Breaking Bad - Essay

This essay was timed 45 minutes

 "Explain how the meaning is created using the four technical areas, in the following clip."

In this scene from Breaking bad, both age and gender are represented. For age, older generations of men are depicted as knowledgeable and very pulled together, while the younger teenage men are conveyed as incompetent and on the wrong side of the law. Gender is represented by portraying men with dominant personalities as well as being territorial. Using men rather than women stereotypes women as being the damsels in distress without any intention to break the law or harm humanity. 

From the first cut of this clip from ‘breaking bad’ sound is already revealing to the audience a lot of key information about the setting. For example, an intercom is used in the background to indicate the setting is a a large shop. The use of silence between dialogue is very impactful as it initiates tension and suspense which suggests a fight may be about to happen causing a disruption of the peace. The quote “Stay out of my territory” links back to the theme of male domination and tension between ages. The use of the beep at the checkout brings both annoyance and uncomfortable to the atmosphere which can be seen on the mans face as he waits in line. The soundtrack of music which is introduced in the second half of the clip adds more masculinity and power as he approaches the younger generation with his territorial and more experienced self.

The older man depicts both wisdom and formality as he appears both put together and comes across as blunt and wise when he speaks to the younger teen. His clothes are plain and simplistic which suggests he is a person  who is both set in his ways and a critical attitude that ends up dominating both conversations as he comes across wise and experienced. Their is a significant change in the mood as well as atmosphere from bright colors created from the shop and its products to the dull lighting of the night which symbolizes danger and threat, especially towards the teenagers who were confronted. The body language used by these males is very much a stereotype portraying dominance and power from males.

The camera ction perceived in this scene is very deliberate. The shot of the mans legs as he walks symbolises how he himself is a mystery through the claustrophobic shot. There are a lot of over the shoulder shots demonstrating dominance as well as prove the man to be a protagonist. In the second half of the scene when the man walks out of the shop we see a low angle shot of him walking towards the camera conveying him as territorial and the presiding character. 

There is a lot of continuity editing along with match on action which gives the clip more flow. There are sound matches to jump cuts during the checkout scene building tension and changing the overall mood with frustration. The use of the paint cans with the brand ‘kilz’ is very symbolic and links to the overall character and persona of the older man suggesting he is dangerous or even a threat to society.