Below The Surface! : Editing, Performance, and Power in The Social Network

 

 Introduction: What "The Social Network" Is Really About 

"The Social Network", directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, tells the story of how Facebook was created and how it tore friendships apart in the process. At the center is Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student whose dream to build something world-changing leads him into conflict with friends, classmates, and eventually, the legal system. While it’s based on true events, the film isn’t just about coding or lawsuits, It is about power, loneliness, ambition, and what happens when a socially awkward genius tries to change the way the world connects, without knowing how to connect himself.

Looking at the film through Stuart Hall’s model of communication and how media sends out messages that audiences might read in different ways, we can see that Fincher is telling us more than just what happened. His filmmaking choices shape how we see Zuckerberg, maybe as a misunderstood innovator, maybe as a cold and distant person, or maybe something in between. Through editing, visuals, and performances, Fincher builds a version of Zuckerberg that feels emotionally complex. Whether we agree with that version or not is where the real tension lies and where the film becomes more than just a tech drama.

 Editing and Pacing

The way "The Social Network" is edited gives us a direct line into Zuckerberg’s mind. Right from the first scene in the bar, the pacing is fast and sharp and almost too fast. Zuckerberg talks quickly, jumps between ideas, and can’t seem to stay emotionally present. The editing mirrors this by cutting rapidly between shots, never letting a moment breathe. It’s like we’re inside the head of someone who’s always thinking three steps ahead, but can’t connect with the person right in front of him.

The film’s structure also plays a big role. It jumps back and forth between past and present—from the early days of Facebook to the legal battles that followed. This fragmented timeline reflects how Zuckerberg processes things, not in a straight line, but as a series of problems to solve and conflicts to avoid. We never really see him process emotions, like when his girlfriend breaks up with him, or when his best friend feels betrayed, the film moves quickly past those emotional beats. Instead, we move straight into scenes of Zuckerberg coding or building the site. His response to emotional failure is to work harder, not to reflect or reconnect, but to suppress his emotions.

This style of editing makes Zuckerberg feel emotionally distant, and it helps us understand him as someone who channels his social struggles into building a digital world. Fincher doesn’t give us emotional resolution. He gives us momentum which is constant forward motion that hides the emotional damage underneath. Some viewers might see this as a critique of Zuckerberg’s coldness, while others might read it as a portrait of ambition in the digital age. Either way, the editing pushes us to see Zuckerberg not just as a character, but as a mind in motion—brilliant, but cut off.

 Mise-en-scène and Blocking

Visually, "The Social Network" has a cold and quiet feeling. The colors are muted—lots of gray, green, and dull yellow, which gives the movie a kind of emotional chill. This color palette isn’t just for style, it matches Zuckerberg’s mood throughout the film. There’s very little warmth in the lighting or the environments, and that helps us feel the isolation he’s living with.

How characters are placed in scenes also tells us a lot. In that first bar scene, for example, Zuckerberg and Erica are sitting across from each other, but the way it’s shot makes them feel far apart. She leans in, trying to connect but he stays pulled back, distracted, and emotionally distant. This kind of blocking continues throughout the film. Often, Zuckerberg is shown alone in large rooms, facing computer screens instead of people. Even when he’s with others, he’s not really "with" them, he’s usually slightly off to the side or turned away, showing how disconnected he is.

Lighting plays a huge role too. There are lots of shadows and low lighting that make Zuckerberg look separated from his surroundings. When conflict happens, like the scene where Eduardo confronts him, Zuckerberg barely moves. He sits still, surrounded by empty space, while the emotion explodes around him. It’s like he’s built a wall between himself and the world, and the film shows that visually.

This sense of isolation isn’t just about Zuckerberg as a person, it also reflects the larger world the film is commenting on. Fincher might be saying something about how technology connects us online, but leaves us lonelier in real life. Or maybe he’s just showing how Zuckerberg’s personality created that disconnect. Either way, the way the film "looks" and "feels" helps us understand what the character is going through, even when he won’t say it out loud.

 Performance and Power: Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg and the People Around Him 

Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Mark Zuckerberg is one of the most important pieces of "The Social Network". He plays Mark as someone who’s incredibly smart, but emotionally shut down. He speaks quickly and often without looking people in the eye. He doesn’t raise his voice or show much emotion, even when he’s angry or hurt. That makes him hard to read, but also kind of intimidating. His power comes from being in control, especially of his emotions.

Compared to Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield (as Eduardo Saverin) brings a lot more warmth and vulnerability. Eduardo laughs, gets frustrated, shows when he’s hurt. He feels like a real friend,that is,someone who wants to be close to Mark. When Mark shuts him out, it’s painful to watch. Justin Timberlake’s Sean Parker, on the other hand, is all charm and confidence. He’s slick, smooth-talking, and clearly used to getting what he wants. Watching these three characters together shows us a lot about power. Eduardo represents loyalty and emotional honesty. Sean represents ambition and showmanship. And Mark? He sits somewhere in the middle—cold, calculating, but craving the kind of success Sean promises.

What makes Eisenberg’s performance powerful is how "small" it is. He doesn’t do much, but everything is precise, his posture, his tone, even the way he avoids eye contact. He’s always holding back. That makes his silences feel heavy, especially in scenes where other characters are blowing up. In those moments, his refusal to react becomes a kind of dominance. He doesn’t shout, but he wins arguments by not engaging emotionally.

