HOW THE MOVIE “MEAN GIRLS” CONSTRUCTS ITS TEENAGE HEROINES

B. HOW THE MOVIE “MEAN GIRLS” CONSTRUCTS ITS TEENAGE HEROINES

When we watch the entire run of the movie Mean Girls and pay attention to its teenage female characters, we can see easily that the teenage female characters represent modern girls. Although this movie does not show explicitly its set of time, we are able to conclude the setting of time from the fashion style of the characters or from the topic the characters talk about. For example, in one scene in the movie, Ashton Kutcher, the famous Hollywood actor, is mentioned and claimed as an up-to-date topic at the time. The actor is popular since the end of 1990s. From this, we can conclude that the movie takes set of time in the era between the end of 1990s and 2004 (the year the movie is produced), so that the teenage female characters of the movie also represent teenage girls living in the era.

The setting of time of the movie refers to the era of postfeminism or postfeminist era. It is the era when many women and girls no longer see that they need feminism as it is considered old fashioned. Postfeminism offers new values to women and girls which seem different from both the values of feminism and The setting of time of the movie refers to the era of postfeminism or postfeminist era. It is the era when many women and girls no longer see that they need feminism as it is considered old fashioned. Postfeminism offers new values to women and girls which seem different from both the values of feminism and

The teenage heroines in the movie classify themselves into some different cliques and the members of each clique certainly have different characteristics. Nevertheless, in general, these girls’ crowd is represented challenging traditional femininity. Most girls are represented as girls who are not passive and obedient but rather girls who want to actualize their self-obsession and self-expression liberally. Some of them even do not mind breaking the school regulation like skipping class or making out with their boyfriend in the school. Most of them chase for self-existence as well as acceptance and attention from their peers. Thus, they care too much about appearance and need both friendship and love relationship to build their identity.

In socializing with opposite sex peers, they are varied. However, those who are more aggressive in socializing with boys are considered socially competent. The socially competent girls are considered more popular.

Most girls in the movie are also represented as girls who do not mind expressing anger frankly so it can be said that they do not represent traditional values. This is clearly shown in the scene when the junior girl students in the movie fight against each other violently (see figure 2).

Figure 2. Girl fights against girl violently in Mean Girls. Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

It is clear that most teenage heroines in the movie show the characteristics of girls in modern era. Most of them represent the current values, Girl Power values, which is a part of postfeminism. Although movie is sometimes an exaggeration of reality, it can be understood that the movie represents the condition of American girls today.

However, although America has encountered many movements which contribute in shaping American life and institution today like what has been contributed by postfeminism to American girls, the traditional values are still maintained in the daily life including the values of traditional femininity which is still embraced by them generally. In the last chapter, it has been explained that the concepts of American heroine in fiction, either literature or film in the nineteenth century and twentieth century, gradually change decade by decade. It has also been said that although the trend in one decade is different from that in another However, although America has encountered many movements which contribute in shaping American life and institution today like what has been contributed by postfeminism to American girls, the traditional values are still maintained in the daily life including the values of traditional femininity which is still embraced by them generally. In the last chapter, it has been explained that the concepts of American heroine in fiction, either literature or film in the nineteenth century and twentieth century, gradually change decade by decade. It has also been said that although the trend in one decade is different from that in another

The fact that America still holds traditional values of femininity despite its modernity and some women’s movement has emerged like postfeminism somehow raises question. How are the teenage heroines in the movie Mean Girls constructed? Are they constructed going along with Girl Power as they live in postfeminist era or rather still maintaining traditional values instead? A full analysis of all teenage heroines of the movie is beyond the scope of the thesis as the thesis concentrates specifically on two primary teenage heroines who take leading role in the movie, Cady Heron and Regina George.

1. Cady Heron, the Girl Who Transforms By watching the movie from the beginning until the end, there has been a transformation in the character of Cady Heron, the main character of the movie. In the beginning of the movie she is depicted as an innocent girl who does not know anything about high school world as she has been home schooled all her life. At her first day she goes to high school, she wears modest outfits and simple hairstyle. Her appearance does not show that she is a girl who always wears the latest-fashion clothes (see figure 3).

Figure 3. Cady’s appearance in her first day in high school Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

In the frames, she wears modest T-shirt, jacket, and jeans and her hair style is simple ponytail. It can be said that Cady’s appearance is too ordinary to make her the center of attention when she enters her new school, North Shore High School. In this case, in North Shore High School, Cady is depicted as ‘powerless’ new comer. What is meant by ‘powerless’ in this term is not physical strength but rather appearance.

Her modest and ordinary appearance somehow influences the way people treat her. When Cady greets and introduces herself to a girl she meets first in her new class, later known Kristen Hadley, the girl says to Cady if Cady talks to her again, she will kick her ass. Cady’s appearance somehow shows that she is an ‘unthreatening object’ so people see her powerless. And indeed, Cady shows her powerlessness as she responds Kristen’s threat by being silent, not protesting.

Cady’s powerlessness is also shown by her pose as well as gesture in the following frames.

