Evaluation Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our film opening uses several genre conventions, as well as a few teenage and gender stereotypes. For example, our protagonist superhero is male, like the majority of superheroes out there (Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Deadpool etc.).

In addition, Jessica wore a floral dress, as well as having a bright pink coat, flowers and pink both being associated with girls. Later on in the film, she is also a damsel in distress. However, she is also higher in authority than the bullies, as she forces them to stop harassing Angus.

Bully on the left

One of the bullies is wearing an American jock jacket, which fulfils the stereotype that jocks are bullies and stand on a pedestal of power. He throws a paper ball at Angus’ head, laughing and high fiving his friend when he does. This is inverted, however, when he stops bullying Angus after Jessica admonishes him for doing so. Stereotypically, jocks are the ones in charge of their relationship; in this case, women are given more power over men.

Angus wears a long black trench coat, the coat symbolising the wall separating him and the rest of the world. This separation is further alluded to when the sketch he drew comes to life, shaking its head. Angus is shown to be a socially awkward teenager, a figure we can empathise with because we’ve been in his place before. His social awkwardness is emphasises when he stares at Jessica, to the point where she notices and feels creeped out by it. The comic style freeze frame with the love hearts around it also makes it feel like Angus is in his own little world.