Codes and Conventions: Summary

Codes And Conventions

Stock settings

• High school – ‘Easy A’.
• Main characters home.
• A party.
• School social event – ‘Mean Girls’, ’10 Things I Hate About You’.
• Local hanging place – ‘She’s All That’, ‘Mean Girls’.

Stock characters (follows Propp’s theory)

• Rich girl/bitch – ‘She’s All That’ (Taylor), ‘Mean Girls’ (Regina).
• Popular girl/cheerleader.
• Jock – ‘She’s All That’ (Zack), ‘Mean Girls’ (Aaron).
• Rebel – ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ (Pat).
• Loner.
• Artistic person – ‘Mean Girls’ (Janis) , ‘She’s All That’ (Laney).
• Geek – ’10 Things I Hate About You’ (Damian, Michael).

Themes

• Relationships/love
• Family – ‘She’s All That’, ‘10 Things I Hate About You’
• School (fitting in) – ‘Mean Girls’.

Narrative

• Linear narrative (clear beginning, middle, end)
• Follows Todorov’s theory ( many frequent disruptions) – ‘Mean Girls’ , ‘Angus Thongs And Perfect Snogging’
• ‘Easy A’ follows Todorov’s theory but is not as conventional as other teen romantic comedies.

Iconography

• High school.
• Uniform – ‘Angus Thongs And Perfect Snogging’.
• Expensive car (wealth) - ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ (Joey) , ‘Mean Girls’ (Regina) , ‘Clueless’.
• Expensive/big house – ‘Mean Girls’ (Regina).