Article: Cheers! Legal for Oscar
This Toronto Star article describes the opinions expressed by a young actress, Ellen Page, about the impact of her movie on the audience. Page starred as a protagonist in the movie Juno which is now nominated for four Oscars. The movie illustrates the story of a teenager girl (Page) who gets pregnant but decides not to have an abortion. The actress believes that her character may have a positive influence on the attitudes of young women and the choices they make, and may be seen as a role model by some (p. 2). However, Page also expresses concern about how the movie has been interpreted by some members of the audience. "What I get most frustrated at is when people call it a pro-life movie, which is just absurd," Page said in an interview with the Toronto Star (p. 1). The questions of the uses for abortion are a part of common discourse, and Juno was inevitably connected with these issues when it presented the life of a young woman grappling with pregnancy. As a result, the movie was interpreted by the audience as supporting the ban of abortion. "That's just not true." Page continues "To me, it's not a political film. I never thought about that when we were making it" (p.1). This movie is therefore a clear example of a message sent through the media, and interpreted by the audience differently from what was intended. As a result of the audience's unexpected interpretation, very popular movies like Juno and Knocked Up might contribute something to the common discourse without their directors' consent. The new wave of comedies about pregnancy might soften the judgment and scorn people felt for teens that have been "knocked up".
Source: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Movies/article/298588
