George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion and Garry Marshall’s film Pretty Woman both thoroughly explore values of society, each expressed through their unique contexts, language features and mediums. The central social values explored by these two texts are patriarchy, capitalism, and social class structure and hierarchy. Both texts utilise a combination of varying discourses, and language and film features in order to establish these central values.
First performed in 1913, Pygmalion was written by Shaw with the purpose of creating a work which differed from many plays of the time. He directed this play at an audience with intent on raising awareness, presenting his didactic critique on social values including the class structure of England of …show more content…
This is primarily shown through the two main characters, Vivian and Edward. Initially these characters are rather contrasting, Vivian being outgoing and playful and Edward having a more serious attitude. The contrast in characterisation suggests an initial separation and distance between them due to their corresponding social classes. Costuming also establishes a contrast in the upper and lower classes depicted in Pretty Woman. An example of this is the formal attire worn by Edward, and Morris and his Grandson, as well as Vivian during the dinner scene. The black dress and suits contrast in comparison with the clothing initially worn by Vivian, such as her shorts and midriff. During the dinner scene, editing is effectively used to compose multiple cuts back to show Vivian in her upper class environment. In combination with acting, Vivian is shown to look inexperienced and confused in each shot, exemplifying her isolation in such an environment and the separation of upper and lower classes based on behaviour and etiquette. Marshall demonstrates social values of the rigidity and defined nature of the class system through a contrast in characterisation and costuming, and film techniques such as editing and …show more content…
Vivian is the main example of patriarchy, as she is enabled by Edward and his wealth and status to be elevated to an upper class position and be given education, relationships and other important assets. The recurring motif of money is initially introduced in the opening scenes of the film where the magician states, “It’s all about the money”, implying the importance of money and somewhat referring to Vivian’s lack of wealth, and thus, her empowerment through it. Edward acts as this source of wealth, portraying notions of women’s reliance on men for rationalisation and transformation. The objectification of women is also perpetuated through the establishing shots of Vivian’s home, where framing is carefully used to include only parts of her body. Through this, Vivian is dehumanised and objectified, suggesting the presence of a male perspective, where the body of a woman is sexualised and objectified for the viewing of a man. Thus, through Vivian, Pretty Woman conveys central themes and social ideas of patriarchy and the objectification of women through aspects such as motifs and
First performed in 1913, Pygmalion was written by Shaw with the purpose of creating a work which differed from many plays of the time. He directed this play at an audience with intent on raising awareness, presenting his didactic critique on social values including the class structure of England of …show more content…
This is primarily shown through the two main characters, Vivian and Edward. Initially these characters are rather contrasting, Vivian being outgoing and playful and Edward having a more serious attitude. The contrast in characterisation suggests an initial separation and distance between them due to their corresponding social classes. Costuming also establishes a contrast in the upper and lower classes depicted in Pretty Woman. An example of this is the formal attire worn by Edward, and Morris and his Grandson, as well as Vivian during the dinner scene. The black dress and suits contrast in comparison with the clothing initially worn by Vivian, such as her shorts and midriff. During the dinner scene, editing is effectively used to compose multiple cuts back to show Vivian in her upper class environment. In combination with acting, Vivian is shown to look inexperienced and confused in each shot, exemplifying her isolation in such an environment and the separation of upper and lower classes based on behaviour and etiquette. Marshall demonstrates social values of the rigidity and defined nature of the class system through a contrast in characterisation and costuming, and film techniques such as editing and …show more content…
Vivian is the main example of patriarchy, as she is enabled by Edward and his wealth and status to be elevated to an upper class position and be given education, relationships and other important assets. The recurring motif of money is initially introduced in the opening scenes of the film where the magician states, “It’s all about the money”, implying the importance of money and somewhat referring to Vivian’s lack of wealth, and thus, her empowerment through it. Edward acts as this source of wealth, portraying notions of women’s reliance on men for rationalisation and transformation. The objectification of women is also perpetuated through the establishing shots of Vivian’s home, where framing is carefully used to include only parts of her body. Through this, Vivian is dehumanised and objectified, suggesting the presence of a male perspective, where the body of a woman is sexualised and objectified for the viewing of a man. Thus, through Vivian, Pretty Woman conveys central themes and social ideas of patriarchy and the objectification of women through aspects such as motifs and