Homework: Genre & Narrative Analysis

Genre
Mean Girls is an American teen comedy film.
A teen genre is a film that is broadly appealing to a teenage audience. The sub genre for this film was the School picture. By this I mean that it is set and revolved about teenagers at an American High school. The representation of these kind of films are stereotypes of the characters and mean girls was no different - they put different labels on the characters for example there were the jocks, cheerleaders, Asian nerds, plastics, geeks and so on.

Mean Girls is comical for both teenagers and adults. Both will appreciate the message that the movie conveys; that cliques and gossip lead to nothing but trouble. Both groups will find it hilarious because of the successful use of humor and over the top situations to make a valid point about high school girls. No matter how old you are you’ll find yourself quoting something from this movie. The lively humor fits well with what is going in all of the character’s lives which some teens may be able to relate to.


Characters
Princess: Cady Heron- The 16 year old home schooled girl from Africa who moves to Illinois and joins a public school for the first time.
Hero: Aaron Samuels- Cady falls in love with him but he is also Regina's ex so there is conflict and jealousy.
Villain/False Hero: Rejina, Gretchen and Karen- AKA plastics are one of the cliques in their highschool. They are the most popular, the most feared, and the most envied and the most vicious.
Main helpers: Janis and Damien- Cady's friends that help her settle in to the new school, introducing her to the various cliques.

Narrative
Equilibrium: Cady finally goes to a public school after being home schooled her whole life. The Plastics take a shine to Cady and soon she is accepted as one of them. Cady's love is stolen and in a fit of jealousy hatches a plan to sabotage and destroy.

Disruption: In her efforts to get revenge Cady gradually loses her individual personality and all her friends. She is blamed for writing a book slandering rumors, secrets, and gossip about all the other girls originally made my Regina. A tradgic accident happens and rumors circulate that Cady intentionally pushed Regina in front of the bus.

Restoration: Now without friends and distrusted by everyone at school; Cady ammends and takes blame for everything - her guilt dissolves and she returns to her old personality. She makes up with all her friends and reaches a truce with the plastics. Now reasonably well-liked, Cady reflects that the "Girl World" she lives in is at peace.