The next scene after Dionne gets into an argument with her boyfriend shows Cher walking down a path in a dominant and central position, in the background shots people are shown responding to her and making way. There is often a sense of space surrounding her, i. e. in the party scene later on in the film where it is crowded; she still stands out from the crowd. In the debate scene as Cher begins to talk the camera pans members of the class.
The girls putting on Makeup, and the boys using Mobile phones shows their lifestyle and values. The lack of interest in the actual debate is shown despite their enthusiastic applause for Cher at the end. This helps to establish her position in the class for the viewer; she is well received despite what she says or does. Afterwards Cher is seen authoritative and knowing; she is the one informing the teacher about a student. The image of her knowing what’s going on shows that she is not totally clueless.
The final scene of the opening sequence has once again Cher in the central position of the camera as Dionne enters from side of frame and joins her. The affluent lifestyle they live is shown by the they are using mobile phones to talk to each other despite being in earshot of each other. How effectively does the opening sequence of “Clueless” involve the audience in the world of the film and how does it establish Cher as the central Character? Nirusanthan Sivalingam.
