Historical Text

GREASE


This scene of the film is shown when Sandy the angelic figure in the film becomes almost as femme fatal with tight leather clothes and deep red lipstick to accentuate the fullness of her lips and the dark makeup around her eyes gives her a mysterious and devious look about her.
The background is a contrast to her character for everything is bright and loud where as she is in dark leather, almost as though she has become dark and sinister . The look upon each male character gives emphasis on how much her apperance has changed. That a woman has to conform into a sex object to attract the opposite sex. Its almost saying that within that era a woman couldn't be innocent and sweet because it wouldn't get her far with men .Being based in a high school i can link this to Hairspray in the contrast of representations. Grease and Hairspray have roughly been based in the same era Grease being the late 50's and Hairspray in the early 60's. When looking through the film i had noticed the lack of Black representation in there being non. Which shows that only in the 60's black people was given the right to do as same as white but with much limitation.
When looking at Danny who first wears a white cardigan which shows his innocence but when seeing Sandy he removes it revealing a black t shirt which could misconstrued as his darker side becoming 'alive'.
Danny on all fours shows his weakness for Sandy in that he finds her irrasitable emphasising to the audience that this is the way to get men, by dressing promiscious. All through this scene she seems to be teasing and taunting Danny, all through the ride. The location of where this scene is set is such a contrast to what they are dressed as, for its a childs atmosphere in where children not so much as adults will enjoy the ride. This shows that although they appear to be adults and mature they still are kids for they have just finished High School. This is a big contrast to Hairspray in how they dress and act, for although all characters are roughly the same age between 16-18 they act in such different ways. This could show the progression through the years in that woman started seeing that they didnt have to dress differently if they didnt conform to the sexy female because they could still get far. Tracy and Link are examples of this for Tracy is large and dresses simple but was still able to get the popular guy. This give the message now to the audience that you can be yourself and dont have to change.