Texts are cultural artefacts that reflect the values of their various societies. The two texts Emma by Jane Austin and Clueless by Amy Heckerling both use various techniques to discuss their relevant cultural values.
Through the studies of the similarities of these two texts Clueless becomes a reflection of the past which is shown in Emma.
In the introduction of the texts there is an extreme amount of detail that is discovered about the main Characters Emma and Cher. The film clueless begins with a quick sequence of shots showing Cher shopping, driving, at a party and spending time with her friends. The accompanying song is Kids in America. Our immediate impression of Cher is that she is an incredible rich, spoilt, social teenager who has everything she needs including clothing and popularity. The introduction of Emma shows her as a beautiful, high sprite, intellectual and spoiled matchmaker. Our immediate impression of both the main characters, Emma and Cher is that they are spoiled, high class snobs. In the aspects of there immediate impressions they are extremely similar though we are able to see the differences and similarities of the type of spoiled high class snobs they are. These differences are due to the different times. The values of time have changed. The activities which each character takes part in are different due to the different times. Chers idea of a good time is shopping and going to party, but Emmas is spending time with her father and going to a tea party with family.
The themes presented by Jane Austin in Emma are universal and timeless which enables Amy Heckerling to adapt them to a context that a modern audience can reflect and relate to. This therefore generates a greater understanding of the social commentary on social class, marriage, and education of the 19th century. In Clueless Amy Heckerling does not lower the meaning on Emma as the essence of what is said is not changed, however Clueless goes further than just a transformation and comments on modern issues such as sexuality, education and social equality relevant to her time. This allows the texts to resonate with each other with the known reflecting upon the new and the new reflecting on the known.
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