Visual Culture Theories and Concepts on the Movie Mean Girls - Essay Example

Visual culture theories and concepts on the movie Mean Girls One of the most significant aspects of media today is that while they attempt to act as a reflection of the realities that take place in society, there are instances where is can be extremely subjective in its subject matter. Diverse theorists have argued that different forms of media do not act in the interests of the public but instead are created for the purpose of ensuring that there is support for the opinions of a select few who have influence over society. While this may be the case, it should be noted that media has developed a culture where different stereotypes of people in society are propagated and these in some way come to have an influence over the audiences. The film Mean Girls is an example of the manner through which media attempts to influence the perception of audiences and its conventional structure helps it to achieve its goals. Mean Girls is a film that depicts the characters within it and the lives that they live from a social and psychological perspective. This is because most of the characters in the film hold one of two views; essentially making the world seem to be black and white, where there is only good and evil. It should be noted that from a psychological standpoint, this film is highly predictable in showing the manner through which the characters develop from one scene to the next and this adds to its perceptions as a conventional film. Its ability to influence the audience is based mainly on the way through which its storyline is developed and this is done in such a way that there is a form of binary opposition within it (Lacey 64). From the beginning, there are two opposing positions that are taken by the characters and these positions have an influence on the way that the story is developed. The binary view of the world is what makes the story so interesting because it seeks to address the way that individuals react when it seems as if others are taking a point of view that is opposed to theirs. In the film, this is the case when Aaron, Janis and Damian are shown to be angry at Cady because they feel that she has in one way or the other betrayed them. The concept of binary oppositions, which exists in almost all Hollywood films, can be considered to be a means through which the characterizations within Mean Girls are determined and created in such a way that they fit with a specific stereotype. The narrative structure in Mean Girls is based on a subjective structure that involves a single point of view narration from Cady’s perspective. The point of view narrative structure of the film is one which the audience is familiar with because it is used quite often in other films (Rasley 191). Cady’s point of view is dominant from the beginning of the film and it attempts to show her evolution from being the outsider to being one of the most popular girls in school as well as being a member of the exclusive group known as The Plastics. The point of view narration of the film can be considered to be a means of making sure that Cady’s voice is heard throughout and also present a positive perspective concerning the manner through which the changes that occur in her life affect her. As a conventional narrative, the point of view method is a means of showing the audience the expected changes that are taking place in Cady’s life as she ends up becoming one of the Plastics, a group about which she had been warned by Janis and Damian. The narrative strength of this film is sold to the audience from Cady’s viewpoint in such a way that it makes the audience become sympathetic to her plight as she sinks to her lowest when she loses all of her friends but is eventually able to find redemption through her actions to make sure that she atones for her mistakes. The use of a point of view character is a means of selling the film to the audience through the utilization of a generic marketing formula whose effectiveness has been proven in other films (Kotler 46). In this way, Mean Girls is another film which propagates a binary world where there can be no middle ground for individuals; making them have to choose between one side and the other. The structure of Mean Girls is extremely subjective because the roles given to the different characters is not balanced and is instead based on a single narrative. Cady’s feelings and opinions take up a greater part of the scenes within the film than those of other characters whose roles are relegating to that of supporting that of Cady. It should further be noted that Mean Girls also seeks to project a moral lesson based on Cady’s experiences especially as one of the Plastics. While she is not aware of it at the time, since she has joined the Plastics in order to promote Janis’ revenge against them, Cady unconsciously begins acting like a Plastic. She keeps the truth about herself from the scrutiny of the other characters and instead gives a false representation of herself in order to achieve popularity at the school. The result is that while she ends up becoming popular, the false life that she is leading creates a situation where she not only loses her friends, but also her true self. This is a structure that resonates with the audience because they come to identify with the accepted social norms that are presented in the film (Behm-Morawitz and Mastro 131). Not only is the audience more attracted to the point of view character, in this case Cady, but they also have a desire to know what happens next and whether she will be able to find redemption through changing to a better person. The roles given to the other characters in the film, such as Janis, Damian, Aaron, and Regina are all designed to support Cady’s character as she navigates herself through the path that leads her to becoming a better person. One of the most dominant discourses that is presented in Mean Girls is feminism and the issues surrounding it. Feminism is an important movement that grew out of a need to achieve gender equality while at the same time bringing to an end the patriarchal dominance of society (Gandhi 605). The diversity of the feminist perspective is seen throughout Mean Girls through the manner in which the Plastics behave and present themselves to the rest of the school. As the most popular girls in the school, they are presented as being highly independent in nature with a strong sense of unity brought about as a result of their status. Furthermore, the film is dominated by a female cast whose roles can be considered to be a means of showing the complexities involved in being a girl in high school in addition to the manner in which these girls often end up treating one another cruelly. However, the Plastics can be considered to be a representation of those women who often seek to bring down others for the sake of asserting their own power; actions directly opposed to feminism because the latter is a means of ensuring that women in society are empowered. This film seems to promote the idea that women have to remain united in order to overcome the odds that society has put against them. This is exemplified through the way that Cady and Regina relate towards each other at the end of the film where, instead of being rivals, they seem to have gotten over their differences and become friends. In conclusion, Mean Girls is a conventional film that seeks to ensure that it sells to the audience through the use of a point of view character. It uses its narrative structure as a means of making sure that the audience is sympathetic to Cady; the point of view character. Furthermore, through discussing issues from a point of view character, this film takes pn a subjective nature that only perceives the world in terms of binary opposition and this leads to the creation of stereotypes that remain prevalent throughout the film. This film can be considered to be an attempt to show the victories and failures of feminism as a movement as seen through the way that the different female characters, who form a majority, treat one another. The fact that the Plastics seek to put down other girls in their quest for dominance can be considered to be playing into the hands of conventions developed by a highly patriarchal society. The end of the film where Cady and Regina seems to have become good friends is a sign of hope that despite the numerous differences that have to be dealt with, unity and friendship is the only way to create an ideal world; one that accepts the differences that are prevalent in all individuals in society. Works Cited Behm-Morawitz, Elizabeth, and Dana E. Mastro. "Mean Girls? The influence of gender portrayals in teen movies on emerging adults’ gender-based attitudes and beliefs." Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly 85.1 (2008): 131-46. Print. Gandhi, Raj S. "Family and Feminism; Women, their Position, Rights and Obligations in Cross-Cultural Perspective." Journal of Comparative Family Studies 34.4 (2003): 605-10. Print. Kotler, Philip. "A Generic Concept of Marketing." Journal of Marketing 36.000002 (1972): 46. Print. Lacey, Nick. Narrative and Genre. New York: Palgrave, 2000.Print. Rasley, Alicia. The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writers Digest Books, 2008. Print. Waters, Mark. (Director). (2004). Mean Girls. United States: SNL Studios.Film Read More