Figure 4. Cady’s polite gesture when and after talking to

somebody she meets first in her new high school

Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

As we can see (see figure 4), Cady links together both her hands in front of her body when and after talking to Kristen Hadley. Medium shot is used to make audience see clearly the pose. The pose is somehow a sign of politeness. But if we analyze it further, the politeness shown by Cady leads to inferiority instead. In the school, she is new student. She does not know anyone there at all and therefore she does not have social power. Thus, when she talks to somebody she meets first she tries to be as polite as she can to avoid antagonism addressed to her. She wants to show that she is nice but sadly it makes her treated unfriendly instead.

Cady’s characters are revealed one by one as the story goes. First, Cady is portrayed as an obedient student. At the scene when Janis and Damian, her first friends in the school, ask her to skip class, we can see from Cady’s facial expression (see figure 5) that she worries about it as she thinks skipping class is not good and should not be done. She also asks Janis and Damian “Won't we get in some sort of trouble for this?”. Cady’s question shows Cady’s anxiety of breaking the school regulation.

Figure 5. Cady’s anxious face expression when she is asked skipping cla ss Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

Her facial expression and question somehow show that she is such a person who always obeys regulation. However, finally Cady agrees to skip class as she is in no position to pass up friends for Janis and Damian are the only friends she has at the time.

The next scenes of the movie bring the nature of Cady as a self-sacrificed girl. Janis asks Cady to spy on the Plastics, the most popular clique in the school, as Cady is invited by the queen bee, Regina George, to sit together with them at lunch in cafeteria for a week. Janis wants Cady to report to her all bad things the Plastics say and do. Actually, at the time, Cady does not find anything wrong with the clique and feels wonder why Janis hates them. However, due to her loyalty to Janis as her friend, Cady agrees to do Janis’ idea. In this case, she sacrifices herself to do what her friend asks. She does not do it because of her own willingness.

Beside her powerlessness, Cady is depicted as a smart girl. In the scene in Math class, Cady could not concentrate as she is fascinated by Aaron Samuels, a senior student in the same Math class who sits in front of her. At the moment that she daydreams, suddenly, her teacher, Mrs. Norburry, interrupts by asking Cady Beside her powerlessness, Cady is depicted as a smart girl. In the scene in Math class, Cady could not concentrate as she is fascinated by Aaron Samuels, a senior student in the same Math class who sits in front of her. At the moment that she daydreams, suddenly, her teacher, Mrs. Norburry, interrupts by asking Cady

Mrs. Norburry

: Cady, what do you say?

Cady

: He was...

So cute.

I mean, A-sub-N equals N plus one over four.

Mrs. NOrburry : That's right. That's good. Very good.

Her cleverness in math is also shown in the dialogue which happens in cafeteria between Cady and two of the members of the Plastics, Regina and Gretchen, below.

Regina : A hundred and twenty calories and forty-eight calories from fat. What percent is that? Gretchen

: Forty-eight into one twenty?

Regina : I'm only eating foods with less than thirty

percent calories from fat.

Cady

: It's forty percent.

Well, forty eight over one hundred and twenty equals X over one hundred and then you cross- multiply and get the value of X.

Regina : Whatever. I'm getting cheese fries.

Despite her cleverness, Cady is so passive in winning the man she has a crush on. In the movie, Cady has a crush on Aaron Samuels who is also the ex- boyfriend of Regina, the queen bee of the Plastics. She always waits Aaron to talk first as she does not dare to talk first. What she does are only looking at him and keeping her feeling upon him. When Regina offers Cady a help to win Aaron, Cady feels so thankful and glad. However, Regina finally betrays Cady by taking Aaron back to her arms. Cady’s passivity and powerlessness make her become a victim of the queen bee.

By analyzing Cady’s character in the beginning of the movie, we can conclude that Cady is a character representing the concept of ‘good’ girl as she brings the characteristics and values of traditional femininity. She is an obedient, smart, self-sacrificed, and passive girl with modest appearance and often become

a victim due to her powerlessness. However, we have to make it clear what is the meaning of ‘good’ girl here. In Western culture, ‘good’ girl has been around a long time. It has been the foundation of the eighteenth-and-nineteenth-century novel. It represents women who fulfill the standard values of femininity in the era. The girl is typically poor but beautiful. The characteristics somehow different from era to another era but the concept is still the same in which the girl represents the mainstream society’s values in the era. For instance, in her article, Sandra Tsing Loh has described good girl in nineties as:

… (a) spunky; (b) virginal; (c) busy with purposeful activity. But not obsessively so. Her hormones are in balance. Brave chin up, she works within society’s rules … Good Girls don’t challenge the status quo. (288)

On all accounts, although the standard values of girl or woman required by mainstream society are different from era to another era, it is undeniably always driven by patriarchal system which remains until today. Patriarchal system indeed requires women to be passive and submissive so that being ‘good’ girl is more favored. This also explains why I put single quote in the word GOOD. The term ‘good’ here does not refer to its real meaning rather its culturally constructed meaning as ‘good’ here is determined by the mainstream society driven by patriarchal system.

