“Appropriation study of texts is interesting because the changing values and attitudes of particular time periods can be observed.” Evaluate this opinion in relation to the Jane Austen’s novel, Emma, and Amy Heckerling’s film, Clueless. In your response make detailed references to both texts. 3. In comparing your TWO texts you will have become aware of how the contexts of the texts have shaped their form and meaning. Of more interest, perhaps, is a comparison of the values associated with each text.
Marriage, charity, wealth, owning a home and even the means of transportation are all things seen and acted upon differently in a more modern context. Through the responder’s understanding of these changes their perception of the transformation process has be illuminated. Austen’s ‘Emma’ and Heckerling’s ‘Clueless’ both focus around a central young female protagonist who have both been bought up without a mother and live with their fathers in an affluent, upper-class lifestyle. They both through a series of events and with the influence of their ‘brotherly figure’ are forced to examine their own attitudes and behaviours, to follow their heart and learn what is really important. The shared similarities of the female protagonists allow the responder to interpret transformations leaving them with a better understanding of the transformation process and therefore their perception of transformations has been clarified.
Yolen has enabled her readers to understand the value of the past for the present and to witness both the true horrors as well as the acts of courage in her novel Briar Rose. A fairy tale may seem a work of fiction, but it can contain truths of horrific events. This can be seen in the way that Yolen uses the character
At this point, Eve has truly believed that she has everyone seeing her as an innocent, stage-struck kid. Margo, influenced by maternal instincts, takes the stray Eve into her home, placing her in a place for perfect attentions. Eve's strategy is to manipulate anyone and everyone with her innocent, harmless and humble behaviour. She quickly becomes familiar with everyone that is in a close circle with Margo, giving her the advantage in playing out her hidden agenda; taking over Margo's life. She subtly picks at weak spots such as Margo's age obsession, Karen's fear of losing her husband and Margo's trust and friendship with Bill.
Cher and Dionne wear expensive designer clothing, with short skirts and are always meticulously groomed. These two girls convey affluent and fashionable young women who are popular in their teen world. In a number of dolly shots we see Cher and Dionne being the center of attention, while they are making their way through the school footpath. In Emma Clothing has not been described as much as personalities differing. The best camera angles taken in Clueless are the dolly shots.
Maybe she has the most privileged lifestyle or she is the prettiest but there is a dominating factor that shows her as inferior to others. For example, in the movie Mean Girls, there is a pack of girls called “the plastics” and their alpha is Regina George, who recruits a new girl named Cady and makes her over into the newest member of the clique. The other girls that are a part of the clique are all fearing of Regina because she is pretty, rich and fits the ideal white high school female. “She’s the queen B- the other two are just her little workers.” (Mean Girls). Gretchen and Karen are Regina’s faithful minions who will do whatever it takes to stay in her good graces.
‘Clueless’ was set in the late twentieth century in the consumer driven world of LA, where ‘Clueless’ contemporises some of the issues found in ‘Emma’. There is still a clear hierarchy of class and status maintained in the film, but instead of making prejudicial judgements based on family fortune and suitable partners, they are based on appearance and popularity. This is shown when Cher takes Tai around the school and shows her all the ‘groups’ that are socially unacceptable such as the ‘Persian mafia’ with BMWs and the ‘loadies’ which include Travis. Costuming is also used to reveal wealth and status. The ‘cool’ groups are always in expensive designer clothing with Cher and her friends wearing very provocative designer outfits.
Tom Buchanan V.S Jay Gatsby: Who is more corrupt? In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, we are introduced to two characters pitted against each other in an intense rivalry full of wealth, social status, hatred and love. Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan are two characters that portray subtle differences in their personalities, but share many characteristics that contribute to both of their corrupt nature. Both of these characters, through dishonesty, moral values, and jealousy, are shown to be corrupt. However through further analysis, Tom’s motives, means and the ultimate consequences of his actions allow him to take a more corrupt role than Jay Gatsby in this novel.
Daisy grabs all of the shirts and starts to cry because she loves wealth and expensive cloths. Daisy also knows if she just stayed with Gatsby she could have an amazing life but be in love at the same
Prior to being selected as the winner she eagerly anticipated the lottery drawing. Tessie also known as “Mrs. Hutchinson came hurriedly along the path to the square, her sweater thrown over her shoulders, and slid into the crowd”. (252) “Clean forgot what day it was she said softly to Mrs. Delacroix, who stood next to her and they both laughed on”. (252) Tessie was excited to participate, “Get up there Bill, Mrs Hutchinson said, and the people near her laughed”.