Billy Elliot Evidence PDF

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Billy Elliot themes, topic sentences and evidence. Super useful in structuring an essay. This is for Texts and Human experiences module...

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BILLY ELLIOT EVIDENCE THEME Self actualization and the formation of one's identity relies on supportive relationships

EVIDENCE -

Billy’s multitude of failed pirouette attempts in parallel scenes between the dancehall, bedroom and bathroom which is accompanied by the diegetic voice of Mrs Wilkinson stating “Go Billy Go!, “Up you get!”. Billy’s dependency on Ms Wilkinson’s support to achieve success highlights the significance of positive relationships

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Billy affirms his trust within their relationship by handing Mrs Wilkinson a letter from his late mother. The lowkey natural lighting, shadows and gentle gesture of Billy handing the letter which urges him to “Be Himself” conveys his vulnerability and longing for matriarchal acceptance. This scene elucidates that Mrs Wilkinons is interwoven into Billy's identity as both a motivator and mother figure

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The tracking shot of Billy and Mrs Wilkinson dancing energetically to the accompaniment of ‘We Love To Boogie’, symbolises the acceptance and connection shared between the pair while highlighting their commonality through their passion of dance. The duality of their professional and compassionate relationship facilitates Billy to pursue his dreams while enhancing his individual experience and providing an opportunity to actualize his potential

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Billy’s process of identity formation is evidenced in the wide angle shot of Billy and his supportive friend, Michael hesitating to enter boxing class, conveying the collective struggle of conforming to traditional masculinity stereotypes. This is further conveyed in the gym scene, where the tension between his father and Billy, is heightened through the large black cage, symbolising the familial divide and fractured relationship between both characters. Also, the overshadowing presence of Jackie, symbolises the power and control he obtains over Billy, which is ironic as his status in society as a working class individual, suggests otherwise. Additionally, this tension is further heightened in the close up shot when Jackie exclaims with high modal language of, “Lad’s don’t do friggin ballet”. This highlights how the social conflict and uncertainty that Jackie is confronted with, adds to the tension between this collective relationship, which limits Billy’s self expression.

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the opening scene, where a close-up shot of Billy jumping vigorously on his bed, reflecting his childhood innocence and establishing his love of dance. The lyrics of the diegetic music, “I was dancing when I was twelve. Is it strange to dance so soon?” alludes that Billy's love of dance is unconventional, foreshadowing that his search for identity will be inhibited by stereotypes, as his aspirations defy the cultural assumption that dancing is only “alright for girls”. As such, Daldry highlights that the motivations of others may present in adversity, requiring individuals to rebel against predestined expectations in order to develop an authentic identity

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In the boxing hall, Billy is presented as an anomaly compared to other boys his age. This is emphasized by body language through his slow, reluctant entry into the hall, in contrast to the other boys running in

IDENTITY Daldry presents the imperative nature of supportive relationships through the characterisation of Mr Wilkinson, whose compassionate nature acts as a motivator for protagonist Billy to self actualise and pursue his dreams whilst providing an escape from his individual and collective grievances.

Gender constraints that confront individuals have the potential to limit a true expression of self and ultimately the full realisation of the human experience. Daldry’s eponymous hero, Billy, the central anomaly in his Thatcherian mining society, illuminates the way in which his community’s 1984 Miners Strike against

socio-economic sanctions catalyses the development of individual expressions of resistance against social constructs defining masculinity

enthusiastically, ready to perpetuate traditional masculine violence. A slow motion, high angle shot of Billy falling to the ground, paired with the echoing diegetic sound of laughter and the coach's taunts convey Billy's sense of powerlessness, and amplifies the judgement he faces upon failing to meet society's expectations. This deliberate composition reinforces the town’s rejection of effeminacy, -

During his first ballet lesson, a panning shot of graceful, white ballet shoes is interrupted by a close-up of Billy’s blue boxing boots, creating a visual comedy through juxtaposition. The symbolic contrast in colour is used to further deviate Billy from society, while also challenging prevailing assumptions as Billy continues to pursue his dream despite his isolationism and persistent peer judgement .

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Everingtons collective view of masculinity is visible in the birds eye view shot of Billy kicking down the blue door and entering a confined space, in which his restrictions of movement reflects the societal masculine standards during the 1980s. The blue motif further connotes society's collective expectations of maculine authority in which kicking down the blue door represents Billy and his non-conformist attitude towards such stereotypes….. Daldry continues the blue motif in a medium shot of Billy reflected in the mirror, in which Mrs Wilkinson stands dressed in blue, reflecting Billy's multifaceted and therefore inconsistent approach to masculine stereotypes. The paradox of Mrs Wilkinsons encouragement of Billy's rebellion generates a change of perspective within the audience on the mascline stereotypes during the 1980’s coal miners strike….. paradox in the medium shot of Jackie crossing the picket line in his blue jacket rebelling against the industry and conforming to the strike, such representing the masculine standards that Jackie conforms to.

