Running Head: EMMA VS. CLUELESS 1
3-3 Short Answer: Human Culture and Expression
Set 1:Emma vs. Clueless
HUM100
Jacqueline Amoah
SNHU
January 24,2021
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The story on which Emma and Clueless is based upon revolves around the adventure of a
young woman who acts as a matchmaker but fails to find a match for her. Emma is the old
version that shows the conservative nature of people and how they perceive marriage and love.
The small community in which Emma lives plays a key role to shape her personality and her
behavior (A&E Television Networks, 2009). The behavior that Emma shows is quite bold for her
times but when it is compared to the main character of Clueless, the Emma character is very
docile. The Clueless story, on the other hand, is set in a different background which revolves
around a younger generation. The attitude of the main character is different and it is aligned with
her social setting. As the context of the Clueless is different, the attitude and behavior of the
characters is shaped accordingly. The context where Clueless is set is more fun and comical. On
the other hand the setting where Emma is set is moiré serious. Emma is a conventional take on
Jane Austen’s novel whereas Clueless is a modern take on the story.
Each of the stories sheds light on the cultural aspects as well as the different time period.
For instance, Emma is set in the early 19th century England where people lead a quiet and
peaceful lifestyle (A&E Television Networks, 2009). The dressing sense, etiquettes, language
and body language gives a glimpse into the life and the social status of the people in the story.
Clueless, on the other hand is set in a much younger context. The same story has a different aura
to it because it has been presented as a comical story that revolves around teens. The culture
that has been represented in Emma is more orthodox in nature which revolves around marriage
and love. The story that has been represented in Clueless revolves around makeover and
romantic interest. Thus there is a major difference between how the perception towards love has
changed significantly over the years. One of the main features of Clueless is the high importance
that has been given to fashion. The story revolves around makeover of a girl and how the change
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in fashion boosted her confidence and changed her perspective towards life. On the contrary, the
story that has been captured in Emma is closer to the reality. It shows how a transition in Emma
took place because of her surrounding and the influence of the people who were close to her. The
culture of both the versions is a chief background element that shapes the main characters in both
the works.
The artifact that has been chosen is the Statue of Liberty. It is a renounced sculpture
situated within the New York City. It represents freedom and a free city. A question that arises
relating to the relationship between human culture and expression in relation to the artefact is
how the Statue of liberty connects people from different cultures and diversity. The Statue of
Liberty is a sign of friendship between the people of France and the United States of America.
Since it was gifted by France to the U.S.A. the artifact is based on the friendship and trust
between the two nations (A&E Television Networks, 2009). Even in the current times it is
considered to be of high relevance in the social context as it helps people to see the path of
liberty. It supports the freedom for each and every individual. It sheds light on the values of the
people belonging to the United States of America and how it connects them at a deeper level. An
approach that can be adopted to address the question is to understand its historical importance
and the value that it has for the American people/. Today it is considered to be one of the main
identities of the nation thus it is vital to find out how people relate to it and the role that it plays
in their life. Getting an insight into these aspects can help to uncover the true meaning of the
Statue of Liberty and what people think it represents. Such a holistic approach can help to
address the identified question about the artifact.
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References
A&E Television Networks. (2009, December 2). Statue of Liberty. History.com.
https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/statue-of-liberty#:~:text=The%20Statue%20of
%20Liberty%20was,peoples%20of%20the%20two%20nations.
