SSC Film Studies

The opening sequence of A Clockwork Orange displays it's ideologies instantly. Through the use of the red and blue screens it can juxtapose the colours of violence, that being the red, and the blue being the colour of purity, which can also connote Alex's dual personality. The use of none diegetic music helps set the scene and ethos of the movie. This is due to the music having a futuristic tone which can imply to us the world Kubrick is taking us to is one of an alternate one. This then cuts to an extreme close up of Alex, instantly aligning us with him, this is evident from him staring directly into the camera, creating the illusion that he is staring at us, ultimately creating a different response to each spectator which enhances the intimacy of alignment. Alex's ideologies are displayed through the mise en scene that is shown as the camera tracks backwards, that being mannequins of naked women. Due to Alex's feet being rested upon one of them it shows that Alex views the women as purely objects, as as well as resting his feet upon one of them, it is also where Alex and his droogs get their milk from. The makeup that is only on one of Alex's eyes reinforces the ideology of his dual personality, the dark eye connoting the violent acts he commits and the blank eye displaying his innocence. It also displays the uniqueness of Alex, as non of his droogs share the same makeup, this distinguishes Alex from the rest of the group, further enabling us to Align with Alex, as, as well as this he is the only one who is resting his feet and the only one who is staring at the camera, displaying Alex as leader of the pack, making it easier for us as an audience member to want to attach ourselves to. The use of narration is ultimately the main aspect that helps us align to Alex, the use of his narration helps us understand the strange world that Kubrick has transported us too, and without Alex we'd struggle to find meaning. Alex asserts himself as the pack leader through the use of his narration as he says ''There was me, that is Alex.'' This displays that Alex thinks of  himself as the most important, showing his egotistic persona. At the end of this scene Alex informs the audience of the acts he's about to carry out through the use of his narration, ultimately informing the audience what's about to happen next.

The scene that follows is initially what Alex informed us of earlier, that being 'ultra violence', this is shown through the tramp assault scene, which is the first act of violence that we see Alex commit. Kubrick expands on the process of alignment with Alex, by deliberately distancing us from the violent persona of Alex's dual personality. This achieved through the use of long shots and silhouettes, this keeps us distanced from Alex whilst committing his crimes, which is evident in his later crimes. As well as this, Alex's narration, despite justifying his actions, gives a valid reason for his acts, which helps us generate more of an understanding to why he's doing it, rather than being completely confused to as what's happening. The use of manipulation is displayed in this scene too, as the use of symmetry that is evident throughout the film is disrupted by the tramp's presence. By the victim, that being the tramp talking gibberish, there is no opposing argument to help dissociate us from Alex as a character all together.

Apart from the murder that Alex commits, an equally heinous act that Alex and his droogs endure upon his victims is the rape, which can be seen in the home invasion scene.