The development of the Cady’s character somehow does not only come to the ‘good’-girl side of her because as the story goes, it develops to be more complicated. As has been stated in the title of this subchapter, ‘Cady Heron, the girl who transforms’ , Cady indeed starts transforming right after the turning point of the movie which is in the scene when she witnesses Regina kissing Aaron Samuels (see figure 6) whereas Regina tells her before that she will help her in winning Aaron. The first frame showing the scene Regina kissing Aaron uses over shoulder shot which shows Cady’s shoulder to make it clear to audience that Cady witnesses it. The movie again shows the scene (the second frame) in medium close-up, now with slow motion, to make it clearer and more dramatic so that the audience can feel what Cady feels. This incident somehow makes Cady decide to take revenge against Regina. Thenceforth, she begins to pull out of the values of traditional heroine she has represented one by one and holds Girl Power values instead.

Figure 6. The scene is the turning point of Cady’s character development. Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

The first thing Cady does in breaking the concept of traditional heroine is that she agrees to sabotage the Plastics based on her own willingness, not her friend’s. At this point, Cady has her own self-determination and this represents

Girl Power values in which girls or women can do what they want based on her own intention and personal choice. Cady does not want to be the victim and the loser so she decides to fight back. With Janis and Damian, she tries to beat Regina with many ways, even the ways considered mean, including making Regina gain weight to make her fat and making Regina’s loyal friends hate her. In this case, Cady no longer appears as a powerless victim.

In sabotaging the Plastics, Cady infiltrates the Plastics by pretending to be

a ‘plastic’ girl. However, joining the Plastics really makes Cady too proud. She too enjoys her role as the member of the Plastics. She begins to change her modest look into fashionable one, adapting the Plastics’ chic style. She wears fashionable outfits, accessories and hair-style, uses make-up, and behaves like the other member of the Plastics including imitating Regina’s gesture and body language (see figure 7). She wants to beat Regina but she cannot help longing to be like Regina.

. Figure 7. Cady tries to imitate Regina

Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

In the first frame, it is shown that Cady wears a necklace showing the initial of her name alike with Regina’s and the necklace however signifies her longing to be like Regina. In the scene, the filmmakers put Cady sitting beside Regina in the purpose the audience can see that Cady and Regina wears the necklace which are alike. The second frame shows Cady imitating Regina’s gesture which is always done before Regina leaves her friend. Janis and Damian are in wonder when they see Cady practices this gesture. In the movie, it is shown that Janis and Damian gaze each other after Cady leaves. Although they do not speak, the audience can see that they begin to realize that Cady has changed. The third frame clearly shows that Cady is putting on make-up in her classroom. The three pictures shows

Cady’s efforts to be like Regina and the last one is the most explicit in representing the image of girl with Girl Power values as a girl with traditional values does not put on make-up in public area. Make-up, fashionable clothes and chic hair-style Cady wears are the signs of girls’ self-actualization and self- expression which are the values of Girl Power.

Cady longs to be like Regina as in her view Regina is the queen bee, the trendsetter, the top kick, and the center of attention. Cady admires Regina because of the power Regina has and she wants the power. She is aware that popularity means power. Since then, she wants to beat Regina not only because she wants to take revenge against Regina or because she wants to win Aaron but also because of her obsession to be more popular than Regina. Again, the value of traditional girl, which considers romance is women’s main goal, is left. Cady’s efforts to beat Regina are not just for winning Aaron but also for gaining Regina’s throne. Winning Aaron is not enough for her because she also wants power for her own existence, a so called popularity. She considers Regina her role model but she wants to be more than her.

When finally Cady can kick Regina out of the Plastics and get the status of queen bee, she begins to aware of her power. The power she gets somehow makes her more confident. This appears in the way she walks in the following frames (see figure 8).

Figure 8. The way Cady walks when she has become a queen bee Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

Long shot is used in both the frames to show the way Cady walks. In the frames, it can be seen that Cady walks confidently followed by her new worker bees, Karen and Gretchen. She unhesitatingly swings her hands freely. She gazes straight ahead. It is totally in contrast to the way she walks when she has not been popular which is shown in the frames below (see figure 9).

Figure 9. Cady’s gesture and way of walking when she hangs out with the Plastics before she becomes popular Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

Both the frames above show the scene in which Cady hangs out with the Plastics before she becomes popular. In the first frame, while walking, Cady is bent over and both her hands link together in front of her body. In the second frame, Cady appears talking with the Plastics and her hands keep linking together in front of her body. She does not swing her hands freely when she walks and this somehow shows her modesty. The way she walks and her gesture do not indicate that she is Both the frames above show the scene in which Cady hangs out with the Plastics before she becomes popular. In the first frame, while walking, Cady is bent over and both her hands link together in front of her body. In the second frame, Cady appears talking with the Plastics and her hands keep linking together in front of her body. She does not swing her hands freely when she walks and this somehow shows her modesty. The way she walks and her gesture do not indicate that she is

