Amy Heckerling's film Clueless is an appropriation of Jane Austen's Emma, closely paralleling the story in terms of plot and characterisation. ... Austen also uses this to show the mistakes and unclear perception of Emma that leads her to her own downfall. ... During the Regency period, the social order for Jane Austen's society was very rigid and immobile, and social status was determined through birth class, one's marriage, connections and professional success. ... Often the views of Austen are perceived through Mr Knightley who is the "true English gentleman". He is genu...

• Word Count: 1760
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The film is therefore no longer a simple entertainment but a movie that cleverly expels Austen's ironic voice and moral sense. ... Yet, in Emma, Austen shows her criticism of the society by making Emma step out of her expected line of a woman's duty, "with very little intention of marrying at all-. ... However, there is the exclusion of Jane Fairfax and other minute characters that show how the movie's storyline reflect how twentieth century updates the eighteenth century for its own purposes. ... Clueless can be viewed as a humourous indictment of modern society while Emm...

• Word Count: 1375
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate