Mustang Scene Analysis Flashcards
how does cinematography change with scenes inside the house
- inside = static, tight framing, low-key lighting
- outside = dynamic, open framing, high-key lighting
how does lighting reinforce the themes of Mustang
- outside = high-key, naturalistic (inside is opposite)
- light is always present to show that freedom is so very close
what is the significance of Mustang being set in a rural, coastal town in Northern Turkey
feeds into the wider themes of secular/liberal views in urban areas (Istanbul) are threatened by Erdogan’s Presidency
how does Lale see Istanbul
a city of freedom, independence, and empowerment
how are props used in Mustang to show the Sisters transformation
- costume shows that the girls are at an age deemed appropriate for marriage
- prop of a book on sex (‘All about sex’) shows a forced transition from childhood
- Grandmother removes corruptable props and access to the outside world (computer), replacing them with cooking,cleaning, and sewing props
what do the car keys in Mustang symbolise for Lale
a means of escape and freedom from possession
how does costume change throughout Mustang
- school uniform (white shirt, black skirts and ties) = liberation, opportunity, and empowerment
- denim jeans, and t-shirts = femininity and individuality
- forced to wear brown, shapeless dresses that symbolise traditional and oppressive ideas
- white wedding dresses = expected purity and innocence
what do the wedding dresses symbolise
- corrupted purity
- caused by child marriage and their abusive Uncle Erol
- forced onto them
what is the significance of the slow editing pace in Mustang
- supports scenes emotional context
- mirrors oppression and boredom
why are long takes used in Mustang
provides an opportunity for viewers to absorb the interactions between characters and the nuanced performances
how does editing trap the spectator with the girls
- lack of cross cutting and parallel editing to different perspectives other than Lale’s
- spectator has limited knowledge of what is happening outside
what editing technique is used in the football match that breaks from the conventional editing
cross cutting between the match and home creates a sense of tension as there are fears of Erol seeing the girls on TV
how does Mustang pull from Western genre conventions
- set in an isolated town, away from outside exposure and influence
- governed by the laws of the community
what is the problem with Warren Ellis being the sound designer of Mustang
takes away from the realism
whose music is used in the wedding scene in Mustang
Baba Zula, Selim Sester, and Ahmet Yurt
why did Erguven want the Sisters to be seen as one entity
show that their life will follow a similar path
how does uncle Erol act throughout Mustang
- stern and hard (forces Sonay and Selma to take virginity tests)
- rarely makes eye contact with the Sisters
- faces away from the Sisters (character to fear)
what messages are made through age in Mustang
- explores generational tension
- younger generations want to embrace a secular/liberal pathway
- older generations want to celebrate traditional/cultural/religious heritage
which adults in Mustang are outliers
Yasin and the Sister’s teacher
what do older characters in Mustang represent
- traditional conservative values in rural Turkey
- may be a metaphor for the dangers of Erdogan’s presidency
why does the Sisters playing with boys in the sea become a catalyst for the change in circumstances in Mustang
represents the pressures of the community and need to keep up appearances of traditional and cultural values
where are traditional representations of femininity seen in Mustang
- Sisters are dictated by the household (controlled by the men)
- expects women to be domesticated while mean are given freedoms (driving, working)
- cyclical cultural oppression shown through arranged marriages (reinforces subsurvience in society)
how does the subject of sex reinforce traditional views in Mustang
- prop book ‘All about sex’ suggests an outdated approach to sex that is so taboo it is only brought up before marriage
- the Sister’s virginity is a focal point
how does Uncle Erol reflect traditional masculinity
- displays an authoritarian rule through the patriarchal parameters that exist in rural Turkey
- is aggressive and asserts physical dominance
how is Uncle Erol a hypocritical character
- his actions of oppression and sexual abuse do not make him a protector
- represents the antagonist of the narrative
what is Istanbuls significance regarding religion
provides an escape for and diverse representation of Turkish Muslims who follow more secular values
why are traditional views believed more heavily in rural Turkey
99.8% of the population is Muslim, so they would retain traditional values if they are away from the government
