students explore and analyse a variety of texts that portray the ways in which individuals

experience transitions into new phases of life and social contexts. These transitions may be
challenging, confronting, exciting or transformative and may result in growth, change and a
range of consequences for the individual and others. Through exploring their prescribed text
and other related texts of their own choosing, students consider how transitions can result in
new knowledge and ideas, shifts in attitudes and beliefs, and a deepened understanding of the
self and others. Students respond to and compose a range of texts that expand our
understanding of the experience of venturing into new worlds
Exploring Transitions examines more of the internal issues associated with change. This
doesn’t mean that you ignore the external factors, it just means that the elective has a slightly
different focus and understanding the focus will help you develop a strong coherent argument
in your essay. This elective looks at what it means when an individual transition into another
part of their life which can often mean going to new places or in other words social
contexts. The keywords to focus on for this elective are ‘challenging, confronting, exciting or
transformative … growth, change’ and ‘consequences.’ The main thrust of this elective is
about changing how an individual sees the world due to the acquisition of new knowledge
and experiences.

‘The experience of transitioning can challenge attitudes and beliefs, resulting in

enrichment.’
To what extent does this statement apply to Billy Elliot and ONE related text of your
choosing?
Scene Analysis
Scene (Time) Basic Analysis
description
Struggles 19:40 Billy  This is where we first see Billy Elliot’s
/Obstacles practicing transition through the close-up of seeing
dancing him study and practice dancing discretely
in the bathroom.
 Montage: We see his progression and his
transition in moving into a new world. We
see his difficulties and his struggles in
transitioning.
 Close-up shot of Billy’s facial expressions
further reinforce this idea of difficulty and
struggle
 Through his perseverance and practice this
obstacle was overcome. Challenging his
belief in his self-ability leading through
enrichment whereby the non-diegetic
sound of tranquillity and relief utilised by
(director)
26:00 Billy’s father  Close-up: We see the facial expressions of
catches Billy both the father and son as well as the
dancing teacher
 Dialogue between father and son: Shows
his father’s attitude towards the role and
nature of a male which also reflects
societies attitudes as well.
 “Ballet is for poofs” …” Lads do
football…wrestling…not ballet”
 Billy attempting to challenge his father’s
attitude towards ballet however his father
rejects…
 As we see billy run from the house, the
long shot of him running up the hill
symbolises his struggles in transitioning
into the new world of ballet and dancing.
1:00:00 Argument  The family’s disapproving attitudes on
between ballet are expressed through the dialogue
dancing between the teacher
teacher and  Cut scenes between the dancing and the
family argument exemplifies billy’s position of
conflict whereby his family acts as an
obstacle preventing him from achieving his
goals and dreams
 Billy climbing the stairs and climbing the
walls symbolise the barriers and obstacles
 to him achieving his dreams exemplified by
the argument between family and teacher

New 1:19 Father see’s  Father running down the hill depicts the
attitudes/ billy dancing overcoming of the obstacle and symbolises
perceptions the fathers change in attitudes towards
Billy’s aspirations
 This is further reinforced through the
dialogue with the teacher whereby he is
thanking her for what she had done for
Billy