Conclusion

Through Hall’s lens, this performance invites different reactions. Some people might see Zuckerberg as a cold, lonely genius. Others might see him as a symbol of the tech world—brilliant but emotionally broken. Eisenberg never tells us what to think, but he gives us just enough to build our own reading. That’s what makes his performance so strong. He doesn’t explain Zuckerberg.....

He embodies him.

Behind the Screen! : A Critical Review of "The Social Network"

 

INTRODUCTION

The Social Network (2010) is a biographical drama directed by David Fincher and by Aaron Sorkin. It narrates the creation of Facebook and the terrible conflicts that arose following its emergence. The film tracks Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student who, after facing rejection from the top social clubs, goes on to develop one of the most influential technology platforms globally. The tone is brisk, intense, and at times chilly which is reflective of Zuckerberg's own demeanor. It captures the competitive environment and pressures present in elite academic institutions and the various stages of technological innovation, all set against a backdrop of social hierarchies, aspirations, and entitlement.

 Stuart Hall's encoding/decoding framework serves as an effective lens to interpret the film's messaging. While filmmakers 'encode' certain interpretations in their work, audiences 'decode' these meanings based on their personal experiences, beliefs, and backgrounds. Consequently, as The Social Network presents a singular perspective on Zuckerberg's narrative, viewers will interpret it through diverse lenses. Some may perceive brilliance and foresight, whereas others might see treachery and relentless ambition. This review employs Hall's theory to examine how aspects like editing, performance, and storytelling generate meaning, and how viewers might derive multiple interpretations from it.

Encoded Meaning: Editing, Mise-en-Scène, and the Architecture of Power

 The construction of The Social Network through its editing, cinematography, and visual representation reveals significant insights about ambition, authority, and social class. The film alternates quickly between various depositions and flashbacks, creating a narrative infused with tension and complex realities. The fast editing style implies a rapidly evolving world in which every one of man's choices carry significant weight. This approach instills a sense of anxiety in the viewer and illustrates the harshness of the journey toward success.

 The setting also carries significance. Much of the film unfolds within Harvard's historic, grand buildings. These imposing, somber environments symbolize tradition and affluence, exposing the critical nature of status and wealth within this realm. Zuckerberg's frustration at feeling excluded primarily from the elite "final clubs" fuels his ambition. His desire to establish Facebook stems from a quest for power and recognition in a world where he felt invisible.

 Furthermore, the representation of women in the film further conveys a message. Female characters largely serve as tools to affect the emotional states of the male characters. For example, Erica, Zuckerberg’s ex-girlfriend, appears only for a shrt while, yet her rejection significantly influences much of his actions. The arrival of Sean Parker brings vibrant energy and wildness into Zuckerberg’s life, characterized by rapid cuts, huge parties, and bright lighting all illustrating the seductive but dangerous aspects of fame and achievement.

 Collectively, the film's visual style and creative choices suggest that the tech industry is not solely about innovative ideas, it is also deeply intertwined with status, roles, and the lust for power. It reveals a system rooted more in exclusion and ego than fairness or cooperation.

 

Decoded Meaning: Dominant, Negotiated, and Oppositional Readings

Individuals interpret The Social Network in various ways based on their values and backgrounds. The prevailing narrative is often the most apparent: Zuckerberg is shown as a brilliant yet misunderstood youth who developed a groundbreaking global platform. This view tends to pardon his flaws as necessary sacrifices for success in the tech industry. Entrepreneurs and tech people admire his passion, perceiving the chaos surrounding him as an inherent aspect of achievement.

 A negotiated interpretation accepts part of that first stance by the dominant narrative while also questioning it. Those holding this perspective may recognize Zuckerberg's brilliance but also acknowledge that the film reveals the bad aspects of ambition. They might consider his successes commendable yet frown at his treatment of others, particularly his friend Eduardo. While they appreciate the thrill of building an organization from scratch, they also recognize the strained relationships, unequal power dynamics, and emotional detachment.

 The oppositional interpretation entirely dismisses Zuckerberg as a heroic figure. This viewpoint sees him as a product of destructive ambition and privilege. Audiences of this perspective are likely to highlight the lack of representation of women in the story and agree that Zuckerberg's success comes at the expense of his humanity. To them, the film serves not as a source of inspiration but as a cautionary film warning against the dangers of placing power and wealth over relationships and ethics.

 Stuart Hall's theory reminds us that meaning is fluid. The same film can evoke feelings of admiration, caution, or even anger. Although The Social Network was created to convey a specific perspective, audiences will inevitably interpret it through their own lenses.

 

Conclusion

 Even a decade after its release, The Social Network remains relevant. It prompts us to realize that creating a better world is not solely about kindness or justice. The narrative compels us to ponder the true nature of success and its costs. Through the lens of Stuart Hall's theory, we can see that the film does not tell just one story; it offers multiple interpretations based on individual perspectives.

 In our technologically-driven era, where social media shapes our thoughts and interactions, The Social Network urges us to reflect: Are we truly developing tools to unite people, or are we simply pursuing our own ambitions for power?

 And what types of individuals do we wish to entrust with shaping that future?