mad men analysis

 

Elevator scene 1, 

The scene starts with a birds-eye view shot of the main street in front of a big office building, this introduces the location being New York and it introduces time 1960s mid-day. Natural lighting is used on street, cheerful none diegetic sound plays. A mid-shot is shown of five men entering the building in suits, entering an elevator with a woman, upbeat jazz continues. The woman in this scene has been highlighted as she is the only one wearing a bright colour(yellow), whereas the rest of the men are wearing dark-coloured suits. The music fades as the dialogue by the men is said, however, the non-diegetic music still can be subtly heard in the background creating a sound bridge. A close up of the woman's facial expression is shown in the elevator, this shows the audience that she feels uncomfortable but also that she is clever due to the fact she does not respond. The lighting used in the elevator is strong highlighting three specific men and the women. As the characters leave the elevator a dolly tracking shot is used to follow the men around the office as dialogue continues. Throughout the elevator scene we can hear the diegetic sound of the elevator door opening and closing with a 'ding' it is overly enhanced therefore it is a pleonastic sound. The sound of the elevator was done post-production. As the characters leave the elevator we can hear parallel sound of them walking through the office. In the office building, strong lighting is used so that everything is very clearly seen in the shot, diegetic sounds of post-production phones ringing are heard and over enhanced meaning its pleonastic sound, this is done to create the atmosphere of a busy office.

 

 

Man on-call 2, 

Non-diegetic music abruptly stops as a man on the phone is introduced with a mid-shot. Quick cuts are used between the man on the phone and the men who just walked in. Dialogue from the men who just walked in can be heard(diegetic sound). Natural lighting is used throughout this scene from the window as well as strong office lighting from the main office. Diegetic sounds of cars and traffic can be heard, they are pleonastic sounds. Diegetic sounds of keys can be heard to ensure the audience sticks with the idea that they are in an office building. A birds-eye view shot is shown, of a frame with a picture of his fiance in it. The 180-degree rule is used throughout this scene. 

Tour of office scene 3,

In scene 3 a dolly tracking shot is used to follow the two women around the office. Throughout this scene, pleonastic sound of typewriters and phones ringing can be heard over the top of the woman dialogue. Strong lighting is used to set the mood of an office. As the second female gives an example of a mistake she has done an over the shoulder shot of two men is seen, telling the audience that her and that male have had a failed relationship, in this same moment another man behind the women is shown to be checking out the main woman, showing direct eye contact downwards on the woman, showing his sexual interests and his entitlement to the audience, we also see a mid-shot of the main woman looking back at him in disgust showing the audience that she is quite intelligent and bold for this time zone. A mid tracking shot of the two women leads us to an office desk. Dialogue is heard between the two ladies, discussing the idea of 'right moves' this scene expresses the role in society that men had in this era, and that they were seen to be the dependent factor of a woman's life and how she will live.

One on one conversation scene 4, 

In scene 4 a mid-shot is used to show the two women in frame as well as show the desk’s location in the office. Quick cuts are used to flip between the two women while an eyeline is kept to ensure the audience knows they are still having a conversation between each other. The dialogue from the second woman expresses to the audience that at this time(1960s) a woman’s main priority was to please the men. Strong office lighting is still being used throughout this scene. An over the shoulder shot of the main woman receiving this information is shown, to express her feelings towards what is being said which is clearly disbelief and disgust that this other woman thinks in this way. A birds-eye view shot of the desk is shown, showing a typewriter, diegetic dialogue follows expressing that it is easy enough for a woman to use, implying that women were less intelligent than men. Post-production pleonastic sound of the cover of the typewriter coming off can be heard and is diegetic, as the woman removes the cover. The dialogue was odd in this scene as instead of discussing work, the other woman was giving advice to the main woman on how to evaluate her physical strengths and weaknesses to again accommodate for the male's pleasure, expressing the male supremacy that was taking place in this year.