Stranger Things - Representation

• Goes 'beyond the binary'
• Characters move beyond simply good or bad
• Steve and hooper-complex characters
• Novelistic- multiple storylines and characters that are over a number of episodes and seasons
• Flashbacks that explain their background
• Systematic change- isn't just focussed on one individual
• Communities facing challenges and dealing with them by embracing or rejecting their own diversity (Jeff Gomez.)

Key Representations

Teenagers

• Disobedient
• Grumpy
• Typical
• Social divisions
• Imaginative

Family life and relationships:

• Interdependent
• Communal 
• Conventional/Dysfunctional
• Typical
• Arguments

Government:

• Questionable
• Corrupt
• Manipulative
• Secretive 

Mothers:

• Caring
• Worried
• Hardworking
• Dominant

Absent Fathers:

• Mikes dad
• Idiotic
• Distant
• Wills absent father
• Stereotypical

Police:

• Carefree
• Smoking/playing cards
• Has feet up on table
• Laid back 

Appearance Vs Reality

Mikes family appear conventional but are very dysfunctional, they show a normal family eating dinner in an 80's setting, although an argument starts and 'dysfunctionality' is shown. 

Social worker is someone we're supposed trust
Government are people we are supposed to abide by
Sheriff is really lazy when we should be relying on him to keep the town safe
↳This all leads to a sense of mistrust

Key Terms:

Dominant ideology
Constructed realism
Paranormal elements
Family life
Suburbia
Self reflexivity

Themes:

Isolation (Eleven doesn't't fit in, she doesn't know what is going on)
Darkness
Light
Fear 'the monster'
Social groups, events and issues

Social Groups

Age
Gender
Class and social status
Ethnicity
Sexuality
regional identity
Ability
Appearances
Lifestyle interests or preferences
Political values
Professions

Two main narratives:
-Will goes missing
-Eleven appears
-Appearance of paranormal

Paranormal themes:
Paranormal noises when the man runs into the lift
Light flickering on garage
Eleven stops the fan
The monster growing on the wall


Social Groups:
Government and scientists
Families
Teenage groups

Issues:
Family issues
Paranormal issues