess. This movement continued through out the scene as the worker finally manages to get her to stop on condition that he will look for the ring himself. This was then made complete when she offered a huge sum of money for the finding of her ring.

After this scene, another stereotypical scene was used and influenced by the Mise-en-scène. This scene was based upon on the man being able to 'fix' anything broken. This scene was started by an action shot as the man was shown to be speaking on the phone to an unknown person while he was 'fixing' the system alarm. This was interrupted by a quick cut in shot before being shown as the extreme close up shot of the alarm when the man cuts the wrong wire. This can be interpreted as another stereotypical view of how men cannot multi-task.

To create more of a consistent flow, the editing move was used by creating the shot to fast speed past the wall and through the clothes onto the workers face as he searches for the ring. A close up shot was used to show how serious his face is when he searches for the ring. His search is interrupted when a black dress falls down, the tilt movement was used to let the viewers get a close observation on the the young mans clothes but also the face as he seems to keep a 'trendy' hairstyle while chewing gum. This reveals that young men are shown in the media to be careless and carefree about everything and anything. After this shot the close up shot was placed back on the worker as he left the dress and continued to try and search for the ring. A slide edit was then used to continue the non - continuity of the clips.

After the slide edit was used, the Mise-en-scène shown the mens club again as this time they are all socialising while one of the other members is seen to reading the newspaper. In the background a butler is clearly seen to be waiting for orders from those waiting on him. This scene is only shown quickly before another slide edit is used horizontally onto a close up shot. 

After the horizontal slide edit, there is shown to be a close up shot of the young mans hand as he is seen to reveal the 'lost' ring. This is then led by a pan movement of his arm as he leans down and pretends to retrieve the 'lost' ring from the floor by the worker. He then continues his acting in front of the worker as he places the ring near his face and comments about the ring. By showing this, the scene reveals the stereotypical view of men being sly and smart as they can easily trick anyone else into a little game they create to earn things. The conversations between the two men then continues for awhile as the man continues being extremely sly. 

Near the end of the clip, after the man has managed to trick the worker into giving him the money. A pan shot was used briefly to follow the young man into the cafe. The Mise-en-scène reveals the place to be more run down and not a place a business man will be seen. A close up shot was then used to show this young girls face talking on the phone as she smirks when she notices this young sly man. The clip ended on the sly moves of both of the young people with the stereotypical view of being sly and sneaky.