Binary Oppositions and Equilibrium

The Hangover (2009)

Binary Oppositions - Good vs evil (the head a gang threatens the main characters), trying to find someone (like a quest), main characters vs alcohol (they get very drunk, as the title suggests)
Equilibrium - The first equilibrium ends when the main characters wake up, to see that their friend is missing. The new equilibrium starts when they have found their friend, and finally get to his wedding.


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Film 5: Kick Ass

1. Referring to the key elements of a teen movie section from the Donnie Darko sheets, how is it possible to define this text as being a teen movie?
There is a attractive male protagonist, and he romantically involved with a female character, although there is heartbreak at the start. Most scenes take place in high school, and it's a superhero movie.
2. How does this signal that it is aiming for a teenage audience?
Teenagers relate the high school setting, as they spend most of their lives there. 
3. How does this text portray teenagers and adults?
The teenagers are portayed as either harsh and evil, or nerdy and helpless. The main adult character is the head of a mobster gang, so he is very brutal and just as bad as the teenagers.
4. What type of locations feature within the text?
Locations include: High school, main male characters bedroom, comic book store.
5. What type of mood is established and how is it achieved?
The mood starts off serious, but becomes comedic really fast. The voiceover provided by the main character lightens the mood, and there is a non-diegetic score as well as songs. The violence is light hearted, although it is brutal it is played for comedic effect.

Trailer:

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Film 4: 10 Things I Hate About You

1. Referring to the key elements of a teen movie section from the Donnie Darko sheets, how is it possible to define this text as being a teen movie? 
   The film is set in high school, with an attractive male and female protagonist. There is conflict between the teenage characters, as well as conflict between the adults and their students (the adult characters are mainly teachers.)
2. How does this signal that it is aiming for a teenage audience?
   The film shows us and explains the typical cliques, and teenagers can relate to this because they see these type of cliques on a daily basis. The teenage audience can also relate to
3. How does this text portray teenagers and adults?
   The teenagers are portrayed as what you would expect, gossiping and informal but not immature. The headteacher swears and another teacher yells at a student and also swears. The adults are portrayed just as immature as the teenagers.
4. What type of locations feature within the text? 
   Locations include: High school, a main female characters house.
5. What type of mood is established and how is it achieved? 
   The mood is relaxed, with the characters contributing comedy. The fact that songs are non-diegetic instead of a score makes the film less serious. 
   
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Film 3: Twilight

1. Referring to the key elements of a teen movie section from the Donnie Darko sheets, how is it possible to define this text as being a teen movie?
   The film is set in high school, and the main character lives in a large suburban house. There is a female and male main character, who become romantically involved.
2. How does this signal that it is aiming for a teenage audience?
   Teenagers are more likley to relate to this setting, and most live in large houses. The fact that the film is a fantasy will also make the viewer more interested, because films like this and Harry Potter enable you to escape to another world. 
3. How does this text portray teenagers and adults?
   The only main adult character is portrayed as shy, timid but tough (as the chief of police). The younger characters are shown as typical teenagers - immature but with bubbly personalities.
4. What type of locations feature within the text?
   Locations include: high school, main female character’s house.
5. What type of mood is established and how is it achieved?
   The mood is serious, implied by the non-diegetic score and dark lighting in every scene. Unusual for a teen movie, there are no jokes, and the voiceover (by the main female character) has a serious tone to it.

Trailer:

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Film 2: John Tucker Must Die

1. Referring to the key elements of a teen movie section from the Donnie Darko sheets, how is it possible to define this text as being a teen movie?
   This movie has a few scenes at high school, and there is a few attractive female and an attractive male lead role. Although there is no middle class white family, there is mention of romance.
2. How does this signal that it is aiming for a teenage audience?There is slang in the dialogue such as "loaded", and the fact that it's set in high school is that it's an environment that teenagers are in everyday, so can relate to it and the different "cliques". 
3. How does this text portray teenagers and adults?
   The only adult character is portrayed as immature and not knowing what they're talking about. The teenagers seem to be shown as mean, with the male lead lying repeatedly to get what he wants. The teenagers are also selfish and also arrogant, for example the lead male is the popular guy in school, so he thinks he can get away with dating three girls at once.
4. What type of locations feature within the text? 
   Locations include: High School, a restaurant, and the main character's house.
5. What type of mood is established and how is it achieved?
   The mood seems to be vengeful throughout, for example the main female characters fight in the school gym with many insults being said. The narration however (by one of the main female characters) lightens the mood and is comedic.

animation of scenes from the movie

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Film 1: Mean Girls

1. Referring to the key elements of a teen movie section from the Donnie Darko sheets, how is it possible to define this text as being a teen movie?
   The film has many things on the list that is on the Donnie Darko sheets, such as female protagonist, and the key location is an American high school. The main female character is in a white middle class family with a large house, and all of this is revealed in the first 10 minutes.
2. How does this signal that it is aiming for a teenage audience?
   Slang is used in the movie, and the fact that we see a high school means that teenagers can relate to the film, and understand what is going on. 
3. How does this text portray teenagers and adults?
   Adults are seen as caring and loving, but when we see high school for the first time, teenagers are portrayed as immature and 
4. What type of locations feature within the text?
   Locations include: South Africa (flashbacks), High School, and the main female character's house.
5. What type of mood is established and how is it achieved? The movie is a comedy, we can see this my the way they show the immaturity of the students (lighting their own farts etc.) and there are many jokes, with a non-diegetic score with a lighthearted feel to it.

Trailer:

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