Texts and the Human Experience - Billy Elliot - Vocab

Question 1

hypermasculinity

Answer 1

Exaggeration of stereotypical male behaviour.

Question 2

empathy

Answer 2

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Question 3

tension

Answer 3

Suspense, anticipation and uncertainty created by conflicting forces.

Question 4

union

Answer 4

A society or association formed by people with a common interest or purpose, especially in a political context.

Question 5

ideals

Answer 5

Standards or principles.

Question 6

internal conflict

Answer 6

Struggle that occurs within a character’s mind.

Question 7

chiaroscuro

Answer 7

Strong contrast or balance between light and dark.

Question 8

emotional depth of key scenes

Answer 8

Emotions evoked by key scenes, and the depth at which they can become embedded in the audience’s minds.

Question 9

economic vulnerabilities

Answer 9

Degree to which people are susceptible to economic harm, degradation or destruction according to their social, cultural and environmental context.

Question 10

tension between tradition and change

Answer 10

People struggle to accept the concept of change. They tend to prefer the traditional way of living - in comfort and security - and have difficulty considering or accepting changes to this way of life.

Question 11

cultural capital

Answer 11

A form of social currency made up of values, experiences, knowledge, and behaviors that assist a person in navigating culture.

Question 12

leitmotif

Answer 12

A repeating melodic phrase used to represent a character, setting, emotion or theme. (Musical motif)

Question 13

parochial

Answer 13

Relating to a church parish.
Having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.

Question 14

provincial

Answer 14

Of or concerning a province, or the regions outside major cities.

Question 15

anomalistic

Answer 15

Relating to anomaly (something that deviates from what is standard, normal or expected).

Question 16

anagnorisis

Answer 16

The point in a text in which a principal character recognises or discovers either another character’s true identity, or that of themselves and their own circumstances.

Question 17

pivotal moment

Answer 17

An important point that signifies a shift or change of direction.

Question 18

profound transformation

Answer 18

A complete change in someone’s appearance or character.

Question 19

liminality (in the town’s) social fabric

Answer 19

Being in between two places or stages, on the verge of transforming into something new.

Question 20

liminal stage

Answer 20

Time of transition during which someone or something stands between one stage and another.

Question 21

explore new possibilities

Answer 21

To think about, talk about, study, experience or express interest in something, in order to find out more about it.

Question 22

redefine identity

Answer 22

A change in the distingiushing character of a person, and how that person is perceived by others.

Question 23

Social and cultural milieu

Answer 23

The setting and environment in which a person lives, their social and cultural context.

Question 24

patriarchal

Answer 24

Relating to a system of society controlled by men.

Question 25

transcends class and societal divisions

Answer 25

Rise above regular patterns of division in society associated with particular social groupings or norms, often based on inequalities and differences.

Question 26

bildungsroman

Answer 26

A literary genre focusing on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood.

Question 27

hegemonic

Answer 27

Ruling or dominant in a political or social context.

Question 28

atypical

Answer 28

Not representative of or fitting into a type, group or class.

Question 29

paradoxes

Answer 29

Logically self-contradictory statements or ideas that run contrary from expectation.

Question 30

scab

Answer 30

A strikebreaker - a person who continues to work despite an ongoing strike.

Question 31

intergenerational

Answer 31

Relating to, involving or affecting several generations.

Question 32

rigid gender expectations

Answer 32

Fixed beliefs or assumptions that men and women are naturally suited to different tasks or responsibilities. Based only on gender, with disregard for individual personalities.

Question 33

overt masculinity

Answer 33

The exaggeration of stereotypical male behaviours.

Question 34

salient (salience)

Answer 34

Most noticeable or important.

Question 35

intense (or repressive or exclusionary or prejudicial) social paradigms

Answer 35

Social paradigms are guides for how groups in different parts of society interact. Intense social paradigms are when a part of society is guided by social norms that encourage repressive and exclusionary behaviours.

Question 36

ingrained social expectations

Answer 36

Social and cultural standards related to appearance, expectations, success and behaviour, often ingrained from a young age.

Question 37

high culture and artistic aspiration

Answer 37

High culture: Objects considered to be of exemplary value and defining characteristics of a culture, especially intellectual works (e.g. literature, music, art, history, philosophy)

Artistic aspiration: Desire to engage in artistic and creative endeavours.

Question 38

proximal relationships

Answer 38

Relationships involving ongoing contact and shared activity.

Question 39

close proxemics

Answer 39

Proxemics: The amount of distance that people are comfortable putting between themselves and others.
Close proxemics: A small distance between self and others.

Question 40

nurture

Answer 40

Care for, protect and raise.

Question 41

a sense of agency

Answer 41

Awareness and control of one’s actions, execution of bodily movement and thoughts.

Question 42

poignant reminder

Answer 42

A memory with a strong effect on feelings, especially one that evokes sad emotions.

Question 43

familial dysfunction

Answer 43

A family issue in which conflict, misbehaviour, neglect and abuse occur regularly and consistently.

Question 44

universal exploration of identity and belonging

Answer 44

An exploration of connection and expression of self that relates to or has been done by all people or things in the world or a particular group.

Question 45

conformity

Answer 45

Behaviour that is in compliance with standards, rules, laws or socially accepted conventions.

Question 46

mise en scene

Answer 46

Arrangement of scenery (e.g. props) on a stage or film set.

Question 47

NUM (acronym)

Answer 47

National Union of Mineworkers.

Question 48

Thatcherism

Answer 48

The political and economic policies advocated by the former British Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, particularly those involving the privatisation of nationalised industries, and trade union legislation.