Billy Elliot The 1900s was a period of time in which most people were accustomed to only its norms.

It included a swarm of close-minded civilians fighting for the thing that they enjoyed the most continuity of their society. In contrast to that, the 21st century society has progressed in a way that accepts and enhances individualism to a point where being unique is embraced. Based in a mining town in 1984, the movie revolves around fighting for what you dream of, and different opinions about a male ballet dancer. This movie emphasizes how the society prefers themselves as a constant and assists the viewers in understanding the stereotypical behavior shown towards the gender roles of men. These days, societys views on individualism has evolved and improved by far, and has now even encouraged it. Having said this, the attitudes towards cross-dressers, homosexuals and others in Billys place are now being accepted as a natural part of society. Billy and his family live in a mining town, but in a figurative sense, he lives in a judgmental, narrow-minded and stodgy town. This means that, although some people may want to stray from the norms of their society, they will be looked down on. Gender expectations and constraints are the central example, but class constraints and sexual orientation issues are never much beneath the surface. Social class is evident in the concept that people from a working class background or poverty that have an aptitude for physics, ballet, or high finance, that potential will usually never be appreciated. Since the mining workers strike is taking place, there is a lot of tension in the air involving the miners and authority figures. This disorder has greatly affected the environment in which Billy and his family live in, and has undoubtedly created a turbulent situation. The gender roles of a male are somewhat clichd, but includes going to school, participating in boxing, football and mining. Billy began as a boy that fit into those categories, but soon drifted away from the standards and became a ballet dancer. Male ballet dancers are associated with homosexuals, and in the town, it is assumed that they are as homophobic as Billys family. Towards the end though, when his father and brother find out his friend, Michael, is gay, their expressions are shocked, but not disapproving. Throughout the duration of the movie, there are several institutions that are mentioned and seen. The gym is the one that is filmed the most, that goes on for half the movie. It consists of the boxing ring and the ballet studio. This is the place that holds the most significance to the movie because its the place that Billy explores and discovers his love for dancing. The mining company plays a role in the whole towns life, and the ballet school allows Billy to take up ballet professionally. The plot of this story is heavily dependent on conflict. One of the most recurring type of disagreement that is apparent with Billy himself, to accept himself as an individual, or follow the crowd. This inner-battle is evident within the first half an hour of the movie. He ends up accepting it, and decides to practice the art of ballet, no matter the consequence. Another type of

conflict in Billy Elliot is the conflict within the family. Since Billy chose to take ballet as a professional career path, his father and brother was always against the idea of him dancing. They thought mostly about the embarrassment and disgrace they would go through if he decided to keep dancing. Almost towards the end, his father starts accepting it and so does his brother, reluctantly. On the same note, there are many inspiring people in the movie who influence Billy to give it his all. Firstly, the persistence of the ballet teacher Mrs. Wilkinson's helps him endure the awkwardness of becoming a ballet dancer, she was always doing things that would benefit him and her power was what made him into what he became. In my person opinion, I think that if his father, whose perspective mattered to Billy, was against him, Billy would not have made it. There is always a distinct power that parents have over children, no matter the circumstance. In retrospect, this movie can be relevant to the students of Bonyrigg High School in more ways than one. This movie encourages individualism and that being different is natural. This concept is highly supported by all staff members and students. Another theme that is similar to that of Billy Elliot is the message that is conveyed that suggest we should all pursue our dreams, no matter how different they may be to others. To conclude this essay, which was excruciatingly painful to write due to its lack of appeal, the movie Billy Elliot is an appropriate movie to watch when youre studying society and culture, the continuity of society, the 1980sor if youre dying from boredom and its your last resort.

Layal Ali =)