How has the study of Emma and its appropriation of Clueless developed your understanding of context influencing values. Jane Austen’s Emma and Heckerling’s appropriation of Clueless (1995) reveal the impact of context on societal values. Clueless differs in medium as it has been appropriated from the society of the Regency Era in England represented in Austen’s novel, into the Californian teenage culture of the 20th century. This transformation enables modern audiences to recognise that despite seemingly drastic shifts in contextual settings, both texts use satire to reaffirm the transcending values of social order, the role of women, patriarchy and marriage. Austen recognises the individual’s social standing as a significant distinguishing factor affecting acceptance in society through the use of tone.
“The critic asks “is this believable?” The novelist, “how can I get them to believe this”? In short she argues that a good novelist always has some sort of conflict to tell and it must be suspenseful. “Something other than breakfast”. She uses witty humour to loosen the audience up. Atwood discusses the several genres of fiction that are available in this time and explains how this is not only a time of gender crossover but of genre crossover.
An example is seen near the beginning of the book in which Mr Darcey and Mr Binley’s brother are engaged in polite conversation. Darcey’s constant want to read prompts Binley’s brother to state “he studies too much.” This dialogue employed by Austen raises an important issue, though disguised in polite conversation. The effect of this shows us, as the reader, the view that society held towards being too educated, and this was directed at a man! In contrast Fay Weldon’s Letters to Alice raises almost the complete opposite view of education. Aunty Fay is a concerned Aunt who is trying to get her neice, Alice, to engage in studies, however Alice’s interests lie elsewhere.
Love was a commodity that was only allowed to the lower classes of society. The lower classes had no need to unite families and businesses, or gain a large sum of money from a dowry. People married according to class and did not dare to stray above, or below a certain degree, to do so was shameful. All of these arguments all have a basis in a couple’s motives when entering their union. In the following paragraphs all of these arguments will be explored as pertaining to certain couples in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Weldon contextualises Austen’s world, positioning the contemporary reader to sympathise with the plight of women regards to marriage during the regency period. Weldon creatively reshapes the contemporary responders understanding and appreciation of the value of love in Pride and Prejudice. Weldon informs the responder of employment opportunities in Austen’s time, “a chimney sweep…a butcher….or a prostitute…or you could marry.” The listing of these grim opportunities along with the dichotomy of statistic heightens the responder’s attitude of the social benefits of marriage.
English Revision Task How have the texts studied in this elective challenged your ways of thinking about "People and Politics"? People and politics are able to represent their own ideas and perspectives by utilising different techniques to bring forward a stronger influence and convey meaning. The multiple methods and procedures in which to form representation has challenged my ways of thinking about 'People and Politics'. W.H. Auden utilises satire to communicate the negative perspective of dictators in "Epitaph of a Tyrant" (1939).
Amy Heckerling’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” has transformed a 19th century classic English novel into a teen flick romcom film of the 20th century entitled “Clueless”. Despite the vastly different historical settings and societal values of the two texts, Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” still retains the essential values of the original text by adapting these values into a modern society of our time and a modern audience of our age. Comparatively through the themes of class and social structure and the attitudes towards love and marriage, a greater insight can be gained of the context in which it appropriates further enhanced by the use of satire and irony employed by both composers. “Emma” by Jane Austen was written in the Regency period of the 1800s; a time of inequality as it featured a wide gap between the rich and the poor while at the same time a rise in the merchant middle class. In response to this context, Austen tends to satirise the common source of power by creating a microcosmic world of a genteel community evolving round a “handsome, clever and rich” young woman who "seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence."
mankind’s experience of evil, experience of guilt and separation. • Psychological study of typically romantic characters, e.g. Victor, Walton, Clerval… • The ‘monster’ himself has been studied in connection with Rousseau’s theory of man’s natural goodness perverted by a hostile environment. • A sociological approach to the novel stresses its importance as a social document, giving evidence of a woman’s role /family ties/ education, etc.. in the first decades of the 19th century. • Feminist critics are especially interested in issues concerning women’s culture.
Key points on Rebecca L. Walkowitz Rebecca L. Walkwoitz starts her article by giving us Coetzee’s “Diary of a Bad Year” as an example of what she calls Comparison Literature. Coetzee’s novel meets the criteria of comparison literature due to its circulation and production formally, typographically and thematically. Rebecca goes on to state clearly the difference between the field of national literature in which the scholars share the locus of production, and the field of comparative literature in which scholars share a structure of analysis. In Rebecca’s point of view, two requirements are necessary for comparison literature: First, new geographic lines are to be drawn for the literary works. Second, preserving the study within the historical context including the different editions and translations.
She also says that “In short, marriage was designed to serve the economic and social needs of families, communities, and religious institutions, and had little or nothing to do with love. Nor was it expected to satisfy lust”(Utne par 6). First of all, I found Utne article exceedingly more effective when comparing them both. The reason for its effectiveness is that it contains Graham’s personal experiences, and additional examples. For instance, she applies her personal examples from childhood how she was too hoping to pin her happiness on romantic love.