be called a feminist girl as she wears feminine outfits and shows feminine gesture whereas feminist claims that girl or woman cannot be feminist and feminine at the same time as feminist considers these identities are oppositional. Moreover, Cady wears revealing and form-fitting clothes which according to feminists are created by patriarchy as such outfits make girl or woman become object of male gaze or in other words victim of patriarchy. Here, the ambivalence of Girl Power values brought by Cady emerges. Cady seems going along with patriarchy as she wears revealing and form-fitting clothes but she also wants power for her self and does not want to be considered a passive object or victim. In this case, it is very clear that Cady represents Girl Power values as she does not consider herself a victim for she can expresses her personal freedom by wearing revealing and form-fitting clothes based on her personal choice not compulsion from other persons. By wearing the clothes, she also expresses her sexual freedom because she fully realizes that she can be the center of attention and she somehow finds pleasure of being the center of attention because it gives her personal power. What she seeks is actually not male gaze but rather her own “self-regulating narcissistic be called a feminist girl as she wears feminine outfits and shows feminine gesture whereas feminist claims that girl or woman cannot be feminist and feminine at the same time as feminist considers these identities are oppositional. Moreover, Cady wears revealing and form-fitting clothes which according to feminists are created by patriarchy as such outfits make girl or woman become object of male gaze or in other words victim of patriarchy. Here, the ambivalence of Girl Power values brought by Cady emerges. Cady seems going along with patriarchy as she wears revealing and form-fitting clothes but she also wants power for her self and does not want to be considered a passive object or victim. In this case, it is very clear that Cady represents Girl Power values as she does not consider herself a victim for she can expresses her personal freedom by wearing revealing and form-fitting clothes based on her personal choice not compulsion from other persons. By wearing the clothes, she also expresses her sexual freedom because she fully realizes that she can be the center of attention and she somehow finds pleasure of being the center of attention because it gives her personal power. What she seeks is actually not male gaze but rather her own “self-regulating narcissistic

Anyway, the power Cady gets due to her popularity makes her think that she can drive people around her. In the dialogue when Janis asks her to go to her art show, Cady tells her that she cannot come as she has had a plan to go to Madison with her parents. But when her parents ask her about their plan to go to Madison, Cady tells them that she has had a plan to go to her friend’s art show. Cady learns to drive everybody around her, telling lies to her parents and friends as she has had her own plan to hold a gathering with the rest members of the Plastics, Aaron Samuels, and some persons she thinks cool and popular to maintain her status as a queen bee. Cady’s awareness of her popularity is shown in the dialogue between Cady and Aaron in math class when Cady invites Aaron in the gathering which will be held in her house.

Cady : Hey. I'm having a small get-together at my house

tomorrow night.

Aaron : Is Regina going? Cady

: No. Do you think I'm an idiot? Cady

: No, it's just gonna be a few cool people, and you better be one of them, byotch. Aaron

: Fine, I'll go.

In the dialogue, Cady tells that only a few cool people who will be invited in the get-together. It means that Cady considers herself a cool person, and she wants Aaron to be one of them who come. Cady begins to limit her social relatedness as she only associates with people she thinks cool.

Thinking that she is popular, Cady as if feels having power in approaching Aaron. Cady who some time ago has been passive becomes more confident even aggressive. In the scene when Cady and Aaron are in Cady’s room at the night she holds get-together in her house, Cady talks to Aaron in aggressive manner. The scene shows how Cady aggressively gets her face closer to Aaron’s face.

Figure 10. Cady talks with Aaron in aggressive manner Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

In the first frame, we can see that Cady’s hand hold Aaron’s shoulder. In the second frame, Cady’s face gets closer to Aaron’s face. This is impossible done by Cady if she does not think she has power. As she thinks she has power, she thinks she can get everything she wants including Aaron. Therefore, she dares to express her feeling aggressively. At this point, again, Cady represents Girl Power values. She is confident and knows that she has power to get what she wants. A girl with Girl Power values like Cady does not wait until a man wooing her but rather makes initiative to woo the man she has a crush on first.

At this point, Cady truly violates traditional feminine values which demand girl to be passive and submissive. According to the traditional values, that is man who ought to be aggressive, not girl or woman. That is man who is demanded to take control over woman. A girl who is aggressive in her At this point, Cady truly violates traditional feminine values which demand girl to be passive and submissive. According to the traditional values, that is man who ought to be aggressive, not girl or woman. That is man who is demanded to take control over woman. A girl who is aggressive in her

With such manner, Cady certainly cannot also be considered a feminist. Feminists somehow always see girls and women as object in their relationship with men. Therefore, flirting aggressively on men for feminists are the same as providing men chance to make women become object. In this matter, Cady will

be considered a victim of patriarchy. However, postfeminsts will rather see Cady’s sexually aggressive manner as girl’s sexual freedom. Girls are encouraged to have sexual freedom and express themselves in whatever ways they feel comfortable. Therefore, Cady’s sexually aggressive manner is seen as her power and makes her a subject not an object.

However, in the movie it is depicted that the Cady’s power creates boomerang and it is beyond Cady’s expectation. Aaron gets upset when Cady tells him that he is Regina’s property. Aaron thinks that Cady also thinks that he is such a property, so he leaves her. It is shown in the dialogue below that Aaron does not like the new image of Cady.

