Sequence Analysis Graduate

Sequence Analysis #1 The Graduate.

In the movie The Graduate (1967) director Mike Nicholas uses a lot of elements of mise-en-scene to foreshadow certain events in the movie and give a greater meaning to particular objects or characters in the movie and certain scenes. One particular scene where there are many elements of this, is the scene where the protagonist's, Ben Braddock portrayed by Dustin Hoffman, parents throw him a party for his twenty first birthday. Even though Ben's parents say they are throwing him a party, there is no sign of his friends just his parents friends and adults he knew as a child. This makes us as a viewer question, whether Ben has any actual friends. This also makes us wonder if Ben's parents are just trying to show off to their friends; Ben's dad states that scuba suit is two hundred dollars, an unnecessary detail in the movie.

Another element in this scene is the scuba suit and other costumes worn by the characters in the scene. Ben is wearing the scuba suit and also equipped with a spear gun, while everyone else at the party is wearing the appropriate attire for a pool party; shorts, swimming trunks, tank tops etc. Also, almost his entire body is covered by the scuba suit, suggesting that Ben wants to hide from the world. The scuba suit adds to the awkwardness of Ben's character, which could be the reason why there are no friends of Ben at the party celebrating with him.

Water is a big element in this scene as well and throughout the whole movie. For example, when Ben is at the bottom of the pool the camera is making seem everyone is above him and Ben is trying to work his way up but everyone keeps pushing him back down. Another way water is used is in the fish aquarium in Ben's room. Ben is always just staring at the fish in there and this helps show how living in a fish bowl or underwater is alright or comforting for Ben. It tells us that Ben is shy man who would rather just sit back and watch others behind a glass, just like the fish he is observing.

Another way the pool is used is by the water and the cloudiness of it. It represents how Ben sees himself and his future. He is uncertain on what to do for his future and is having trouble finding his own identity rather than being what his peers want him to be. He wants to do something meaningful with life and pressured by his peers, mostly his parents and his parent's friends. This is the main theme in the movie. A man turning to twenty one and trying to find his way in life and earn his manhood.

The setting itself is a typical California style house. It has the pool outback, houses surrounding each other and the people living there.

Camera use is also a great element in this scene. From when Ben walks out of the house to the pool, the point of view is from behind the scuba mask and is showing us what Ben is seeing. When Ben goes underwater, the camera is still from his point of view. It shows him looking up towards his parents and friends and this helps establish his murky sense of identity and direction.

Throughout the whole movie there are many extremely awkward and ridiculous moments but overall I believe the filmmaker was attempting to make a naturalistic impression on the viewers.

So overall there were many elements used in the scene of Ben's parents throwing him a party for his twenty first birthday. The director used the characters themselves and their clothing to symbolize Ben's awkwardness and anti-social self. He also used water and camera angles to symbolize the main theme of the movie, of Ben trying to find his way in life and identity. The setting itself was used to make seem more realistic as well. Overall the director did a terrific job in using mise-en-scene and elements in this particular scene of the movie.

Sequence Analysis # 2 American Beauty.

The movie American Beauty (1999) directed by Sam Mendes, there is a lot of use of camera angles, color, and mise-en-scene elements to symbolize the meaning of the movie and the greater meaning of particular objects or characters. The scene I will be observing today is the scene of the protagonist, Lester Burnham, at work in his cubicle and having a meeting with his boss, Brad Dupree, about work. The movie is about a man who is having a mid-life crisis and trying to overcome it by changing his way of living, which doesn't go good for the rest of the characters in his life and involved with him in the movie.

So first I'm going to talk about how camera angles and perspective is used to give a certain feeling to the viewer. From the start of the scene, the shot shows everyone and including Lester from a high point of view, giving the impression that Lester is part of a big company with many workers and does not play a big role in his job there at the company. The entire time the camera is focused on Lester, we are always able to see the rest of the workers there as well helping to add to the point that Lester's purpose and position is pretty small. Then when Brad appears in the scene, the camera focuses more on Brad and doesn't show the rest of the workers in the same shot as him, giving the impression he has a higher power than Lester and everyone that works there. The scene then leads us into Brad's