Stranger things exam Q

Stranger Things Exam Question

In the first episode of Stranger Things, there are a many social groups represented. This includes American teenagers (a range of ages) and class. The typical lazy teenager stereotype is opposed when Jonathon Byers is introduced. The scene shows him cooking breakfast, which emphasises his mature, responsible role. This isn’t usual for a 17-year-old boy. A boy of that age group wouldn’t usually be taking up parent duties such as housework, as their mum is often shown distant because she is working hard for the children to live comfortably. The mum can also be unorganised, as she is rushing around and loses her temper quickly, despite this being the case – we can tell that she cares about her children.

The teenage social group is under-represented in stranger things and surprises the audience as they are shown in a positive light. The teenagers wore basic clothes whilst living in an 80’s style home, with technology that would have been used in this time period. Jonathon is shown as the caring sibling who supports the family when he is needed – he is dependable. His character is contrasted when he is with Nancy, a girl that he fancies. We can see him change and become shy and innocent which identifies that he feels nervous around her. Long and medium shots are used around this scene to show his caring nature; following onto fast moving close ups to see the characters emotions clearer – identifying how something is making them feel. For example, we a more emotional side of Jonathon when he is with his family compared to with his friends – when he feels more like a teenager another side comes out – presenting him as a stereotypical teenager. High key lighting is also used which suggests how his life is brighter and a weight is lifted when he is away from the house – where his family heavily rely on him. Consequently, making him aligned with the other teenagers, representing him as a normal American teen.

 Lucas, Dustin, Mike and Will are represented as geeky and unpopular. The media language is vital when it comes to attracting the audience and is used to show the representations of the boys in stranger things through mise-en-scene. The younger teenager boys are also shown wearing the stereotypical 80’s clothing. The audience also see their personalities when they all play together, for instance when they ride their bikes, (choppers being popular during the 80s). It presents their love and passion for the games they play.