Question #1 CCR

Hello, my supportive readers!! Today I'll be showing you all some of the research I've done for the first Creative Critical Reflection question. "How does your product use or challenge conventions, and how does it represent social groups or issues?" 

Challenging Conventions

 Josephine and Kat follow the teenage conventions in films in different ways.

Josephine goes along with the typical teenage dirtbag aesthetic.

Rodrik Heffley from the Diary of a Whimpy Kid franchise is an amazing example. He is a drummer in his own band, he bullies his younger brother, he wears eyeliner and darker clothes, and he stands out as a weird kid in high school. Although he is a relatively comedic character, his "look" is what Josephine embodies. 

Kat wears lighter colors and is very optimistic.

 Cher from Clueless takes the newcomer in their school under her wing and tries to help her. She's dependable, upbeat, not judgemental and is a very likable person. Meeting new people and making conversation comes naturally. She knows how to work the room, and she is just a people person. Cher is the perfect way to visualize Kat, especially as a teenager. 

Representing social groups or issues

The coming-of-age film Thirteen is what many people associate teenagers with. They are seen as rule breakers, unvalidated feelings, reckless, not emotionally mature, the list could go on. Josephine starts out following that path until Kat walks into her life. Many earlier coming-of-age films gave a one-dimensional message. They played into typical teenage stereotypes and followed the same format for every movie.

"Early coming-of-age movies were primarily about sex, drugs, and alcohol, with comedic moments exploiting gender and race. For example, 1978’s rom-com Grease transforms its female lead, Sandy, from shy and innocent into leather-clad and cigarette-smoking so she can better fit in with her boyfriend’s clique. By its end, Grease presents a one-dimensional message: teens must dress and act a certain way to be accepted." -Tegwyn Hughes (2018)

I made the choice to have Josephine wear dark colors and dark, messy makeup that went along with these social norms, yet the difference is that Josephine will end up changing later in the film for the better. Until next time, everyone!!!

Hughes, T. (2019, July 8). What the evolution of coming-of-age movies means for representation. The Queen’s Journal. https://www.queensjournal.ca/what-the-evolution-of-coming-of-age-movies-means-for-representation/