The experience of transition can challenge individuals attitudes and beliefs

Experiencing transitions can lead into new phases of life, challenging individuals and allowing
for individuals to gaining experiences in order toresulting in attain growth, maturation and
internal progression. This concept is evident within Stephen Daldrys film Billy Elliot (2000) and
the feature article The Skeletal People of Isaac Cordal by Tim Myers, as both texts show exhibit
the similarity in experiences of challenging their attitudes and beliefs and its ability to enable for
transition through determination. how it is through their determination that enables they
transition.
The film Billy Elliot by Daldry addresses the theme of the experience of transition, depicted
through the internal struggle founded through the desire to show ones true self to the world.
through various camera techniques, dialogue and themes. The opening scene of the film shows
exhibits Billy in his room jumping up and down on the bed with a close up shot of his face
reveals his natural talent for dancing. This is accompanied by the lyrics I danced myself out of
the womb. However it is not until he ventures out of his room and is captured running and
dancing up the steep hill of the street that we come to realize he is searching for a new world,
one filled with dance. The hill is used as a motif throughout the film and is symbolic of how deep
the struggle of transition into dance really is. His desire to attain a sense of individualism within
the film, is displayed through the juxtaposition of the colors as Billys wrestling shoes contrast
with the light pink color of the ballet shoes. This enables the audience to percieve Billys strong
desire to choose his own world, however is deprived of this due to the gender roles embedded
within the society his lives within. Thus, it is through the presentation of Billys internal struggle
to display his inner self and the need to conform to the societal norms, that audiences are able
to see the extreme need for transitions in order to be ones self.
The feature article The Skeletal People of Isaac Cordal by Tim Myers
Conversely, the film Billy Elliot portrays how the restriction of social conventions in a community
can restricton individuals from transitioning into the world challenging their attitudes and beliefs.
The prejudice in the dialogue, you are a disgrace to those boxing gloves and the tradition of
this boxing gym, emphasiemphasizing ses the strict gender expectations in the small mining
community, disabling individuals to display to their society their true nature. Emphasised
through When Jackies saysquote, lads do boxing and wrestling... not bloddy ballet a
demonstration ofes the stereotypes help in displaying the rigid nature of society. Nevertheless it
is Debbie that says plenty of men do it (ballet), but Billy dismisses them as poofs. This further
reflectings Billys upbringing and the attitudes of his community. However Billys decision to
continue dancing despite the consequences is shown depicted in the long shot of Billy shoving
the ballet slippers into his bag. Billys friend Michael is a representation of defying social norms
and assists Billy to transition. This is portrayed in the medium shot of Michael cross-dressing
and close up shot of him applying lipstick on Billy, which helpings to create a blur between male
and female roles in their community. This symbolisessymbolizes Billys barriers dissolving and
portrays him defying social norms and moving into his dream of dance. Therefore, it is through
an individuals strong stance in their beliefs that enables them to transition into their true self,
despite the overwhelming barriers they may need to face.

Though the use of sophisticated array of techniques the composers of the film Billy Elliot, and
the feature article The Skeletal People of Isaac Cordal are able to maintain high levels of
authenticity throughout the duration of the text, ultimately stimulating a more profound response
upon the audience while portraying the underlying notion that the experience of transition can
challenge individuals attitudes and beliefs.