Mise en Scene: Hairspray (2008)

 I decided to make my post based on the movie "Hairspray" (2008). I decided on this movie, just as I have with previous blogs, as I want to continue to view a childhood favorite of mine under different microscopes and features within media I had not previously known about.

This movie opens up with a deep space setting over the city of Baltimore, MD, just as the sun is rising, and with it, the people. This sets the basis in the small, but growing city, as you can make clear distinctions between the richer neighborhoods as opposed to the poorer, industrial communities. After a brief zoom over the big city, the camera switches to a frontal shot of the main character, Tracy, doing her hair in the mirror. The switch to frontality from the original deep space signifies that the story is following the story of a girl in a big city, showcasing humble beginnings as a starting point for both her character arc as well as the plot.

The beginning of the movie has a distinct high-key lighting that illuminates the world brightly around Tracy, even as she passes sickening things such as street rats, daytime drunks, homeless beggars, and flashers. This changes as the film progresses, and a more low-key light creates shadows, signifying the darkness that Tracy has become aware of as opposed to her optimistic bubble she used to be sheltered by. 

Costume is also used exclusively in the film. The characters' personalities are very reflective in their clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc. Tracy dresses fairly modestly while still keeping a distinct and different style with her plaid skirts and ascots not work by any other character. The stories antagonists, Amber and Velma von Tussle, would never be seen without an expensive dress and full makeup. This was a symbol of their vanity and material values, as they often use their physical beauty to have their way. Tracy's father, Wilbur Turnblad, is a rather zany and outlandish character. To represent this, he is dressed in a wild shirt with an oversized bowtie and his hair is did to make it look stiff, spiky and high.