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Monday, August 9, 2010

Film techniques and femininity in 'The Devil Wears Prada'

Film Techniques help to demonstrate the version(s) of femininity being portrayed by various characters:

Olivia: The way all the 'labels' worn by the other girls are as close ups so that they can be compared to what Andy is wearing.

Shelby: When Andy arrives at the interview the camera angle shows the buildings and then goes back to her saying she was less important. She is less fashionable.

Shauna: Andy asks who Miranda is, and every girl would know who she is. Everyone runs around crazy when they hear that Miranda is coming, and Andy just stands there looking around.

Madi: When Miranda was walking to the office the camera was tilted and slowing zooming and moving up to her face, this shows a lot of power. People move out of the way when Miranda is coming into the office.

Claudia: Andy meets Miranda and she thinks that she is very unfashionable, and lame but Andy says that she can do better than the other fashionable people so Miranda hires her. When everyone said that they will kill for that job Andy says that she is not one of them.

Shasha: Andy finally gets the job and she meets Emily which is the first assistant. The music makes the situation more interesting. Everyone was in a shock when Andy asks questions about Miranda.
Miranda doesn't acknowledge people just dumps them with her things
It seems as though Andy doesn't value her job or really care about what is coming to her in the future (not prepared)
Andy is always running around for Miranda!

Sasha- Miranda is always criticising Andy about the way she looks; body image

Mel: Andy says " I don't see why I have to change everything about me just because I have this job!" however she does in the end do this.
Nigel tells Andy that she isn't trying to fit into the magazine: "wake up six!"
When Andy comes crying to Nigel and he has no sympathy for her because she's horrible to everyone and when she changes her accent is different.
When Andy walks into the office after she changes, she does the typical girly hair flick.
Before stylish: camera follows her head to toe. After stylish: foot to head.

Mel: Andy's friends and loved ones begin to see her changing before she realises what she is becoming. All of a sudden her friends hate what she is becoming and crack, which leads her to realise she has changed her character.
"Fashion is not just about utility. Accessories are a piece of iconography used to express a persons identity" quote from Doug.

Sasha: in the film accessories are things that show who we are, our identity. After Andy changes to being stylish, Miranda seems to notice her more than usual and sees that she is making an effort to "fit in"

Olivia: now that Andy is stylish she is being noticed by famous people such as Christian Thompson. She is more confident, savvy.

Shelby: Miranda is still shown as superior to Andy by camera angles, although Andy is more confident and has gained more respect from Miranda. She still has a lot to learn.

Claudia: Andy always holds her phone in her hands just to take the phone call from Miranda. In order to be feminine you have to be sexy. The camera angle focuses on Miranda because she has more power.

shasha: MIranda favours Nigel the most. By representing femininity it shows that women have to like flowers, pretty things, and etc.
Miranda makes them learn the peoples names instead of doing it herself
The music helps enhance what is happening and the emotions going on
When outside Christian has greater power as the camera is tilted up at him.

Bella
: Nigel said that when your life goes up in smoke it's time for a promotion and when she misses Nate's party she gives him a cup cake with a candle on it and blows it out with the smoke rising - this shows her personal life has gone bad! Use of symbolism.

Olivia: the camera is tilted down on to Miranda as Andy has the power right now to choose if she will go to Paris or not. "I didn't have a choice" and the way Emily says "I don't have a choice is not an excuse". Femininity is described as women starving themselves to look like a perfectly sized woman and the stereotype of stuffing food down because they're 'upset'.

Sade: the camera is going around Andy, to show that Christian is flirting with her. Also as if he is looking at her as an object, he has the power in this.

Shoshuna: Miranda doesn't care about the way she looks while sitting on the couch because she has no make up on , her make up isn't looking the best as possible and she is in a grey dressing gown looking frumpy. The camera is slightly tilted down on her and you can tell she doesn't care because when she goes to work she dresses up and make sure she does look her best. Miranda isn't interested in what anyone else thinks in this scene, and there's an interesting juxtaposition because their is a Chanel bag behind her and she is sitting in front in a baggy gown.

Sasha: Andy went from a size 6 to a size 4 and is proud of it.

Mel: During the movie, she changes her priorities. What used to be seen as Nate, her one and only priority, now is her job, Christian and Miranda. Not only has her priorities changed, she has also lost respect, and let her guard down as she cheated on Nate, even though they were on a break, she knew it was wrong. Christian also states that you have to be young to be head at runway :)

Alison: Even though it's only been a day since Miranda has known about her divorce she's back in power and strong and acts like nothings wrong.
Body language at the end with Nate - Andy is submissive.
Facial expression at the end in her interview.
Emily struggling to keep from smiling,
Stiletto boots with crutches.
Miranda smiles at the end.
Even laughs

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