Daria Tatarkova
POP CULTURE SO OR OTHERWISE operates with various types. Writers, writers and producers sometimes do not want to think long about the development of a character and decide to turn to proven clichés instead of explanations - so it immediately becomes clear who they are talking about. We decided to walk along the most frequent paths and collect a collection of types that Hollywood and TV shows often turn to in order to understand what stereotypes are ingrained in the entertainment industry. Today we will tell you about the lecherous girlfriend of the main character, who helps to shade the depth of her feelings.
Recently, we touched on the topic of the best friend and how books help us fill the hole that remains after watching movies and TV shows, where they certainly show strong female friendships. One of the most frequent moves when creating a “main character - a friend” pair is to endow the heroine with a variety of characteristics and leave her friend to shade her, for example, with her sexuality. The kinky best friend, according to the unanimous opinion of the writers, is what makes the central character look even smarter and more complex. When a cheerful and ready to plunge into adventures with a head partner is always next to him, any heavy look and unresolved doubt of the main girl gain additional depth without unnecessary effort.
Here, of course, not only a negative play on contrast works, but also a completely neutral one. It is much more interesting to follow the dynamics of two dissimilar characters pushing each other into atypical behavior around which the plot can be built - otherwise there will be no story. Often, such a script friendship develops in a group of friends where there is no one main character, then such a decision looks a little less strained. Close friends perform various functions in a relationship, while "atypical couple" like Effie and Panda from "Skins" help each other with their strengths, if anything, finding the necessary support on the side.
It is much more interesting to follow the dynamics of two dissimilar characters pushing each other into atypical behavior
Exclusivity in a pair of "clever - libertine" often looks inappropriate if enough attention is not spent on one of the characters and instead of a personality there is only a label that superficially outlines who is in question. The teenage story of growing up is fertile ground for such a cliché. Young girls exploring life often go to extremes, and reference to their emerging sexuality becomes the simplest tool, as in American Beauty, to delineate character differences as clearly as possible.
The "depraved girlfriend" is often really uninhibited in her sex life, or at least in her views on it. The most innocent option is to undress her within the permissible limits, or, as in the case of teenage examples like Ryan Graff from “My So-Called Life,” dress her in a rather fashionable bow that her parents will definitely not approve of. The appearance, undoubtedly, most quickly tells what kind of character is in front of us, however, when you see Jess and Cece from "New Girl" next to you, you understand that in their irony the creators did not try very hard. The sexuality of the protagonist's girlfriend is more often than she would like to be in the spotlight, and hints of her narrow-mindedness compared to a school teacher too often turn out to be completely opaque - despite the fact that the show positions itself above the hackneyed sitcom clichés.
Atypical friendship is a great trail in which it is easy to drown; modest and relaxed girlfriends are just one of the most obvious examples. At the same time, a couple does not have to be girls, there are enough examples for such a reception with male characters. However, the need to set off the main character with an unintelligent, but depraved girlfriend has long become, rather, a tool of irony, although not too well mastered. Much more effective is the technique in which both heroines are self-sufficient and versatile, even if one bright line is needed between their characters. Obviously, all kinds of people can be best friends, and it's always nice to see couples of heroines whose differences are not limited to their sexual and personal lives.