The representaion of teenage girls in Mean Girls

The film Mean Girls has a strong representation of teenage girls throughout the entire film, the whole thing is based on teenage girls in a struggle to be at the top and be the best; the prettiest, the girl everyone appears to like and admire. The film shows all different groups in high school and how they interact and behave towards each other. The film is based around “Queen Bees and Wanna Bees” showing what extents they would go to just to be most popular. More over how teenage girls are more concerned about looks, beauty, boys and fashion then what’s more important.

Teenage girls are portrayed in this film as very nasty and un caring of each others feelings, they're all out for themselves and don't care what may happen to any other girl on their way to becoming the best in the school. For example, when there is the first establishing shot of the high school cafeteria we see the 'mean girls' sitting in the middle at their own table, they stand out with extremely similar clothing and sitting the same. The girls appear oblivious of anything going on around them, the only thing that matters is whats going on in their little world. The surrounding tables have all the different groups of girls and boys and we are shown what they're like and the stereotype they fall under by the clothing, actions and use of language they have and use. For example, 'the plastics' wearing fashionable pretty clothes and their hair nicely done and made up. In contrast with the 'art freaks' who have weird and different clothing and not very fashionable or trendy, they don't care about what people think of them especially 'the plastics' who they appear to dislike the most. We see the 'nerds' which stereotypes mostly all smart and clever people, but when Cady comes to school people realise you don't have to be 'nerdy' to be smart. Then Cady begins to dumb herself down to get a boys attenetion.. she is giving into the pressures of society to be something you're not to get the attention of a boy. Looking at 'the plastics' as an example of stereotypes, we see the stereotype that they are 'dumb blondes' for example the character Karen is portrayed very stupid and asks silly questions and statements such as when she says "I have a fifth sense, my boobs can tell when its going to rain... well they can tell when its already raining." this makes her look really dumb and portrays teen girls as stupid.

The camera angles are relevent in showing the dominance and portrayal of the characters such as the camera tilts up and down when Cady sees 'the plastics' showing us Cadys analysis of them and shows the audience they are a main focus to the film. The camera technique when Aaron Samuels is introduced to the film is slow motion and slightly hazy to replicate a dream and then we see a close up of Cadys face and eyes showing she is interested and he is another important aspect of the film.

The sound when 'the plastics' are shown on screen walking onto the soccer field is non diegetic and empathises with the characters for example it reflects the characters personalities and dominance in the film. Its powerful with a kind of upbeat party feel to it that tells the audience these girls are powerful and party girls. Matched with the boys carrying Regina in like a Queen, this really tells the audience that shes dominant and people see her literally as above them.

In contrast to Mean Girls a film that first pops into my mind is The Hunger Games, where the main character, a female, is portrayed as very strong, intelligent, a protecter, with hunting and gathering instincts. She looks after her younger sister and provides for her family. Unlike Regina, from Mean Girls who is a terrible influence on her little sister who we see watching tv and imitating the inappropriate actions of the girls on the tv show she is watching. She is the opposite of how the girls are portrayed in mean girls. She is much more of a better influence on teen girls. She is an inspiration to teen girls to be strong and independent and focus on the more important things in life such as family and learning to look after yourself rather than be dependant on other people, especially men.

The film tells the audience that teenage girls only focus on one thing and that is attracting as much male attention as possible, we are told this by the clothing worn and appearance used. For example, when Cady becomes close friends with 'the plastics' her skirt gets shorter, tops get tighter and lower cut and she starts caking on make up every day at school and never has a hair out of place. This tells us she feels she needs to keep up with the other girls she's surrounded by and that means keeping her appearance on form at all times. Its become a competition between her and the other girls of who can be the best and hottest girl who gets the most male attention. 'The plastics' christmas show perfomance for the school is another example of the girls only caring about male attention. They wear short read skirts with white fluff and tigh red tops showing much clevage, innapropriate for school definitely however that is just the point they are trying to show; the girls don't care about school or the rules they care about getting boys attention. The saying keep your friends close but your enemies closer is very true in this film as all four girls know its better to be in 'the plastics' than to not be in it. They keep each other close so theres less chance of them turning on each other and attempted to sabotage each other, which in the end is just the thing that happens.