Masculinity In Pleasantville

Ross innovatively addresses gender inequality and the preferential standard of males and females stealthily through means of temporal and physical setting and specific elements of mise-en-scène throughout the film. Characters Betty and George meticulously execute the typical spouse kinship, the social norm during the 1950s. Their relationship emphasises the idea that women are expected to cook, clean and look after the children whilst men work to support the family financially. Through a collaborative work of costumes and acting styles, the film exemplifies the importance of a woman’s appearance; they are required to look presentably pretty with the application of makeup, conservative clothing – button up blouses, poodle skirts, scarves and …show more content…
Ross manipulates the audience’s subconscious perspective of Big Bob through the application of under-shots and dramatic lighting (combination of low-key and sharp-lighting). The cinematic techniques impart Bob’s authority and higher social standing in the community. This is particularly demonstrated in the town meeting held for the “true” citizens of Pleasantville where he is promulgating his perspective as he states that “recently certain things have become unpleasant”. He is shot from an undershot to show power he possesses and dramatic lighting implies that the dialogue is significant. The townsfolk are persuaded by his speech due to their ill-informed opinions about change. This alludes to the dictatorship in Nazi Germany. Bob, just like Hitler, gains trust from people who do not agree with change; he turns the “true” citizens against the newly coloured people as did Hitler with the Aryan race and Jewish population of Germany. A central power, in this case Big Bob, gains confidence from the townsfolk who know little about the latest transformations and he impressed his xenophobia-like views upon