Moving Into the World; Billy Elliott Related Text State School
Individuals venturing into new experiences may encounter obstacles, but may also gain significant rewards. Do you agree with this perspective? In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing.
The world can be harsh and oppressive. Only those who refuse to abandon their dreams truly can move into the world, and create new experiences through the potential obstacles they face. In the film ‘Billy Elliott’ by director Stephen Daldry and related text ‘State School No 1812’ by R.Cobb we see the ideas of the obstacles people must face on their journey into the world. This is explored through themes such as gender roles and identity, growth and maturation and pursuing dreams. These ideas are demonstrated through individuals in these two texts as they undertake new experiences encountering obstacles.
Through the struggle of gender conflict between societies an individual need to overcome the challenges. In the film Billy Elliott, Billy has to overcome the gender stereotypes that exist in the society he lives in. Through dialogue we understand that one of the biggest obstacles to Billy becoming a ballet dancer is the engrained gender stereotypes that are rigidly enforced in this harsh mining town. In the scene when Jackie Elliott finds out that Billy has been dancing he confronts Billy about it and ultimately forbids him to dance as “it’s for lasses”. Jackie’s harsh tone and aggressive language highlight the fact that Billy is a boy which means he must not dance. The use of dialogue in the argument between Billy and his father highlights the challenge that gender presents in Billy successfully entering the world of dance.
Another example of gender conflict in the film, is shown through the camera angle, close up, on the pianist Mr Braithwaite as he approaches Billy after he completes his pirouette and whispers in his ear “You look like a right wanker to me son”, symbolises the constant challenge of gender that
The world can be harsh and oppressive. Only those who refuse to abandon their dreams truly can move into the world, and create new experiences through the potential obstacles they face. In the film ‘Billy Elliott’ by director Stephen Daldry and related text ‘State School No 1812’ by R.Cobb we see the ideas of the obstacles people must face on their journey into the world. This is explored through themes such as gender roles and identity, growth and maturation and pursuing dreams. These ideas are demonstrated through individuals in these two texts as they undertake new experiences encountering obstacles.
Through the struggle of gender conflict between societies an individual need to overcome the challenges. In the film Billy Elliott, Billy has to overcome the gender stereotypes that exist in the society he lives in. Through dialogue we understand that one of the biggest obstacles to Billy becoming a ballet dancer is the engrained gender stereotypes that are rigidly enforced in this harsh mining town. In the scene when Jackie Elliott finds out that Billy has been dancing he confronts Billy about it and ultimately forbids him to dance as “it’s for lasses”. Jackie’s harsh tone and aggressive language highlight the fact that Billy is a boy which means he must not dance. The use of dialogue in the argument between Billy and his father highlights the challenge that gender presents in Billy successfully entering the world of dance.
Another example of gender conflict in the film, is shown through the camera angle, close up, on the pianist Mr Braithwaite as he approaches Billy after he completes his pirouette and whispers in his ear “You look like a right wanker to me son”, symbolises the constant challenge of gender that