This document analyzes the opening scenes of the film "Clueless" through its mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and other techniques. It summarizes that the film establishes the protagonist as an upper-class, wealthy teenage girl through shots of her large home, expensive possessions and carefree attitude. It also depicts her social circle as similarly affluent teenagers focused on partying, fashion and romance through fast-paced shots and scenes at a high school party. Overall, the analysis finds the film portrays a desirable protagonist immersed in the carefree world of teenage society through its upbeat, positive stylistic elements.

1. CLUELESS
Opening Analysis

2. • Upper class/ affluent
• Genre (romantic comedy)
• Narrative surrounding young people
• Concern with appearance
• Teenage society
• Desirable protagonist

3. • Protagonist is portrayed as upper class
• Excessive amount of shopping bags connote wealth and a
careless attitude towards spending
• Shots consist of low angles and are of large locations such as
mansions with staff and their owners who look small in
comparison, which represents them as affluent
• The proxemics between her and her father are close and her
body language is very assertive and confrontational which
shows she is spoilt
• The voiceover describes the protagonist as “teenage” and she
owns a large car which signifies affluence at a young age.
• Long shots show the father as larger than the maid (someone
of lower status) and therefore connotes higher class

4. The shots are fast-cut which reflects the
protagonist’s upbeat mood and lifestyle
The mise-en-scene includes lots of pinks and
reds which connote romance
The lighting is high-key, even in dimly lit
rooms, which reflects the positive feel of the
film
The music is upbeat, uplifting and feel-good
which is typical of romantic comedies

5. Teenage Society
• The girls body lanuage connotes confidence
and flirtatiousness
• The shots are fast-cut which gives a sense of
the atmosphere of a party
• The girls are are all cramped in the car
without seatbelts which shows that they
value partying more than safety therefore
they appear as carefree and rebellious,
which is typical of teenagers in rom-coms
• They are all moving very quickly in eacb shot
which emphasies their youth

6. • The shots signify that the protagonist is pre-
occupied with her looks, given the camera angles
shot at a low angle to show she thinks highly of
herself, and she is using props such as a hairbrush
which makes her seem vain
• The close up of the computer shows “MIS-
MATCH!” Is use of of hyperbole
• There is a fast-cut rhythm of the protagonist with
her possessions, to signify she spends vast
amounts of money on looking good regularly, and
the camera is shot from a low angle to
represent her as confident, which reassures the
audience that she is proud of this

7. • Medium shots and long shots with both genders which signifies the
relationship between boys and girls as a common theme as no
matter how close or far away both genders are present. The use of
close ups of these gestures are suggestive (e.g. feeding is a
connotation of intimacy, also cherries have sexual connotations) and
also connotes the protagonist as desirable.
• Diegetic Laugh sound creates an upbeat, fun atmosphere, this along
with a large use of extras connotes that the protagonist has a large
number of friends and is popular therefore signifying that the
protagonist is desirable.
• There is use of fast cutting rhythm over the suggestive shots, this
signifies that the protagonist’s promiscuity is not a large side of her
personality and represents this as an underlying sexual tone rather
than a main theme.