Billy Elliot Conventions
Social conventions
In the movie, Billy Elliot, we witness how the community stops Billy from forming his own identity in this world of miners illustrating the social conventions in a community restricting individuals from transitioning into the world. Billy’s father, boxing instructor and his brother are all against him in the journey of becoming a ballet dancer as it is against the community. This happened in the 1980s, when the London mine workers were striking against the forced closure of the coalmines by PM Margaret Thatcher. The bias judgment in the dialogue, “you are a disgrace to those boxing gloves… and the tradition of this boxing gym” by the boxing teacher emphasises the strict gender expectations in the small mining community in …show more content…
The social conventions of his community are also affected Billy’s perception of the norm which is portrayed through his remark, “I feel like a wuss!” Despite this, his determination to transition into the new world of ballet, regardless of the traditions of his community is shown by the close-up panning shot from ballet shoes to his boxing shoes juxtaposing the two worlds, and foreshadowing Billy’s early steps of transition from one world to another through the highlighting of his feet. Mr. Braithwaite is a representation of the myopic perception of the small mining community. The piano player, Mr. Braithwaite’s comment, “you look like a right wanker to me, son” conveys the caustic perspectives towards Billy’s deviation. The term “wank…” (Homosexual), this was to this town and for this era a negative, disgusting and disgraceful thing. However Billy’s decision to continue dancing despite the consequences is revealed in the long shot of Billy shoving the ballet slippers into his bag. . The non-diegetic music is used to symbolises change in Billy through him dancing the streets with ballet slippers around his neck, paralleling previous images of him with boxing gloves similarly positioned, combined with uplifting music, presenting a change in attitude and direction in life for Billy. This symbolises Billy’s barriers dissolving and portrays him defying social norms and moving
In the movie, Billy Elliot, we witness how the community stops Billy from forming his own identity in this world of miners illustrating the social conventions in a community restricting individuals from transitioning into the world. Billy’s father, boxing instructor and his brother are all against him in the journey of becoming a ballet dancer as it is against the community. This happened in the 1980s, when the London mine workers were striking against the forced closure of the coalmines by PM Margaret Thatcher. The bias judgment in the dialogue, “you are a disgrace to those boxing gloves… and the tradition of this boxing gym” by the boxing teacher emphasises the strict gender expectations in the small mining community in …show more content…
The social conventions of his community are also affected Billy’s perception of the norm which is portrayed through his remark, “I feel like a wuss!” Despite this, his determination to transition into the new world of ballet, regardless of the traditions of his community is shown by the close-up panning shot from ballet shoes to his boxing shoes juxtaposing the two worlds, and foreshadowing Billy’s early steps of transition from one world to another through the highlighting of his feet. Mr. Braithwaite is a representation of the myopic perception of the small mining community. The piano player, Mr. Braithwaite’s comment, “you look like a right wanker to me, son” conveys the caustic perspectives towards Billy’s deviation. The term “wank…” (Homosexual), this was to this town and for this era a negative, disgusting and disgraceful thing. However Billy’s decision to continue dancing despite the consequences is revealed in the long shot of Billy shoving the ballet slippers into his bag. . The non-diegetic music is used to symbolises change in Billy through him dancing the streets with ballet slippers around his neck, paralleling previous images of him with boxing gloves similarly positioned, combined with uplifting music, presenting a change in attitude and direction in life for Billy. This symbolises Billy’s barriers dissolving and portrays him defying social norms and moving