how does the mise-en-scene used within this scene to support themes
of racism, sexism and poverty?
The start of the scene begins with an
establishing shot of the backstreets of America; where most of the film is set.
The scene is taking place early evening because the colour red has been used
for the sky; this has been done to emphasis the context of war and violence.
Red symbolizes war, blood, death and violence, which links to the themes within
the upcoming scenes and the lyrics in the song. The camera descends very fast
from a high vantage point down to the ground, this could show how the gang
members are stuck at the bottom of the economy and there’s no way for them to
get out of poverty or the back streets of America because the Puerto Ricans are
taking over. The camera begins to track backward as the 'Jets' gang walk,
creating an intimidating effect on me. The mise-en-scene of the back street
looks like a war zone due to the stray rubble and bricks. Red lights are coloring
the background wall, constantly creating a violent atmosphere.
The mise-en-scene of the costumes for the American
'Jets' consist a lot of blue and dark yellow. Blue symbolizes loyalty and
stability but also depression and sadness; it is a preferred colour for
corporate America. It is more accepted among males, making it more masculine;
linking to the sexist theme that is also represented throughout the scene. Dark
yellow represents caution, decay, sickness and jealousy. These colours were
used to show the emotions felt by the 'Jets' towards the Puerto Rican gang the
'Sharks' and how they’re stealing there jobs and ‘turf’ it could also represent
the economy in the 1950's. During this time, higher up class areas achieved a
level of prosperity while the slums still struggled to rebuild from the
devastation of World War
II, like the poverty-stricken areas where this film is set. The race and
hair colours of the Americans have been stereotypically chosen as well;
blond/brown hair and pale skin. This has been done to emphasis the racial
divide between the Americans and Puerto Ricans.
The next part of the scene then moves to the 'Sharks'
who are a group of males from Puerto Rico. Their clothes consist of
darker colours like red's purples and browns. Dark red is associated with willpower,
rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice and wraith. During the time period of when the film
was set, Puerto Rican citizens fled from their homeland to America in
hope of a better lives for themselves; because most of them were very poor and
had no houses, jobs or future. During the time frame in which the Sharks are
singing, I can see that they’re on a rooftop in front of what looks like a
broken down sign for a brewery. It creates the effect of bars so could possibly
suggest that maybe these rebellious teenagers are going to end up getting into
trouble with the police. The way in which the rooftop looks abandoned links
back to the theme of poverty and life in the Ghetto. All of the teenagers in
this gang have also been stereotypically portrayed as well with black hair and
very tanned skin. Once again creating a very noticeable divide.
The way in which the Puerto Ricans
have been filmed on a rooftop and the Americans have been shot down in the
slums could possibly create the argument that the ‘Sharks’ are going to take
over and dominate the Americans.
At the end of the verse, the camera zooms in
to a mid-close up on the Americans, creating an intense and intimidating
effect. The camera then shoots the ‘Sharks’ with an eye line, mid-close up
which is also intimidating.
A common convention in the Musical genre
is quintet songs; meaning a large group of characters singing one song in
harmony or in different sections.
A parallel edit shows a low-key
lighting shot of Anita; a Puerto Rican’s girlfriend. Straight away I noticed
the sensual theme of the shot from the use of red light that is most likely
coming from the window. Though red has symbolized war and violence in the rest
of the scene, it creates a lustrous, sexual and passionate effect in this shot,
which links to the sultry pose of her pulling up her stockings. This long shot portrays
the girl as a pin up girl which symbolizes society’s view of women in the
1950’s; sexual objects without much respect from men. The way in which the
gangs (men only) are off fighting and roaming the streets whilst their
girlfriends are waiting at home preparing for sex shows the gender inequality
and how women were portrayed. Puerto Rican women especially had even less
respect then American women due to their countries lack of education and
poverty stricken neighborhoods in that era. Most travelled to America in search
for more rights and equality.
Another parallel edit then shows
us Tony; the ‘Jets’ old leader and lover of a Puerto Rican girl, Maria. The
long shot shows him in a shop, the mise-en-scene is very bland and neutral
which contrasts to the piercing red sunset, which is cast on the windows
reflections. The mise-en-scene of Tony’s clothes is also bland and neutral, not
yellow and blue like the rest of the jets. This has been done to suggest that
Tony isn’t on either gang’s side and that he is the peacemaker in this war.
This is the first time in the scene where a second song comes into the
‘quintet’ He sings a song that is previously sung when he first falls in love
with a Puerto Rican girl called Maria. This happy song is heavily contrasted to
the surrounding theme of death, war and violence which shows how naïve his
character is and how he is so besotted by his love that he has blocked out the
reality of the up coming war between the two rival gangs.
The next parallel edit cuts to a
framed shot of Maria; a Puerto Rican girl. The way in which the shot shows
Maria framed in a window metaphorically suggests she is trapped and how things
aren’t going to change for her because sexual inequality will always affect
her. Instead of the consistent theme of red lighting being used, in this shot
the colour orange is used instead. Orange combines the energy of red and the
happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics
(Puerto Rico). It represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity,
attraction and stimulation which links to what she’s singing about – love.
This naïve point of view shot is
then contrasted by an establishing shot of the ‘Jets’ walking through their
territory. The low key, back lighting creates silhouettes on the characters as
they walked through the alley way, this could symbolize how these teenagers are
lost in the world around them and how they don’t have their own identities
because they solely rely on the rest of the gang to decide their fates for
them. The camera is cleverly angled round a wall of the set, making the coffee
shop sign spell “War” this links to the overriding theme of violence in the
scene.
Another convention of the musical
genre is that the sets looking theatrical and that the lights tell emotions and
feelings, which is shown in the next parallel edit. The different shades of
purple lights shone on the wall behind her create different patterns which
would be similar to how the lighting would be done on a stage production of the
musical. The colour used for Maria has changed from orange to purple to
represent the amount of time passed between the different edits. Purple
combines the calm stability of blue and the fierce energy of red. The colour
purple is often associated with power, and ambition. Purple also represents
meanings of devotion and peace. This links to her naïve mindset towards her
dead end future with her American ‘Jets’ boyfriend. In the 50’s, an interracial
couple would be strictly forbidden because it was seen as morally wrong.
Creating a Romeo and Juliet based storyline. The way in which she’s facing away
from the camera could also link to her naïve and youthful attitude.
The ‘Sharks’ are then shown
walking through the underground of a highway. Compared to the height of the
highway next to them, they look insignificant which could symbolize their role
in society in the way Americans were racist towards foreigners, making it hard
for them to get jobs and make a living for themselves. The ‘Jets’ are then seen
walking round the other side of the highway in the oncoming direction of the
‘Shark’s, this is a theatrical way of showing upcoming confrontation and anger.
The shots get closer each time making the distance between them shorter;
creating a tense atmosphere.
The increase of pace in the
parallel edits had a dramatic and en-nerving impact on me in the way the scene
contains so many different characters and viewpoints all leading up to the same
climax. It created a very tense atmosphere to watch.
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