"Emma" / "Clueless" Essay.

"Emma" and "Clueless" are equally as effective at exposing the mores of their time. The differences due to the medium, audience and the social context in which the texts were composed do not make one more valid than the other. In regards to depictions of the protagonist's development, class structure and social responsibility both Austen and Heckerling use techniques to effectively convey their views to the audience and reflect their societies. Heckerling uses the transformation …

…on her family estate, and the adverb "always" intimates this is an accepted duty. In "Clueless", however, social duty is not restricted to the upper classes as the audience sees Travis, in a messy, dirty costume donating to charity alongside the well-dressed Cher. This responsibility, although lightly satirised by Heckerling when Cher wants to donate skis to the homeless, is ultimately depicted as worthy, supporting the idea of America as a generous and helpful nation.