Cady : I just wanted a reason to talk to you. Aaron

: So why didn't you just talk to me?

Cady : Well, because I couldn't.

Because of Regina. Because you were her property...

Aaron : Her property? Cady

: No. Shut up. Not her property...

Aaron : No, don't tell me to shut up. Cady

: I wasn't... Aaron

: God, you know what? You are just like a clone of Regina. Cady

: Oh, no, no, listen to me.

You're not listening to me...

Cady’s popularity does not make her win Aaron’s heart. Aaron considers Cady like a clone of Regina which means that Cady is a girl with negative attitude as Regina depicted as an evil character in the movie (Regina’s character will be explained at the next section). At this point, the character of Aaron is a sign of patriarchal system as he delivers patriarchal values which require a girl being a ‘good’ girl who is passive and submissive to man. He rejects Cady as Cady does violation to patriarchal values which is in this matter devaluing his man’s pride. Aaron’s rejection toward Cady somehow is the sign signifying the resistance of patriarchal system toward girl with Girl Power values who takes control over man as such action is claimed to be overstepping the bounds.

Whatever popularity or high status in school brings to Cady, popularity is still a significant factor for Cady’s character. The climax of Cady’s popularity is at the time when she is awarded a Spring Fling Queen in her school and crowned an imitation crown made of plastic. It is astonishing that Cady breaks her crown into pieces. The plastic crown is the sign of Cady’s popularity but Cady breaks it. However, Cady thinks she has lost everything she has; her friends, her boyfriend, and her parent’s trust, due to her obsession in chasing the status of queen bee. This is somehow the sign the filmmakers use to convey that popularity is something priceless, fake, and insignificant so girls are not supposed to long or compete for gaining it. The desire to chase popularity or status must be ‘broken’, like the crown broken by Cady. The power of popularity brought here refers to not something positive as it may bring a person become mean. Indirectly, the filmmakers transmit the idea that popularity or high social status, which often Whatever popularity or high status in school brings to Cady, popularity is still a significant factor for Cady’s character. The climax of Cady’s popularity is at the time when she is awarded a Spring Fling Queen in her school and crowned an imitation crown made of plastic. It is astonishing that Cady breaks her crown into pieces. The plastic crown is the sign of Cady’s popularity but Cady breaks it. However, Cady thinks she has lost everything she has; her friends, her boyfriend, and her parent’s trust, due to her obsession in chasing the status of queen bee. This is somehow the sign the filmmakers use to convey that popularity is something priceless, fake, and insignificant so girls are not supposed to long or compete for gaining it. The desire to chase popularity or status must be ‘broken’, like the crown broken by Cady. The power of popularity brought here refers to not something positive as it may bring a person become mean. Indirectly, the filmmakers transmit the idea that popularity or high social status, which often

The idea the filmmakers convey to challenge Girl Power values gets clearer as in the end of the story Cady is transformed to be a peace loving girl with ordinary style who befriends everyone and no longer chases power for her own existence. Cady becomes a ‘good’ girl again. However, Cady’s ‘good’ girl characteristic in the end of the movie is not the same as that in the beginning of the movie. In the end of the movie, the character of Cady still has been influenced by Girl Power values. She is a peace loving girl who does not chase for popularity but at the same time her outward appearance and gesture remain representing Girl Power values. In the frame below, Cady’s outfits are likely not too fashionable but they are not out of date. They are also not revealing clothes which can make her an object of male gaze but the clothes somehow still make her look attractive. Her hair is set fashionably, not simple ponytail, so that it also makes her look fashionable. In the way she walks, Cady is depicted walking confidently and swinging her hands freely like the way she walks when she has been a queen bee. It can be said that in the end of the movie, Cady combines both the values of traditional heroine and Girl Power values.

Figure 11. Cady’s appearance and gesture in the end of the movie Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

2. Regina George, the Queen Bee

Figure 12. Regina George, the queen bee who fulfills American beauty standard Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

In the movie, Regina George, the queen bee of the Plastics, is depicted as a girl who fulfills the physical standard of ideal American beauty which is tall, slim, blonde, and having white skin and blue eyes. In the film, the figure of Regina, whose name means “queen” in Latin, is introduced to the audience through the scene when Damian introduces the member of the Plastics one by one to Cady. In the frame, Regina is framed by medium shot combined with slow motion. She is In the movie, Regina George, the queen bee of the Plastics, is depicted as a girl who fulfills the physical standard of ideal American beauty which is tall, slim, blonde, and having white skin and blue eyes. In the film, the figure of Regina, whose name means “queen” in Latin, is introduced to the audience through the scene when Damian introduces the member of the Plastics one by one to Cady. In the frame, Regina is framed by medium shot combined with slow motion. She is

Beside her almost perfect physical appearance, Regina is also depicted wealthy. In the movie, her wealth is shown with her silver Lexus car and beautiful big house. In one scene, a girl student who adores Regina tells that Regina has Fendi pursues. Lexus car, beautiful big house, and Fendi pursues is the signs signify Regina’s wealth as all of those things are surely expensive so that only rich person who can own them.

Like the meaning of her name, Regina is adored by many people in North Shore High School. Boys want to date her and girls want to befriend her. Physical appearance and wealth are however pictured in this movie as key points for popularity in high school. Popularity is one of the ways to have power, so Regina uses her popularity to hold social authority in the school. She manipulates people to be under her feet. Many girls in the school want to be like Regina or at least become her friend. By being friend of Regina, they think they are important so that their social status in the school will be higher. The following are the Like the meaning of her name, Regina is adored by many people in North Shore High School. Boys want to date her and girls want to befriend her. Physical appearance and wealth are however pictured in this movie as key points for popularity in high school. Popularity is one of the ways to have power, so Regina uses her popularity to hold social authority in the school. She manipulates people to be under her feet. Many girls in the school want to be like Regina or at least become her friend. By being friend of Regina, they think they are important so that their social status in the school will be higher. The following are the

“Regina George is flawless.” “She has two Fendi purses and a silver Lexus.” “I hear her hair's insured for $.” “I hear she does car commercials. In Japan.” “Her favorite movie is Varsity blues.” “One time, she met John Stamos on a plane. And he told her she was pretty.” “One time, she punched me in the face. It was awesome.”

In the movie, Regina, despite her high status in her school, is shown as antagonist, an evil character who becomes Cady’s adversary. She is considered evil because she cannot fulfill the values of ‘good’ girl embraced by mainstream society. Regina is depicted challenging traditional values of femininity. She does what a ‘good’ girl is not supposed to do. What are the values of ‘good’ girl challenged by Regina in the movie actually?

There are so many things shown in the movie supporting the judgment that Regina is depicted breaking the values of ‘good’ girl. First, Regina often uses rude words when she speaks and expresses anger frankly. In the movie, Regina may wear feminine outfits, like skirt or pink jacket, but her manner in speaking does not fulfill the values of traditional femininity. She dares to say swear words. Everyone knows that it challenges the values of traditional femininity as ‘good’ girl is demanded to be gentle in speaking. According to Lowe and Graham, “There is little empirical evidence on female/male use of swear words. What there is, is research to show the strong stereotype we have of men swearing more” (as cited in Schollhammer, 2001, p. 25). As we see until today, if rude words are There are so many things shown in the movie supporting the judgment that Regina is depicted breaking the values of ‘good’ girl. First, Regina often uses rude words when she speaks and expresses anger frankly. In the movie, Regina may wear feminine outfits, like skirt or pink jacket, but her manner in speaking does not fulfill the values of traditional femininity. She dares to say swear words. Everyone knows that it challenges the values of traditional femininity as ‘good’ girl is demanded to be gentle in speaking. According to Lowe and Graham, “There is little empirical evidence on female/male use of swear words. What there is, is research to show the strong stereotype we have of men swearing more” (as cited in Schollhammer, 2001, p. 25). As we see until today, if rude words are

Karen : Did he say why? Regina

: Somebody told him about Shane Oman. Gretchen : Who? Regina

: He said some guy on the baseball team. Karen

: Baseball team? Regina

: I gave him everything. I was half a virgin when I met him. Karen

: You wanna do something fun? You wanna go to Taco Bell? Regina

: I can't go to Taco Bell, I'm on an all-carb diet. God, Karen, you are so stupid!

In the dialogue, Karen asks Regina to go to Taco Bell, a place where certainly people can consume food as Regina rejects Karen’s idea by saying that she is in all-carbohydrate diet. Karen’s effort to cheer up Regina is failed as it makes Regina get angrier and her anger somehow makes her speak rudely to Karen.

In the other scene, Regina expresses her anger when she finds out that the Kalteen Bars Cady has given to her are not the chocolate to lose weight but rather to gain weight. Regina expresses her anger by saying swear word ‘motherfucker’ In the other scene, Regina expresses her anger when she finds out that the Kalteen Bars Cady has given to her are not the chocolate to lose weight but rather to gain weight. Regina expresses her anger by saying swear word ‘motherfucker’

Figure 13. Regina’s angry facial expression in the scene when she finds out that she is tricked by Cady Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

In the frames, the angry Regina is shot in close-up to enable the audience to see her angry facial expression clearly. If we analyze the frames by using Barthes two-semiological system, the black background signifies darkness and the darkness is the sign of hatred, grudge, disappointment and other negative feelings in contrast to happiness or joy which is often signified by brightness. Indeed, generally, darkness is used to suggest fear, evil, the unknown, while light to suggest security, virtue, truth, joy (Giannetti, 1987, p. 16). In this case, the darkness also signifies the dark character of Regina. The white jacket Regina uses is to make Regina’s figure clear as the color is contrast to the background. The lighting used in the shots is low-key lighting so despite her bright colour jacket,

Regina’s figure looks dark as it is lack of light. Again, the dark image of Regina here signifies her feeling of hatred and grudge which leads to show her dark or evil character.

Regina’s second violation to the values of traditional femininity is that she is hypocrite. Regina can be considered a hypocritical person as she always pays a compliment to other person’s belonging but reproaches it when the person leaves. This character is shown in the scene when Regina praises a girl’s skirt in the school.

