Theme Of Social Division In Clueless

The concept of social division conveyed in Jane Austen’s novel Emma (1815) are creatively reshaped through the change of context and form in Amy Heckerling’s bildungsroman film Clueless (1995). The transformational text encourages a clearer understanding through a sense of relateability for a contemporary audience. The notions of class hierarchy and the role of women in society are refurbished in the film to the context of a modern society - Los Angeles in the 1990’s - thus allowing for the audience to affirm and create connections with new insights on social division that have evolved.

Jane Austen uses the novel form to subtly convey new concepts of social divisions, commenting against the social paradigms of her time, such as the rigid

Social division within the society is conveyed in the opening scene through a montage, displaying a satirical depiction of the commercial American youth culture: teenagers driving, swimming, partying, implying that it’s normal behaviour for adolescents in America. The use of music further enhances this image as “Kids of America” plays in the background, however it does not define the life of the majority, but only the wealthy children. Through voiceover Cher says ironically “Actually I have a way normal life for a teenager” contrasting the montage of her partying and using a computer program to determine her clothing. Social division, particularly within the school, is demonstrated through costume. The men’s fashion during the 90’s is described by Cher to appear as if “They just fell out of bed”. This is juxtaposed to when Christian is introduced through the use of slow motion and full body camera shots in the exaggerated scene portraying his perfect persona from his well groomed physical appearance contrasting him from other men. The notion of social division in Clueless is present through the cliques of modern society, defined by wealth, popularity and physical appearance which both reaffirms and introduces new insights due to the change of

When Dionne is driving and Cher and Murray are passengers, Heckling uses close up camera angles to display the distress of the three while Dionne drives terribly, swerving in and out of lanes. Tai also comments on Cher that she's “just a virgin who can’t drive”, illustrating how the stereotypes of women have confined them into categories. Furthermore, the superficiality of women especially through clothing is depicted through Cher when she is mugged and values her Alaïa dress over her life. A high angle shot is used to enhance the mise en scene of the clown, illustrating that Cher is the fool. Women are also known to excessively shop, which Cher is displayed to use as an alleviation of stress. This is demonstrated through the use of internal dialogue through voice over specifically in the scene where Cher is reflecting on her past mistakes, “that Josh and Tai thing was wiggin’ me more than anything…ooh! I wonder if they have those in my size!” expressing her inner thoughts when she is conflicted and easily distracted by things such as shopping. Despite this, Heckerling conveys that Cher has a good heart and the potential to help others like a majority of women through volunteering to encourage donations for her teacher’s charity and assisting Tai in transforming her to fit in. The role of