How has the study of Emma and its appropriate clueless developed your understanding of how context influenced values?
-Select at least 2 significant moments of Austens Emma and analyse how these moments are considered in order to create meaning in Heckerlings Clueless.
In your response focus on ideas, context, values and language.
HeckerlingsClueless (1995)is transformed through Austens 19thCentury novel,Emma, where the plot and characters have been transformed to suit Heckerlings context and contemporary audience. Despite the shift in context from 19thcentury England to late 20thcentury Beverly Hills, Austens main plot and ideas have been retained to a great degree. However, the different ways in which these ideas are portrayed inClueless, as well as the variations fromEmmas plot, provide new insights into both contexts and hence emphasises the contextual influences that cause the changes.
Through the consideration of Austens 19th century context we gain a deeper understanding of the impact of class attitudes on peoples behaviour and relationships. Social hierarchies are addressed through Mr Eltons denial of Harriet and the corresponding action of Eltons rejection of Tai. The character Mr Elton represents the class based attitudes of 19thCentury England when he claims that everyone has their own level. This implies he feels that Harriet is not of equal alliance to him in wealth and status. Eltons repetitive use of the absolute never and never I assure you reinforces that the thought of forming an alliance with Harriet is an affront to his reputation and dignity. The rigid class structure is further compounded through the character of Emma with her disgusted reaction to Mr Eltons proposal, as she believes that the Woodhouses had been settled for several generations the younger branch of a very ancient family- the Eltons were nobody. Therefore, consolidating the 19th Century values of marrying within your social class.
The shift to the 20th Century context has shaped the values associated with wealth, freedom of expression and equality. This is shown through Hecklings appropriation of the carriage scene where, Elton similarly questions Dont you know who my father is?. In both texts, Mr Elton and his counterpart have been characterised as vain and only wanting to aggrandize and enrich himself, particularly through the arrogant language of Mr Elton such as I need not so totally despair of an equal alliance, as addressing myself to Miss Smith!. Thus, they represent the regimented nature of life for the middle and upper class where the lines between them are strictly drawn. However, Clueless presents a society where there is more expression of emotions. Cher rejects Elton by saying, Youre a snob and a half, which conveys that her basis of rejection is not due to Eltons class, but rather due to character.
Social class values are also further evident in Austens Emma as seen through of Churchill and Jane Fairfaxs secret engagement. Their relationship is secret as they were from different classes; hence their relationship was deemed as socially unacceptable. The male that is unattainable to Emma is transformed from a man that is secretly engaged (Churchill) to a man that is gay (Christian) is indicative of the contemporary context of Clueless where there is more sexual freedom than in Austens Emma. Emma mistakenly believes that Churchill is undoubtedly very much in love with her, when in fact Churchill is merely using Emma as a cover for his secret engagement. Austen exclusively implies his infidelity in her omniscient narration of the Coles dinner party, where (Emma) saw Frank Churchill looking intently across the room at Miss Fairfax. Upon questioning his strutters in his defence, Miss Fairfax has done her hair in so odd a way!. Austens use of dramatic irony serves to reveal her level of self delusion and naivety.
Correspondingly, Heckerling comments on Chers cluelessness through Churchills counterpart, Christian, whose homosexuality is not perceived by Cher. The long shots showing Christian flirting with the male bartender alerts the audience of the irony of the situation. This shot is juxtaposed immediately after wit Cher in awe of how he doesnt even look at another girl, which leads us to conclude that Cher is in fact clueless. The inclusion of gay Christian highlights the sexual diversity of the 20th Century.
The 19th Century values of marriage are further consolidated through the conclusion of Emma. Emma presents us with idea that marriage is for financial security and social advancement and based on social class. This is portrayed through the triple marriage at the end, Emma and Knightly, Harriet and young Martin and Jane and Churchill. Churchills relationships represent the idea that a relationship would not work if they were not from the same social class. It also suggests that marrying between classes would lead to conflict. This is clearly shown through, Churchills first marriage to Miss Churchill, whom was wealthy and well connected, which was an unsuitable connection and did not produce much happiness and finally ended in a divorce. However, Churchill later marries Fairfax and is happily married with her after his aunt had passed away. This prompts readers to draw the conclusion about the need for social situations to be similar in order for a happy relationship and if possible, relationships could be easier if they were of equal alliance.
