Hannah Dailami
Communications 1050
Reel Paper Assignment
Elisabeth Noelle wrote this at the beginning of her article titled The Spiral of Silence: A
Theory on Public Opinion, “‘More frightened of isolation than of committing an error, they
joined the masses even though they did not agree with them’” (Noelle-Nuemann). Her article
was published in Germany in 1974, and will be explained in further detail in this essay.
The Spiral of Silence Theory deals with pressures from social situations, media outlets,
and even issues within the person, such as isolation and fear. It is often seen when one’s ideas are
changed or modified to please the majority. In this paper, I will analyze the essence of the film
and director’s motivation for doing the film. I will then describe scenes that are pertinent to the
theory and some essential dialog. Lastly, I will summarize the paper and give an overall
assessment of the film.
I have chosen the movie Mean Girls starring Lindsey Lohan and Tina Fey. The essence
of this movie is very relatable to nearly all people. This is a story about an outsider attempting to
fit into the ‘in’ crowd and get revenge on the popular girl. Not only does this movie take place in
a high school, but it has the typical high school scenes. There is a cafeteria, classroom, locker
room and hallway scene, just to name a few. This movie also includes the typical high school
cliques including: Preppy, jocks, emo, and nerds. These elements all add to the main purpose and
ambiance of the film.
The director, Mark Walters, felt that this film needed to be a different take on a typical
and infamous lesson. This movie was based upon Rosalind Wiseman’s Queen Bees and
Wannabes, a self-help book based on cliques and conformity. Walters was asked about his
motivation for doing the film. He stated, “And that line, 'Calling someone else fat won't make
you any thinner. Calling somebody stupid won't make you any smarter,’” said Walters. “It's kind
of like straight from her [Rosalind] kind of gospel. However, the good thing is that it's being
1
Hannah Dailami
Communications 1050
Reel Paper Assignment
related in a way that doesn't feel like a preachy Sunday school lesson” (Lybarger). Walters took
on the task of creating a film with a conservative yet effective way of portraying the ever
growing idea of conformity and fitting in.
The essence of the film can be seen in the dialog between Gretchen, Karen and Regina.
The setting of this particular scene is in the cafeteria, where food will play a big part in the
conversation. The dialog begins with Karen and Gretchen taking a seat at the lunch table. Cady,
Lindsey Lohan, is sitting next to Regina who is wearing sweatpants and eating carbs.
“Regina, you’re wearing sweatpants. It’s Monday,” said Gretchen. This begins the
conversation that will lead to Cady’s actions to conform with the majority.
“So?” said Regina.
“So that’s against the rules and you can’t sit with us,” said Karen.
“You can’t sit with us!” Gretchen yells.
“Sweatpants are all that fit me right now,” explains Regina. She looks to the table,
embarrassed and looks to Cady for some sort of reassurance. Cady was brought into the group by
Regina, and Regina is expecting some sort of backup. She thinks that Cady is supposed to be
loyal to her. She looks over at Cady who has turned her cheek and refuses to make eye contact.
She remains silent and will not make a comment.
Cady shows the spiral of silence theory in full. She has made it into the ‘Plastics’ and to
keep her place there she will follow Gretchen and Karen, who are the majority. She could have
been the deciding factor between Regina staying and leaving, but she remained silent. Regina
was kicked off the table and soon after was ridiculed and called fat by a passing student.
While this scene shows the harsh aspects of conformity and fitting in, it also effectively
shows the relationship that is easily altered between friends. Cliques like the Plastics pride
2
Hannah Dailami
Communications 1050
Reel Paper Assignment
themselves on how they look and the way they are seen by others. Not only is Regina kicked out
for just wearing sweatpants, but she is also openly embarrassed in front of a crowd. Her friends
who have been there for years do not come to her aid and leave her to be ridiculed.
There are several scenes in which Cady learns the way of the Plastics through
observation. She sees that Karen is told not to do something and learns not to do the same. She
follows the rules of the Plastics for fear of not being accepted. There is a particular scene in
which Cady is dressed as an ex-wife zombie for a Halloween party. She is not dressed as the
girls at the party normally are and is treated as an outsider. She does not feel comfortable and
makes sure to she dresses as the other three girls do, following the weekly dress code.
In this paper, I have given a short summary of the Spiral of Silence theory and its use in
the real world. It is used in many films, but I chose to use Mean Girls, directed by Mark Walters.
Walters brought a story that has never been told of the mean girls in a high school setting. The
essence of the film was intended to be effective but not preachy, as sometimes issues of this sort
can be. The dialog in the lunch room shows this in action, as Cady is quietly attempting to avoid
ridicule. In other scenes, such as the Halloween party one, Cady is learning how to conform to
the Plastics so that she may fit in with them.
Cady faked being a Plastic for so long that she became one. This movie is about growing
up and finding oneself in a world where it is easy to conform and attempt to fit in. It doesn’t
make Cady happy and she eventually is reminded of who she used to be. The climax of the
movie is a moment when Cady decides to step away from the majority and take credit for the
‘Burn Book’. This book includes information about individuals at the school and their darkest
secrets, along with made up ones.
3
Hannah Dailami
Communications 1050
Reel Paper Assignment
In this moment Cady realizes that she can no longer play the mean girl and decides to do
something right, even if it will not be what the majority would do. This happens so often in
today’s society as some forget whether they are dressing for ourselves or for the majority. If one
were to wear something that was against the majority, they would be laughed at or talked badly
about. We forget that at one point in each of our lives we don’t need to fit in with the ‘in crowd’,
but instead need to find comfort in our own skin.
Virginia Woolf once said, “Once conform, once do what other people do because they do
it, and a lethargy steals over all the finer nerves and faculties of the soul. She becomes all outer
show and inward emptiness; dull, callous, and indifferent (BookRags Media Network).”
4
Hannah Dailami
Communications 1050
Reel Paper Assignment
MLA CITATION
"The Spiral of Silence A Theory of Public Opinion." Wiley Online Website. John Wiley & Sons,
Inc, 7 Feb. 2006. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
Lybarger, Dan. "Mean Girls - Interview with Mark Waters." Mean Girls - Interview with Mark
Waters. Nitrate Productions, 21 May 2003. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
"Conformity Quotes." BookRags Media Network n.pag. Brainy Quotes. Web. 10 Feb 2014.
<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/conform.html>.
5