How could I discuss teen films and not talk about She's the Man (2006); this film stars Amanda Bynes before, well everything happened.
Important things to know:
1. This film is actually based on William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night.
2. Most of the script is ad-libbed.
3. Amanda Bynes went around the mall studying male behaviours and mannerisms in preparation for her role as a boy.
4. (Now a funny fact) During the auditions Channing Tatum had to act out the scene where Duke is attempting to stop a nose bleed by putting a tampon in his nose. Well, during the audition, he accidentally put the whole plastic applicator up his nose.
Okay, now for my review. I freaking LOVE this film, it's so funny and represents some serious issues mentioned in gender studies, Viola (Amanda Bynes) has to prove that she is good at soccer after the female soccer team was cut. Most people would maybe start a petition to start it back up, but instead, she decides to take her twin brother Sebastian's (James Kirk) place at a new, elite boarding school Illyria. There, she tries out for the boys' team and makes second string (basically the reserve team) and works her way to being better, so she can prove herself to her previous school's coach. In sports, there are some significant issues surrounding gender; I personally only noticed it after England beat Wales in the Six Nations (for info reader, I'm Welsh, and rugby is a very serious thing for me), then I came across an article saying Wales beat England in the women's category; that was the first time I even heard that there was a women's division. As a feminist, I was quite shocked that I had never heard about this before.
Now as for representation, I wouldn't say that I am completely represented in it, but it's close enough that I don't feel removed from it, because as a woman, I have been told that I'm not strong enough or good enough, and its nice to see that someone, somewhere is sticking up for me. Although, from a masculinity perspective, there is a spotlight on what a 'man' should be, and it's toxic. For example, the gif above, 'rub some dirt in it', is similar to telling a man that he shouldn't cry, nor should he show emotions, so even though I'm not happy this is being said in the film, it highlights the toxic masculinity in our society, which is very much relevant.
Then, on the other side of the coin, we have Viola, who is not very feminine; she is quite a 'tom boy' and being forced, by her mother, to be a debutant. Why can't women be who they want to be (the feminist within screams)? Okay, so I couldn't finish without discussing tampons, they play a very odd, but significant role within the film. So Viola, a young lady, pretending to be a boy, for at least one or two months, will eventually start her period, so she hid tampons in her boot. Unfortunately, they are discovered, cover blown, you might be thinking, but no. Instead she claims it's to stop nose bleeds (this is true by the way, also in the army they use tampons for gun shot wounds) and she puts a tampon up her nose. Later on in the film, Duke ends up in a fight and then puts a tampon up his nose. It's quite rare and strange to see a film making a blatant spectacle of a feminine hygiene product! A win for the feminists!
I rate this film 5/5 tampons.
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