Regina : Oh, my God!

I love your skirt. Where did you get it?

The girl : It was my mom's in the 80's. Regina

: Vintage. So adorable. The girl : Thanks. Regina

: That is the ugliest F-ing skirt

I've ever seen.

This is done by Regina to create a good image of her in front of everybody to maintain her popularity. She wants everybody in the school give respect to her. In relation to traditional values, hypocrisy is not a part of it. A ‘good’ girl with traditional values tends to be honest and sincere. She does not pretend being good in front of other person while being evil in the back. She is not a devil in disguise. In other words, what Regina does is opposed to the values.

The third violation is shown by Regina with her manipulative, cunning and slanderous natures. Cady, the main character, somehow becomes the victim of Regina’s manipulation. Cady is a new student in the school and Regina is totally aware that Cady, despite her unawareness of trend, is beautiful. Regina worries The third violation is shown by Regina with her manipulative, cunning and slanderous natures. Cady, the main character, somehow becomes the victim of Regina’s manipulation. Cady is a new student in the school and Regina is totally aware that Cady, despite her unawareness of trend, is beautiful. Regina worries

In the party, Regina approaches Aaron and begins to talk to him. In this case, Cady supposes that Regina tries to help her winning Aaron. However, what happen actually is that Regina tries to slander Cady in order for Aaron loses his sympathy to Cady. The dialogue between Regina and Aaron in the scene is as follows:

Regina : I need to talk to you. You know that girl

Cady?

Aaron : Yeah, she's cool. I invited her tonight. Regina

: Well, be careful because she has a huge crush

on you.

Aaron : Really? How do you know? Regina

: Because she told me. She tells everybody. It's kind of cute, actually. She's like a little girl. She, like, writes all over her notebook, "Mrs. Aaron Samuels." And she made this T- shirt that says "I heart Aaron" and she wears it under all her clothes.

Aaron : Oh, come on. Regina

: Well, who can blame her? I mean, you're gorgeous. And OK, look, I'm not saying she's a stalker, but she saved this Kleenex you used and she said she's gonna do some kind of African voodoo with it to make you like her.

Aaron : What?

From the dialogue, it can be seen that Regina is so crafty to throw down a person who may disturb or threat her existence. She also often makes negative From the dialogue, it can be seen that Regina is so crafty to throw down a person who may disturb or threat her existence. She also often makes negative

Cady : Hey. Regina : Why were you talking to Janis Ian? Cady

: I don't know, I mean, she's so weird. She just, you know, came up to me and started talking to me about crack.

Regina : She's so pathetic. Let me tell you something about Janis Ian. We were best friends in middle school. I know, right? It's so embarrassing. I don't even... Whatever. So then in eighth grade,

I started going out with my first boyfriend, Kyle, who was totally gorgeous, but then he moved to Indiana. And Janis was, like, weirdly jealous of him. Like, if I would blow her off to hang out with Kyle, she'd be like, "Why didn't you call me back?" And I'd be like, "Why are you so obsessed with me?" So then, for my birthday party, which was an all-girls pool party, I was like, "Janis,

I can't invite you, because I think you're a lesbian." I mean, I couldn't have a lesbian at my party. There are gonna be girls there in their bathing suits. I mean, right? She was a lesbian. So then her mom called my mom and started yelling at her. It was so retarded. And then she dropped out of school because no one would talk to her. When she came back in the fall for high school, all of her hair was cut off and she was totally weird, and now I guess she's on crack.

The most manipulative and slanderous action Regina does is likely to be what she is done in the case of Burn Book, a book where the Plastics write mean things about all the girls of junior grade in the school. After she is kicked out of the Plastics and no longer a queen bee, with her last power, Regina takes revenge by submitting Burn Book to the principal, Mr. Duvall, and cunningly telling, that

Cady, Karen, and Gretchen are the writers of Burn Book. She then spreads the copies of Burn Book and it causes the girls in the school fights against each other wildly because of distrusting each other or accusing each other for spreading their disgrace. To convince the other people that she is not involved, she put her own picture on the book then writes mean words for herself.

Figure 14. Rude words written by Regina in Burn Books Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

Before Regina gives Burn Book to Mr. Duvall, the audience is likely to suppose that what Regina writes on the book the night before is addressed to Cady, not for her own self, as in the scene when she writes it, she is feeling mad to Cady as Cady has deceived her in the case of Kalteen Bar. In the scene, it is somehow not shown that Regina put her own picture on the book. But actually, the filmmakers have given a clue that Regina will do something cunning by showing Regina’s cunning facial expression (see Figure 15).

Figure 15. Regina’s cunning facial expression Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

In the frame above, Regina is shot in big close-up to make the audience see clearly her facial expression. Regina is shown smile although at the time she is feeling mad. The audience may misinterpret her facial expression to be her expression due to her satisfied feeling after expressing her anger to Cady by writing on the book. Whatever the interpretation, in the frame, the dark side of Regina is revealed. The low-key lighting used in the shot which makes Regina’s image and the circumstance dark bring the atmosphere of evil, in this case Regina’s evil nature.

