Hairspray+Setting


 * __SETTING__**
 * The film ‘//__Hairspray’__// directed by Adam Shankman is set during the 1960’s era in the American city of Baltimore, Maryland. The year is 1962 and the fight for civil rights is gaining momentum.**


 * __TECHNIQUES WHICH CREATE SETTING:__**
 * Establishing Shot
 * Extreme Close-up
 * Costume
 * Dialogue - 1960's slang

__**ESTABLISHING SHOT**__ The long shot at the start of the film gives an overall impression of Baltimore where the events of the film occur. The camera then zooms in to focus on the house of Tracy Turnblad.

The extreme close-up of the newspaper shows the setting as it allows viewers to see the year and city that the film is set in. The heading “Barnett defies U.S, Bars Negro from University” also shows that this is a time when African Americans are facing much discrimination and racism at the hands of white Americans.
 * __EXTREME CLOSE-UP__**

Costume helps show setting as the clothing and hairstyles of the main characters in ‘Hairspray’ originate from the 1960’s era. For example Tracey has a ‘bouffant’ hairstyle and Amber often has a ‘beehive’. The girls are all wearing shirtwaist dresses and materials with either floral or bright stripy prints.
 * __COSTUME__**

__**MUSIC**__ The music of ‘Hairspray’ helps show setting as it is ‘rock n roll’ music. This style of music emerged during the 1960’s and is partially what this era is most well known for. Artists who feature on Corny Collin’s play list include Elvis Presley, Chubby Checker and Del Shannon – All big music names of the 1960’s.

__**DIALOGUE**__

•   “Hey little darlin, I hope I didn’t dent your doo” (Link Larkin) •   “That’s groovy” (Tracey Turnblad) •   “I’m a checkerboard chick” (Penny Pingleton) This dialogue helps show the setting as it is typical slang used by teenagers in the 1960’s era. For example ‘groovy’ means cool and ‘doo’ means hairstyle. ‘Checkerboard chick’ was a term that referred to a white girl who had an African American boyfriend.

The setting of ‘Hairspray’ is important because it helps readers understand the actions and beliefs of the main characters. For example Tracy Turnblad, Link Larkin and Velma Von Tussle. The time period in which these characters lived would have played a huge part in influencing how they thought, their actions and why they made the decisions they did.
 * __WHY IS SETTING IMPORTANT?__**