breaking bad scene analysis

 the first scene of interest is where the teacher is standing in front of the class trying to teach a lesson. 

the scene demonstrates many different meaning and representations. one meaning throughout the scene is status and hierarchy. for example, by the use of character positioning when the man is teaching the class he is stood up at the front of the class whilst they are all sitting down. this shows the status the teacher has in relation to the kids. this also shows the audience that he is a teacher which gives connotations of being assertive over the class. however, this idea is heavily juxtaposed when later on in the scene the teacher is washing a car that happens to be one of his students. this juxtaposes the idea of teachers having the power over students and gives the idea that the student is in higher power to the teacher. this is emphasized by the low camera angle on the teacher as he is washing the students car. when the teacher and his boss are arguing to each other at the car wash it cross cuts between them until the boss tells the teacher he cant work as the cashier anymore. this gives a further idea the teacher has no status as he does not get to have the last word and up frustrated and isolated. in the scene pleonastic sound is used when the teacher tells one of his students to move back to his original seat. the student then drags his char back creating an unpleasant, scratchy sound for the audience. the student makes the teacher cross implying to the audience the further status the teacher is having taken away from him making him look foolish and weak as he doesn't retaliate to the student.

another meaning in the scene is loneliness. for example, when the teacher is shown eating lunch by himself the use of character placement shows he is a lonely man who seems to live a simple life making the audience feel empathetic to the audience. the establishing shot and tracking shot show the audience the space and empty chairs surrounding him supporting the fact he is lonely. the symmetrical shot connotates the idea that of a simple and repetitive life as the shot is even on both sides. this could suggest to the audience that he is used to it and the loneliness is a normality in his life. the use of linear narrative in the scene further represents how the teachers life is simple and repetitive showing to the audience that. at the carwash there is non diegetic parallel sound played in the background. the music was repetitive which created a sense of frustration adhering to the stereotype of a carwash.

in the scene the teachers costume consists of dull colors with an old fashioned modest tone to it. this shows the teacher as a stereotype, demonstrating to the audience that he is dull and old. this is therefore another area of representation throughout the scene. the man is also wearing glasses giving him the stereotype of being a geek and therefore smart but this could also give negative connotations that he it unpopular and has little friends. the long shot duration used in the scene during the teachers lesson also demonstrates the representation of age. there are two important long shots. for example, when the teacher is rambling on about what he is teaching the class and other when the students are blankly looking back at him in silence. this is an accurate representation of the older generation as they can ramble and can be boring to listen to for an extended period of time.

overall the director intended to place many different meanings into the scene. the idea that status, age and loneliness contributed his isolated lifestyle was most prevalent. this gave the teacher both positive and negative representations.