Representation: Breaking Bad Essay

 PLANNING: 

BIG PICTURE: 

Age + gender 

Teens: irresponsible, destructive 
older men: Criminals in control 

CAMERA: 

Camera shots/angles 
handheld/tripod/steady 
panning 
tracking 
close-up 
over shoulder 
two-shot 
low-angle 
shot-reverse-shot 
 

EDITING: 

Continuity 
match on action 
180 rule 
sound match (intensity) 
shot duration 

SOUND: 

Music choices 
diegetic (dialogue) 
non-diegetic – soundtrack 
score/soundtrack 

MISE-EN-SCENE: 

Shop 
Setting/location/time of day 
facials 
props  
colours 
costumes 

ESSAY: 

In the crime drama, “Breaking Bad,” age and gender are represented. The younger character is presented as nervous, incompetent, and out of his depth. He is a rebel on the wrong side of the law. Older characters are represented as more observant and knowledgeable, with a more average appearance. The men are represented as confrontational, aggressive, and trying to assert their dominance. This is in stark contrast to the women in the scene who are just extras in the store with no role in the story.  

The first character shown is one of the older characters and he is minding his own business buying some paint, but the brand on the pot is foreshadowing the life he lives in. A life of crime. But what is also clear after the camera pans towards him, showing all the different versions of the paint, is he knows exactly what he is doing and is looking for as he grabs the correct type after a quick look. Then, as he walks away the camera does a close-up shot of the paint pot, it confirms that the man’s intentions are less than pure.  

This character’s clothing for the scene is casual and unassuming, not seeking to attract attention, which he mentions later in his dialogue with the younger character. There is a shot-reverse-shot when he is looking at the contents of the younger man’s trolley, first showing said contents and then his scrutinous facial expressions as he sees them. The low-angle shot in this moment shows his dominance in regards to his knowledge compared to the younger man. This is confirmed when he confronts the young man about the type of matches, he is using and gives him advice.  

The contrast between the two characters is first represented in their appearance, as part of mise-en-scene. As mentioned, the older guy has a casual appearance while the young guy has a very drab, disheveled look. He gives the impression of being naïve and irresponsible, as the stereotype of younger people portrays them. Then in their dialogue, as part of the diegetic sound in the scene, shows these facts in more fine detail, emphasising knowledge vs the lack of knowledge.  

A very interesting editing technique comes into play as the older man makes his way to the checkout of the shop. The beeps of the bar code reader syncronise with the cuts as the camera moves its way towards a close up shot from the wide-shot. The last shot is of him putting down the paint pots before walking away. The effect of these is to show his superior intellect working as he begins to realise why the other guy was buying what he was buying. Non-diegetic sound now enters the scene in the soundtrack as he walks out of the shop into the low-lit car park. The song is a sort of grungy rock song that suits the scene of the dominant male walking out with a shadow on his face.  

In this scene the only characters of note being represented are male. This scenario portrays the women as irrelevant and just filling the background of the battle of wills about to be fought in the car park. These women also represent the legal side of society. Women are less likely in this scene to be involved with the crime that is implied by the other characters. They are ignorant and unnecessary. That is what the scene is telling us. The confirmation of this is found with another low-angle shot to show the implied dominance. 

This builds up to the eventual confrontation at the van where the younger guy has gone to, where another older guy is waiting. The two stare each other down, with shot-reverse-shots showing both of their faces. The dialogue of “Stay out of my territory” stamps down authority and the new older guy has no choice but to walk away. This is the final confirmation of the dominance of this character and concludes the scene.