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the wide angle shot of Billy and his supportive friend, Michael hesitating to enter boxing class, conveying the collective struggle of conforming to traditional masculinity stereotypes. This is further conveyed in the gym scene, where the tension between his father and Billy, is heightened through the large black cage, symbolising the familial divide and fractured relationship between both characters. Also, the overshadowing presence of Jackie, symbolises the power and control he obtains over Billy, which is ironic as his status in society as a working class individual, suggests otherwise.

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observed when Jackie confronts Billy about his attendance in dance classes where Daldry utilizes reverse shots of the men either side of the table to symbolise their conflicting ideologies as Jackie demands “lads do boxing or football or wrestling… not friggin ballet”. The derogatory colloquialism conveys how billys passion for performing arts poses threat to the preconceived understanding of gender within the Elliot household…. represents the cultural climate of 1980’s England, a time of conservatism stemming from the ideologies of thaterism.

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The paradox of Jackie's unconditional love for his son is hindered by his inability to overcome conventional gender norms, thus regarding Jackie as an enforcer of external expectations, which inhibits Billy’s search for self-expression and also obscures his own reason for being a supportive

GENDER STEREOTYPES

The expression of individuality has the power to forge positive relationships and incite the human quality of acceptance in others The notion of self actualisation and identity ignites a renewed collective experience within the Elliot household, seen within Billy’s relationship with his

father Jackie who modernises his traditional understandings of gender roles due to Billy’s….

father. -

In the ‘Dance of Defiance' scene, a triumphant orchestral anthem played as a two-person mid shot shows Jackie and Billy face-off, portraying them as equals, but on opposite sides. A close-up of Billy's defiant gaze as he presents an energetic, powerful dance for his father displays courage, a quality that he has gained on his journey. The focus of the camera shifts to Jackie as he runs out of the hall, exemplifying tension and ambiguity for dramatic effect….. this moment that sparks Jackie's shift in perspective from self-pity and shame of his son, to support, acceptance and even awe of Billy's talent. This is the turning point from which their relationship becomes less dysfunctional and they develop a sense of intimacy, as Jackie is liberated by embracing his son's passion and rejecting the stringent gender norms prescribed by 1980s Northern England.

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… wide shot towards the end of the film shows the pair laughing and embracing. The brighter colour palette and pathetic fallacy through a ‘sunny day’ reflects a greater sense of contentment in both characters. Their close proximity contrasts with previous scenes of separation and opposition, highlighting their collective growth which was enabled by the breaking down of culturally imposed stereotypes

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The medium shot of Jackie and Tony unified facing a non-striker emphasizes how collective conformists to masculinity use aggression as a tool to overpower individuals to conform and/ or in context support the strike. Daldry's placement of Jackie and Tony references the metaphysical barrier to represent oppression as a by-product of meeting the masculine demands of the 1980’s stereotypes.

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low angle shot of billy descending down the stairs. This shot featured Billy concealing his ballet shoes under his boxing shorts, whilst he adjusts the boxing gloves around his neck before proceeding over the metaphysical barriers of the banister. This establishes how Billy's fathers values towards masculine stereotypes and boxing pressure forces Billy to conceal his motivations in defying masculinity

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high angle shot of Billy above Jackie on the table. The conflicting opinions on masculinity present within the pairs relationship is visible in the metaphorical barrier of uneven eye level. Jackie's lack of understanding towards Billy's rebellion to masculine stereotypes restricts Billy's path to ballet. Jackies values oppress Billy and therefore shape how an inconsistent relationship creates complexities amongst experience

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the prestigious judges who sit in the foreground metaphorically symbolises a double entendre, of both dance judges, but also represent societal judgement and the invalidation of minorities, including individuals with lower socioeconomic status, exacerbating the constraints placed upon Billy.

Expression incites acceptance

The contextual setting of an individual's surroundings can place pressure on human connection present within the relationship Collective experience influences individual Daldry's film explores the challenges associated with narrow values and beliefs of Thatcherism alluding to the denouncement of social diversity within the 1980’s. The conflict established by Thatcherism motivated the rebellion of miners’ context, igniting the working-class conventional models of masculinity, creating Billy's internal and external tension.

Surpassing the collective -

establishing close up shots of Billy featuring frames of sections of his body implied that Billy's talent and aspirations surpass the collective

view and therefore redefine the masculine stereotypes of boxing. This is further supported by the cosmic background visible in the establishing shots, further illuminating that Billy's aspirations go beyond Everinting’s collective view. -

long shot featuring Billy on the bus in which the bus proceeds to drive outside the establishing frame. Such emphasising that Billy's perseverance to his anomalous dreams of ballet prevents the mascline stereotypes of Everington from restricting him from achieving his aspirations

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Reaching beyond Everington is finally successful in the final scene when Billy leaps into the low angle frame, establishing that his dreams of ballet have successfully redefined and shaped macline stereotypes. Further establishing that an anomalous dream provides adversity, but by overcoming the complex experience put forth the dream can be achieved...