Monday, January 5, 2009

Detail Study

"critics labeled Juno as feminist because of its atypical portrayal of Juno as a confident and intelligent teenage girl" In what ways are female stereotypes
re-enforced or subverted in the film Juno?

Teen pregnancy

Teenage birth rate
per 1000 women 15-19

South Korea 3
Japan 4
China 5
France 9
Germany 11
Australia 16
United Kingdom 20
Russia 30
Saudi Arabia 38
India 45
United States 53
Indonesia 55
Mexico 64
South Africa 66
Brazil 73
Nigeria 103
Niger 233

"The Juno Effect"

In 2008, after 17 students under sixteen years of age at a Gloucester, Massachusetts high school became pregnant, Time magazine called it the "Juno Effect." Time stated that some adults dismissed the statistic as a blip while others accused movies such as Juno and Knocked Up for glamorizing teenage pregnancy. Kristelle Miller, an Adolescent Psychology Professor at University of Minnesota-Duluth stated that the 'Juno effect' is how media glamorizes pregnancy and how it's also... pregnancy is also redemptive of any past problems."

In September 2008, after Senator John McCain named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate on the Republican presidential ticket, it was revealed that Gov. Palin's daughter, Bristol, aged 17, was pregnant with the child of another teenager. News reports and editorials termed Bristol Palin's pregnancy as the latest episode in the debate over teen pregnancy of which Juno was a part, while commentators made comparisons between Bristol Palin's pregnancy and the film. Noted New Republic literary editor Leon Wieseltier, "The Republicans wanted a new conversation, and they got one. Juno in Juneau!"[91] Fox News' Roger Friedman wondered, "Juno at once violated and vindicated conservative values. The question is, will the public rally ‘round Bristol Palin the way it did Juno? Or will it reject her for getting in this situation in the first place?"

Juno actor Jason Bateman defended the movie. "Unfortunately," he said, "we’ve had these instances where guys kill people because of what they hear in rock ‘n roll lyrics or some garbage like that. Look, if you’re going to blame a movie or song for your actions, whether they be good or bad, I think you’re looking at the wrong things to influence your life. I think people should look to other areas of their life for lessons and guidance, mainly parents, or teachers, or friends, or whomever. That should probably be where you should point your eyes and ears."
Source taken from wikipedia.org

CAST



Jason Bateman....................


Jennifer Garner....................Vanessa Loring


Michael Cera....................Paulie Bleeker


Ellen Page....................Juno


Juno is a upbeat comedy-drama directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. The film tells the tail of a teenagers unplanned pregnancy and the joy another family gains from her situation.