So, I've got this paper/presentation due at the finale of my Women in Film class. Not being an avid film viewer I did experience a brief moment of panic. Alas, while flipping channels on a lazy Saturday afternoon I stumbled upon Mean Girls. Not only did I recoil in horror at remembering my high school days, but the heavens opened up and I was presented with a trilogy of girly clique goodness.
The aforementioned Mean Girls, Heathers and Clueless.
These films are variations on a common theme: the popular girls take in an outsider, attempt to make her one of them, manipulation ensues, worlds crumble, lessons learned, etc.
First, we have to take a look at what makes these girls "popular": a certain look dictated by the male gaze, a certain amount of submission to desirable males and domination over lesser males, a certain type of relationship dynamic with their parents/figures of authority, and a certain amount of control over/idolization by their lesser female peers.
Also note that there is definitely a Queen Bee (actual term used in Mean Girls) of the popular girls.
As an aside, I was not one of the popular girls. I know that I am not alone in this. I bet there are more women who share that sentiment than cheerleaders existing in the world at any given point in time. Ever. A popular girl is part of a very exclusive club and seems to have revolving players as opposed to an expanding number of participants. One's position is more likely to be usurped as opposed to simply adding another slot.
In my opinion, the vast amount of each of these films focuses more heavily on becoming popular as opposed to being forced to face the consequences of one's actions and learning the life lessons that are billed as "the point" of the film.
To be continued...
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