Social Issues In Cluelesss

880 Words4 Pages
Heckerling’s Cluelesss explores many issues and concerns such as social status, marriage and money. These issues assist in the transformation of Cher Horowitz throughout the film, and her journey to enlightenment. Heckerling’s representation of context is of paramount importance in order to understand the issues and concerns depicted in the film. The movie portrays 90’s ‘Tinseltown’, modern milieu, which revolves mainly around fashion and designer culture which includes Cher’s computerised wardrobe that allows Cher to coordinate an outfit for the day by the means of a digital model of herself (“I don’t trust mirrors”). The context reveals how contemporary values and ideals present have shifted, and this conclusion can be drawn from for example,…show more content…
In the opening scenes, the schoolyard hierarchy is established, as Cher’s high status is revealed through close ups of her carrying designer label shopping bags during the first scene on Rodeo Drive. Long shots and high camera angles of Travis and his friends define them as lower class peoples, a notion which is reiterated in the dialogue spoken by Cher, “no respectable person would actually date them.” Elton is the stereotypically attractive male love interest in the film. His high social status is exposed through low angle shots and close ups, and it is also espoused through the dialogue “Tai? Why would I go with Tai? Don't you even know who my father is?” This quote makes it evident that the status of Elton’s father directly influences who he ‘should’ date. Cher’s evinces egotism, believing that she has the ability to challenge natural social behaviour. Cher’s manipulation of Tai’s appearance is shown through the mis-en-scene of expensive clothing and make-up, in an attempt to fascinate the opposite sex using physical adjustment. Cher’s repeated attempts to draw two unlikely people together (Tai and Elton), ends in the realisation that she does not possess the capability of defying human attraction. Heckerling depicts the changing social attitudes towards marriage in a contemporary…show more content…
Everything I think and everything I do is wrong. I was wrong about Elton, I was wrong about Christian, and now Josh hated me. It all boiled down to one inevitable conclusion, I was just totally clueless. Oh, and this Josh and Tai thing was wigging me more than anything. I mean, what was my problem? Tai is my pal, I don't begrudge her a boyfriend, I really.. Ooh, I wonder if they have that in my size. What does she want with Josh, anyway? He dresses funny, he listens to complaint rock, he's not even cute... in a conventional way. I mean, he's just like this slug who hangs around the house all the time. And he's a hideous dancer, I couldn't take him anywhere. Wait a second, what am I stressing about? This is like, Josh! OK, OK, so he's kind of a baldwin, but what would he want with Tai? She couldn't make him happy. Josh needed someone with imagination, someone to take care of him, someone to laugh at his jokes... in case he ever makes any. Then suddenly... CHER Oh, my God. I love Josh. CHER V.O. I am majorly, totally, butt-crazy in love with
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