Manipulative, cunning, and slanderous are considered evil nature and not the values of traditional femininity. According to the values, a girl should be virtuous. As has been explained in the last chapter, one of the categories of traditional heroine is the heroine of faith and the heroine of faith is not cunning, manipulative, and slanderous as she is required to be pious and always does good deed.

The fourth violation Regina does to the values of traditional femininity is that Regina is bossy and pushy. Toward everyone around her, mainly her parents and the other members of the Plastics, Regina is too bossy and likes to dominate

them. She pushes her parents to give their room to her. She likes her worker bees in the Plastics serving her and she will be angry if they do not do what she wants. For example, in the winter talent show, before the Plastics perform their “Jingle Bell Rock” dance, Regina pushes Gretchen to switch position with Cady as Cady and Regina were the tallest so they must be in the middle. When Gretchen complains the idea for it can mess the dance, Regina blinks the fact, getting angry to Gretchen so Gretchen cannot help obeying her command. Regina fully realizes that she has her power and she knows that she can drive everyone around her with the power. When traditional heroine becomes a victim, Regina, on the contrary, makes other person as her victim. When traditional heroine sacrifices herself for other persons, Regina makes other persons sacrifice for her. What Regina does is however in contrast to the values of traditional femininity which require girl to be submissive and obedient and discourage girl to rule and push other people. Regina’s bossy and pushy natures can be in some way a sign of Girl Power values. But instead of depicting Girl Power something positive, the movie portrays them as evil as most people still holds the values that girls should be submissive and do not take any control to her surrounding. Thus, the violation of these values is considered something negative.

The fifth Regina’s violation to traditional femininity is that she is sexually aggressive. In the movie, it is told that Regina has affair both with Aaron Samuels and Shane Oman. In the beginning, it is told that Regina dumped Aaron for Shane Oman. Feeling threatened as she finds out that Cady has a crush on Aaron, Regina wants Aaron back to her to show her supremacy to Cady. She uses Aaron as a The fifth Regina’s violation to traditional femininity is that she is sexually aggressive. In the movie, it is told that Regina has affair both with Aaron Samuels and Shane Oman. In the beginning, it is told that Regina dumped Aaron for Shane Oman. Feeling threatened as she finds out that Cady has a crush on Aaron, Regina wants Aaron back to her to show her supremacy to Cady. She uses Aaron as a

Other scene shows Regina has recovered from her sadness after Aaron leaves her as he finds out that Regina cheats on him with Shane Oman. In the scene, it is shown that Regina is making out with Shane Oman aggressively as if she has forgotten Aaron.

Figure 16. Regina takes control over Shane Oman when they make out. Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.

According to the values of traditional femininity, girl should be passive, not aggressive, in her relationship with man. Man is considered the subject, while girl plays a role as the object, and in this case the object of man, the object of male gaze or the object of man’s sexuality. However, Regina does not put herself in the relationship as the object. She takes the role as the subject. She uses Aaron to fulfill her desire to beat Cady, to maintain her popularity, as well as her sexual According to the values of traditional femininity, girl should be passive, not aggressive, in her relationship with man. Man is considered the subject, while girl plays a role as the object, and in this case the object of man, the object of male gaze or the object of man’s sexuality. However, Regina does not put herself in the relationship as the object. She takes the role as the subject. She uses Aaron to fulfill her desire to beat Cady, to maintain her popularity, as well as her sexual

a means she uses to fulfill her desire. At this point, Regina reverses what have been culturally and socially embraced by mainstream society by representing Girl Power action and values.

The filmmakers’ idea in opposing the values Girl Power which are shown by the character of Regina gets clearer in the end of the movie. It is told that Regina loses her supremacy as the most popular girl in the school by means of Cady, Janis and Damian’s sabotage. Sadly, a bus strikes her and makes her get spine injury. It is told then from Cady’s monologue that Regina’s physical therapist taught her to channel all her rage into sports so that she joins lacrosse club in her school. Regina’s appearance changes as she no longer wears mini skirt or whatever the member of the Plastics usually wears but wears long-sleeved sweater and trousers instead. She also sets her hair in modest style. She is no longer an ill-tempered girl as it is shown in the movie that she smiles kindly at Cady and Karen when she passes them by. A glamour Regina changes into a The filmmakers’ idea in opposing the values Girl Power which are shown by the character of Regina gets clearer in the end of the movie. It is told that Regina loses her supremacy as the most popular girl in the school by means of Cady, Janis and Damian’s sabotage. Sadly, a bus strikes her and makes her get spine injury. It is told then from Cady’s monologue that Regina’s physical therapist taught her to channel all her rage into sports so that she joins lacrosse club in her school. Regina’s appearance changes as she no longer wears mini skirt or whatever the member of the Plastics usually wears but wears long-sleeved sweater and trousers instead. She also sets her hair in modest style. She is no longer an ill-tempered girl as it is shown in the movie that she smiles kindly at Cady and Karen when she passes them by. A glamour Regina changes into a

Fig.17. Regina’s appearance after joining sport club

Mean Girls (U.S.A., 2004), directed by Mark Waters. Paramount Pictures.