Opening Scene: Legally Blonde

The aesthetics of the opening scene of Legally Blonde operate to inform the viewer of just what type of movie this is going to be and what the protagonist is like--all without words. Right away, the viewer sees a girl brushing her perfect blonde hair to the tune of a light and whimsical pop song. The credits begin to pop up on the screen--written in hot pink cursive lettering. This viewer instantly knows that this is going to be a light and airy chick flick. The aesthetics of the scene also inform us about who the character of Elle Woods is--throughout the scene, the camera slowly pans around her bedroom and sorority house, focusing on her nail polish, sorority paddle, hair dye, Prada shopping bag, girls exercising, someone shaving their legs, Elle doing her makeup, and her glittery pink shoes. From these camera shots, we can infer that Elle is someone who is glamorous and beautiful, cares a lot about her appearance, and is an upper class sorority girl--completely without any spoken words.