Textual Analysis: Mean Girls

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Typical Codes and Conventions:

Mean Girls is set in America but predominantly in a high school, this is a stock setting that is used in teen romantic comedies as school is major part of teenage life. Other setting that are seen in the film include a mall, highlighting the stereotype that all teenage girls love shopping, and it is portrayed as a local meeting place for many of the main character’s peers. Regina’s bedroom is also seen a handful of times throughout the film. The mise en scene used, such as posters and pictures, as well as there being many different bright colours in the room, reinforces the stereotype of teens trying to express themselves through colour.

The majority of the characters wear simple but colourful clothing, again implying that young people express themselves through their appearance. Some characters have a more detailed costume, which reflect their different personality to the rest of the students. For example, Janis wears dark, gothic clothes, which echoes her pessimistic personality. The Plastics wear some item of pink clothing most of the time, as pink is considered the most feminine colour. Cady’s costume changes throughout the film as she becomes a bigger part of the Plastics. This means that she begins to wear skirts instead of trousers, and low cut tops revealing her cleavage, which are all considered stereotypical feminine clothing.

Non-diegetic is used in the film, primarily through the use of a voice-over. This creates a deeper connection with the audience straight away, as it is as if they are being told a personal story by the main character, Cady. Non-diegetic music is also used frequently throughout the film, often to show the passing of time, such as when Cady, Janis and Damian begin attempting to ‘destroy’ Regina. Diegetic sound is also heard in the film through dialogue. Many of the characters speak in slang, for example Gretchen using the word ‘fetch’ a lot in the film, reinforcing the stereotypical way that teenagers are portrayed as speaking in teen romantic comedies.

High key lighting is used throughout the film as it creates verisimilitude as well as giving a more natural feel to the narrative, allowing the audience to relate to the characters more easily.

Narrative Structure:

The film has a linear narrative structure, with a very clear beginning, middle and end. Todorov’s theory is also followed in the film:

Equilibrium: Cady is home-schooled by her parents in Africa.
Disruption: Cady moves to America and attends public school, where she is an outcast.
Recognition of Disruption: She doesn’t have any friends.
Attempt to Repair Disruption: Janis and Damian become her friends.
Disruption: The Plastics take an interest in Cady.
Recognition of Disruption: Janis explains who The Plastics are.
Attempt to Repair Disruption: Cady becomes friends with Plastics.
Disruption: Regina gets back together with her ex boyfriend, Aaron, knowing that Cady now likes him.
Recognition of Disruption: Cady sees them kissing.
Attempt to Repair Disruption: Janis makes a plan to ‘destroy’ Regina, so Cady can get with Aaron.
Disruption: Janis, Cady and Damian begin sabotaging Regina, by making her fat, Aaron breaking up with her and make Gretchen and Karen fall out with her.
Recognition of Disruption: Regina blames Cady, Gretchen and Karen for the ‘Burn Book’, a book of rumours about people at their school.
Attempt to Repair Disruption: The girls in the class do group exercises to trust each again.
Disruption: Regina gets hit by a bus.
Recognition of Disruption: Cady becomes an outcast again.
Attempt to Repair Disruption: Cady wins mathletes and becomes spring fling queen, but shares the crown with everyone.
Reinstatement of Equilibrium: The girls in the class are equals now and Cady gets together with Aaron.

Characters:

The characters in the film are very stereotypical of teen romantic comedies. In the film, there is a scene where Cady is being informed about all of the different social groups that sit in the caferteria. Point-of-view shots are used here to allow the audience to feel part of the action, and feel as if they are finding out about this, at the same time as the main character. The stereotypical social groups, such as Jocks and The Plastics, are strongly represented by mise en scene. This helps the audience identify the types of characters quickly and helps the viewer to relate to the narrative and characters too.

Also, Propp’s theory can be identified in the film’s characters. Cady is portrayed as the heroine, as she wins the mathletes competition, and also ends the divide of the students into different social groups by sharing her spring fling crown. In the film, Aaron may be considered as the Princess, because he is Cady’s reward for ending the group divides. Janis and Damian are represented as the mentors in the film, as they form the plan to sabotage Regina, but they couldn’t do this without the hero, Cady. The villain is shown through Regina, as she wants Aaron for herself and also tries to harm Cady by blaming her for the ‘Burn Book’.

Themes:

In the film, a key theme is trying to fit in at school. This highlights and clearly shows to the audience the stereotypical characters in the film, and emphasises that Cady is different. Relationships are also a strong theme in Mean Girls. The main type of relationship that is seen in the film is friendship but the audience also see characters having romantic relationships. This idea of friends and love is considered very important to many teenagers.

Technical Aspects:

Close-ups are used very frequently in the film, often to show a character’s reaction. An example of this is when Cady is announced as spring fling queen, this is used to help the audience relate to Cady as her shocked face fills most of the frame. Another use of close-ups in the film, is to show the change in Cady, as she becomes more and more like an actual Plastic. A mirror is often used in the frame to show a close-up of her face with more make-up on than at the start of the film, with the mirror symbolising her becoming vainer as time passes, and vanity is a stereotype that is often attached to teenage girls. This allows the audience to feel part of the narrative as they can clearly see the change like other characters, for example Janis and Damian.

Mid-shots are also used repeatedly in Mean Girls. For example, a mid-shot is used when Aaron is tutoring Cady in maths. This physically indicates that the pair is getting closer, but also implies that their relationship is becoming closer too.

Straight cuts are used continually throughout the film to create verisimilitude. These also aid the viewer in relating easily to the characters and feel as if the situations and issues are more realistic.