Billy Elliot Gender Essay
Representations of Gender – Billy Elliot
In the movie “Billy Elliot” there is many representations of gender. The characters challenge and reinforce certain stereotypes shown and the audience is positioned to respond in a particular way.
PLOT
This story is set in a mining town just outside of London. A young boy, Billy, has a passion and talent for dance that drives him to defy all the social and cultural rules in his world. By following his dream Billy challenges the stereotype for boys in the mining town. During the journey his family’s struggle for money to support each other is shown. Billy’s life takes you on many twists and turns as he works his way to the top.
FILM CODES
One of the most powerful symbolic codes in the film is in the scene where Billy …show more content…
The most influential one is the discourse of the men in the mining town. They are expected to be rough, tough, arrogant and headstrong. When Billy’s father talks to women he is supporting the discourse. He does this by speaking to women as if they’re below men. This is shown as he uses harsh language, shouts and doesn’t take their opinions or feeling into account. However, at Christmas you see the father in a different light. He is instead challenging the discourse because is he crying and men aren’t supposed to seem weak. It’s in this moment when he shows his softer side that his opinions change and he finally decides to support and accept Billy.
REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER
A commonly misunderstood representation of gender has been included into the film. When Billy’s friend, Michael, finds out that Billy has been doing ballet he assumes Billy is a homosexual. In the scene Michael admits that he isn’t a heterosexual and finds it difficult to believe that Billy is, even though he has a passion for ballet. Billy is challenging the stereotype that you must be female or a homosexual to be interested in ballet.
HOW THE AUDIENCE HAS BEEN
In the movie “Billy Elliot” there is many representations of gender. The characters challenge and reinforce certain stereotypes shown and the audience is positioned to respond in a particular way.
PLOT
This story is set in a mining town just outside of London. A young boy, Billy, has a passion and talent for dance that drives him to defy all the social and cultural rules in his world. By following his dream Billy challenges the stereotype for boys in the mining town. During the journey his family’s struggle for money to support each other is shown. Billy’s life takes you on many twists and turns as he works his way to the top.
FILM CODES
One of the most powerful symbolic codes in the film is in the scene where Billy …show more content…
The most influential one is the discourse of the men in the mining town. They are expected to be rough, tough, arrogant and headstrong. When Billy’s father talks to women he is supporting the discourse. He does this by speaking to women as if they’re below men. This is shown as he uses harsh language, shouts and doesn’t take their opinions or feeling into account. However, at Christmas you see the father in a different light. He is instead challenging the discourse because is he crying and men aren’t supposed to seem weak. It’s in this moment when he shows his softer side that his opinions change and he finally decides to support and accept Billy.
REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER
A commonly misunderstood representation of gender has been included into the film. When Billy’s friend, Michael, finds out that Billy has been doing ballet he assumes Billy is a homosexual. In the scene Michael admits that he isn’t a heterosexual and finds it difficult to believe that Billy is, even though he has a passion for ballet. Billy is challenging the stereotype that you must be female or a homosexual to be interested in ballet.
HOW THE AUDIENCE HAS BEEN