Binary oppositions established in the opening of teen films
Binary Opposition: Complete contrasts, in order to construct a narrative within a text. Texts are organised around sets of opposite values such as good and evil, light and dark.
Here is a list of some of the binary oppositions I have seen today from teen films whether they are from this century or back in the 90's and beginning of 2000's:
- Rich/Poor
- War/Peace
- Various clicks
- Fashion in clothing.g. dark black leather suits vs pastel coloured bright jackets
- superhuman e.g. vampire/wolf/humans/zombies
- Outsiders/Insiders
- Parents/Kids
- Dry/Wet
- Mum/Dad
- Brave/Cowards
- Dark/Light
- Rivalry between groups representing different Values e.g. Montagues vs the Capulets
One of the major and excellent examples of binary oppositions come from the famous Romeo & Juliet as well as the Grease film and many more.
Romeo & Juliet:
This is one of the many movies that conveys binary opposition established mainly and start from the opening scene. For example in the opening scene the White American Montagues are introduced driving a bright sun yellow convertible 1988 Chevrolet C/K-Series in hawaiian style clothing (shirt and shorts) with coloured hair and a unique hip hop beat playing in the background which represents them in contrast to the Latin American Capulets who are driving a dark blue 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Customized in sophisticated armed suits and buckle boots with rivalry cowboy music in the background. the Montagues were shown as hyperactive, happy, fun, scared and maybe vulnerable indirectly whereas the Capulets were shown as confident, frightening, rich and big muscular men. The theme sound for each of these groups gets cut off mainly the Montagues to indicate the dominance and powerful presence of the Capulets but when the Montagues are somewhere else maybe safe location seemingly their unique identity music plays in the background and so forth. In summary the two groups representing families have colour code such as Red for Capulets and Blue for Montagues.
Grease:
This is another money which coveys binary oppositions in the opening of the scene. The opening scene starts off with a series of couples making out on beaches having quality time then instantly out of the blue we see the all the oppositions and stereotypes of both genders. There is also a lengthy cartoon insight of the stereotypes and oppositions taking place representing the characters for example Danny is seen with a messy bedroom, very untidy and with a grizzly face and frizzy hair in contrast to sandy who wakes up looking beautiful and perfect with a very clean and tidy room like she never even slept. Further in the opening scene we see two groups male and female called T-birds and Pink Ladies which we find in a school environment. We also see other groups from vulnerable to popular and so on showing plenty of binary oppositions. For example Popular cool boys (T-birds) bullying the vulnerable Geeks.
Romeo & Juliet:
This is one of the many movies that conveys binary opposition established mainly and start from the opening scene. For example in the opening scene the White American Montagues are introduced driving a bright sun yellow convertible 1988 Chevrolet C/K-Series in hawaiian style clothing (shirt and shorts) with coloured hair and a unique hip hop beat playing in the background which represents them in contrast to the Latin American Capulets who are driving a dark blue 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Customized in sophisticated armed suits and buckle boots with rivalry cowboy music in the background. the Montagues were shown as hyperactive, happy, fun, scared and maybe vulnerable indirectly whereas the Capulets were shown as confident, frightening, rich and big muscular men. The theme sound for each of these groups gets cut off mainly the Montagues to indicate the dominance and powerful presence of the Capulets but when the Montagues are somewhere else maybe safe location seemingly their unique identity music plays in the background and so forth. In summary the two groups representing families have colour code such as Red for Capulets and Blue for Montagues.
Grease:
This is another money which coveys binary oppositions in the opening of the scene. The opening scene starts off with a series of couples making out on beaches having quality time then instantly out of the blue we see the all the oppositions and stereotypes of both genders. There is also a lengthy cartoon insight of the stereotypes and oppositions taking place representing the characters for example Danny is seen with a messy bedroom, very untidy and with a grizzly face and frizzy hair in contrast to sandy who wakes up looking beautiful and perfect with a very clean and tidy room like she never even slept. Further in the opening scene we see two groups male and female called T-birds and Pink Ladies which we find in a school environment. We also see other groups from vulnerable to popular and so on showing plenty of binary oppositions. For example Popular cool boys (T-birds) bullying the vulnerable Geeks.
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