Hecklings inclusion of the wedding scene illustrates how context has helped appropriate the values in Emma for the modern audience associated with marriage. Heckerling includes dating and flirtation to show the shift into 20th century context where dating and even divorce is a common occurrence in everyday life. In Clueless, Mel states, You divorce wives not children which alludes to the modern notion of marriage and divorce. Also the plural of wives conveys the connotation that it is more than one incidence which reinforces the idea that divorce is a normal happening in Cluelesss context. The final wedding scene consolidates the value of dating prior to marriage. The audience is presented with the wedding scene believe that if may be the union of Josh and Cher. However, Chers voiceover claims As if, I am only 16 and this is California, not Kentucky referring to how inappropriate and ridiculous it could be would be to marry at 16 and also since she has only been shown to be dating him for a short time, which emphasizes the change of context where dating and marrying at an older age is more common. Furthermore, through comparison of Beverly Hills with a less sophisticated geographical location, it emphasises the marriage values of the 20th century. Although marriage is not seen to be crucial in making a woman complete, Clueless still displays marriage as the ultimate ending, through irony where Cher gets hold of the bouquet, which symbolises that she is the next to be married.
The role of the female in a patriarchal society has also been incorporated by Heckerling in Clueless, in which an inherently conservative and traditional view has been taken, like in Emma. For instance, as a characteristic of the 19h century context, Emma owes her economic stability and security (from her wealth) to her father as does Cher, despite being in the late 20th century society. However, the characterisation of Mr Woodhouse in Emma as a hypochondriac makes him more the stereotypical old woman, than the patriarch, so it is Emma who rules at Hartfield, with her bold statement that I believe few married women are half as much mistress of their husbands house, as I am of Hartfield. This characterisation of Mr Woodhouse, in comparison with Emmas strong character, makes the audience view Emma as a rather independent young woman. Similarly, in Clueless, Cher is the ruler, as she stereotypes her dad with her voice-over description of Daddys a litigator, and shots with her and Mel still centralise Cher, with the effect that Cher is seen as the central figure, rather than her father.
However, neither Emma nor Cher are truly empowered since, both texts explore the female requirement of male figures as agents of self-improvement, underlining the persistence of patriarchal values over the generations. Characterised as a sensible man with considerable wealth and reputable social connections, Mr Knightly is the personification of Austens social ideal. His position of authority grants him the authority to act as Emmas moral guidance and also the fact that he is one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse and the only one who ever told her of them. In Chers case, her father is characterised as the imposing patriarch; he still barks orders and controls Chers behaviour, as seen by his grounding Cher for unpaid speeding tickets. So, in both cases, though women can influence the organisation of the household, the audience sees that in both contexts the conservative value of the patriarchal society is still upheld.
The comparison between Clueless and Emma can offer insights into the transformation of values over time, and the contextual influences of the two different centuries. Austens Emma has been transformed to suit the modern context and audience, by maintaining some of Austens ideas such as class structure and marriage, as well as modifying and introducing others.
How does the two text show the values ...
HeckerlingsClueless (1995)is transformed through Austens 19thCentury novel,Emma, where the plot and characters have been transformed to suit Heckerlings context and contemporary audience. Despite the shift in context from 19thcentury England to late 20thcentury Beverly Hills, Austens main plot and ideas have been retained to a great degree. However, the different ways in which these ideas are portrayed inClueless, as well as the variations fromEmmas plot, provide new insights into both contexts and hence emphasises the contextual influences that cause the changes.
Hecklings transformation of Austens 19thCentury novel,Emma, into the 20th Century Clueless explores alike ideas such as marriage and social class that are presented by Austen, but transformed to suit Heckerlings context and contemporary audience.
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