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Advanced English HSC Assessment
Amy Heckerling successfully employs many devices and techniques to transform the 18th century text Emma, by Jane Austen, into Clueless, the contemporary film about teenage life and popular culture in America. However, after reading Jane Austen’s Emma the responder is able to access a far greater multiplicity of meaning. For, Clueless becomes not merely a satire on Modern America and teenage values. ... This can be seen in the opening of the novel, where we as responders, are given an insight into Emma’s character, lifestyle and surroundings, through third person narration. “ Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”
In Clueless irony is also present, although it is presented in a different form. ...
“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich…” these three adjectives used to depict Emma, imply Austen’s bitter satire of the frivolous upper classes. Austen’s portrayal of Emma as “handsome” illustrates the importance of beauty, image and prosperity in making a person more accepted within society. This idea is contrasted in the opening scene of Clueless, which delivers us with a montage of images showing the materialist delights in Cher’s world, ensued by Cher’s computer co-ordinated wardrobe.
Emma and Clueless are both framed and structured using a different medium; this implies that both texts will employ varying modes of communication. ... The application of an objective narrator dexterously sketches Emma’s background, and in the 4th paragraph the chronicler stops. ... The novelists indirect comments, are portrayed with a furtive ironic understatement, this helps the responders to enjoy Emma’s flaws. ... To produce the satire in Emma Austen applies questions, challenges, refutes and sharp indictments. ...
The dialogue in Emma is often parodic and linguistically self-aware. ... ” I was telling you of your grandmamma, Jane…” compared with “Depend upon it, Emma, a sensible man would find no difficulty in it…”
Humour is presented in various situations, the characters, and the language.
Approximate Word count = 1637
Approximate Pages = 6.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
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