Happy and Successful

“Aspects of cultural context affect the extent to which a character can be happy or successful within the world of a text” 

Identify a central character in each in each of three texts on your comparative course. Compare the aspect of the cultural context in each of these texts that, in your opinion, most affects the extent to which your chosen characters are happy or successful. You may refer to the same or different aspects of cultural context in each of your chosen texts. Support your answer with reference to the texts 

The film that I have studied is ‘Pride’ by Matthew Warchus. Joe is a central character in which I believe that the aspects of cultural context affect the extent to which he can be happy or successful within the world of 'Pride'. Joe is a closeted gay male living with his middle-class parents in suburban England. The high rank of his parents with the ''perfect family'' image that they must obtain effects the extent in which Joe can be truly happy and successful. This film is set in 1980s Th
atcher rule England, in this world being gay is not yet completely accepted by all. We see at the start of the text when Joe goes to the Pride march that he wants to be able to be happy and successful in the gay community but is afraid of being seen and judged. His body language is shy and jittery, his eyes are constantly darting around in fear of being  seen as Mike hands him a bucket within the heart of the crowd. Joe travels a long way to see the Pride March but can't be happy and because if the paranoia he has of being spotted. The embarrassment and fear that Joe has of being caught at a gay pride march is a prime example of how the cultural context of the world within this piece prevents him from fully being happy and successful.

It is clear when Joe becomes apart of LGSM (in a world where is he fully accepted for all he is) he beings to be happy and immensely successful! Here, Joe is fully happy and gains such impeccable confidence that we see develop throughout the course of the film. The world of LGSM waters the seeds of Joe until he blooms into a happy and successful flower. 

Before he joined LGSM, Joe was in a baking course in college to become a Chef. He was unhappy and obviously doing it for the happiness and pride of his parents and not because he had a passion for it. However, when he was true to himself with LGSM we discover that he is an amazing photographer/publicist. Here, he is doing something that makes him happy and he is incredibly successful at doing it. During the 'Pits and Perverts' charity event Joe took charge and was secure in who he was. An incredible development in character is noticeable here as Joe becomes an outspoken leader instead of a quiet follower. He goes from timid Joe who was taking orders to confident Joe who was giving orders. We see a sparkle in his eyes and happiness radiating from his face as he was in his element. This is the perfect example that nothing makes you happier or more successful than when you are able to express yourself for who you really are. The cultural context of this film didn't allow Joe to accept that he was gay in the fear that his family would find out. However, he was lucky enough to locate a group of people who could not care less about what other people thought. Joe was truly fortunate to find a group of gay and lesbian people who were happy and successful because they had some pride and didn't surcome to the limits of the narrow-minded cultural context of 1980s Thatcher rule England!

The cultural context of the text 'Pride' that I have studied, didnt allow my favourite  central character, Joe to even accept himself for who he was. As a result of this he was unhappy and miserable. However, LGSM allowed him to be himself and have pride in the fact that he was a 20 year old gay boy! As a beautiful result of this Joe becomes a very happy and successful person with a new wave of confidence. 
When Joe finally left home openly at his sisters baby christening, almost a year after he joined the LGSM, it is nostalgic to think of the wild and strengthening journey that he had been on. He was even confident enough to explain to his snobby sister that her permed hairstyle was horrendous and never suited her and husband was a "dick"! Joe comes alive here. He is happy. He had nothing to hide and nobody to fear in contrast to the beginning of the film when he was paranoid to be seen at the march. The idiotic cultural context of his world didn't stop him from being happy nor successful because he took Mark's advice and stopped running. He stood tall and had some pride! This made him develop, grow and bloom into a successful and happy gay boy as he was accepted in all his colours!