Billy Elliot Conventions

Social conventions
In the movie, Billy Elliot, we witness how the community stops Billy from forming his own identity in this world of miners illustrating the social conventions in a community restricting individuals from transitioning into the world. Billy’s father, boxing instructor and his brother are all against him in the journey of becoming a ballet dancer as it is against the community. This happened in the 1980s, when the London mine workers were striking against the forced closure of the coalmines by PM Margaret Thatcher. The bias judgment in the dialogue, “you are a disgrace to those boxing gloves… and the tradition of this boxing gym” by the boxing teacher emphasises the strict gender expectations in the small mining community in
County Durham, Northern England. Billy's close up of falling after his K.O. shows that he lacks ability to be in boxing indicating he is already falling out of the world of boxing. The mid-shot of his father behind the fence show the barrier in their relationship, which highlights the expectations of his dad not being met. Moreover, Billy failing in boxing stretches this barrier. After finishing practicing with the punching bag, when Billy is about to return the keys to Mrs. Wilkinson, the ballet teacher, the Mise-en-scene of the balance beam used by the ballet dancers (girls), when Billy looks inquisitively at the girls dancing symbolises the intangible division between him and his aspirations, due to the norms attached to notions of masculinity. The norms stated were “boys do boxing… not frinking ballet” as said by his dad further in the movie and that “Ballet is not for lads” showing the mindset of the people in the mining community. Daldry claims that to enter a new world, Billy must take risks, shown as he decides to learn ballet under Mrs. Wilkinson, despite awareness of the social implications.
The social conventions of his community are also affected Billy’s perception of the norm which is portrayed through his remark, “I feel like a wuss!” Despite this, his determination to transition into the new world of ballet, regardless of the traditions of his community is shown by the close-up panning shot from ballet shoes to his boxing shoes juxtaposing the two worlds, and foreshadowing Billy’s early steps of transition from one world to another through the highlighting of his feet. Mr. Braithwaite is a representation of the myopic perception of the small mining community. The piano player, Mr. Braithwaite’s comment, “you look like a right wanker to me, son” conveys the caustic perspectives towards Billy’s deviation. The term “wank…” (Homosexual), this was to this town and for this era a negative, disgusting and disgraceful thing. However Billy’s decision to continue dancing despite the consequences is revealed in the long shot of Billy shoving the ballet slippers into his bag. . The non-diegetic music is used to symbolises change in Billy through him dancing the streets with ballet slippers around his neck, paralleling previous images of him with boxing gloves similarly positioned, combined with uplifting music, presenting a change in attitude and direction in life for Billy. This symbolises Billy’s barriers dissolving and portrays him defying social norms and moving
into the world of dance. Determination to pursue a dream
An individual’s determination to pursue a dream can inspire them to challenge society’s expectations as they transition into a new world. Daldry portrays how barriers can prevent individuals from achieving their dream. In the opening scene, the slow motion shot of Billy jumping up and down on the bed with a close up shot of his ebullient face reveals his natural talent for dancing. This is witnessed by the reader as Billy is jumping to the beats of “I danced myself out of the womb.” While he is jumping on the bed, the wall and his shirt's color is same, which is cream showing colour rhyme. Colour rhyme suggests us that he is being absorbed by the environment he is living in which is to become a coal miner in the working society and is trapped within the social society. This is accompanied by the lyrics “I danced myself out of the womb”. The song shows his desire to enter the world of dancing and is born to dance. Daldry also suggests that Billy’s poverty acts as a barrier for his desire to dance. This is reinforced in the scene of his father giving him 50 pence despite having no income for boxing which is a tradition in the community. To learn boxing and follow the tradition of the tradition as represented in the film when Jackie says, “They were my dad's gloves. You better take better care of them, okay?” The dialogue demonstrates the generational tradition of the masculine practice of boxing in the community. Jackie giving Billy the money to learn boxing shows he is forced to continue the tradition. This is also contrasted with Billy not having an interest in boxing. This has been reinforced with the use of mid-shot of his father shouting “hit him” in frustration. It indicates to the audience that Billy doesn’t fit in the world of boxing, but he being pushed into it. Billy’s confidence to dance in front of his dad is consolidated as the movie progresses forward with time. The audiences witness it on Christmas Eve, when Billy is seen dancing defiantly in front of his father to showcase his talent. The white line of the basket-ball court in the community hall acts as a vector of separation between the father and son, which symbolises it is a barrier between their worlds. In the scene, the boxing cage is at the backdrop showcasing that Billy is out of the world of boxing and has fully transitioned in the world of ballet, where he is doing exceptionally well. The cage is juxtaposed as Billy is dancing in front of it demanding to exit the world of boxing and enter the world of dancing. The non-diegetic music playing in the background is uplifting indicating it is a victory for Billy to overcome the obstacles and have the confidence to perform in front of his dad. This shows that Billy's determination to enter the world of ballet was fulfilled.
Freedom/Moving on from the past
Billy’s quest for freedom to overcome adversity and the transformation that he undergoes all results in Billy finally entering into the world that he dreamed of. With a final, triumphant leap by a matured and clearly trained Billy, the film concludes reaffirming his transition into the world of ballet, alluding to the success of his aspirations of performing in Swan Lake through the costuming of white feathers and uplifting lyric of T-Rex’s song, “Ride a white swan”. Billy leaps over the camera, a flying grand jete, which provides a new aspect of his extreme, which totally modifies the impression of himself and his position in the world. The leap symbolizes that Billy has taken a lot of obstacles in order to achieve his standing in the world. The undershot of his transformation like a swan lake, demonstrate that his new knowledge has detached him from the social framework of the working middle class community of mining town, which does not cherish ballet but so does his family, in showing their journey on the train and acceptance at the end of the film by being in the audience with Michael. The costume of swan represents him and his achievement of that dream to be a ballet dancer as white color symbolizes calmness and purity. He doesn’t land and we are taken back to our leaping juvenile Billy to show his accomplishment of his obstacles.
Sexuality
The film leaves Billy's sexuality ominous/open, never finalising, so that it is NOT adhering to this derogatory condemning of homosexual men. At one point, he does say that he's not a fa*got, but soon after kisses Michael on the lips, confusing us and asking us to accept both Billy's journey into Ballet and Michael's journey as a homosexual into a world that despises this lifestyle. Billy’s friend, Michael, is a representation of defying social norms and assists Billy in entering a new world. This is portrayed when Billy goes to Michael to talk about taking an exam for ballet outside the knowledge of his family in the medium shot of Michael cross-dressing and close up shot of him applying lipstick on Billy, which helps to create a blur between male and female roles in their community. In this scene, Billy looks at another point of view on sexuality. The use of close-up of Billy’s face shows shock of what he sees, Michael wearing a girl’s dress. He was adjusting to what he was seeing his friend in this condition. In addition, the symbolic use of the closed door highlights that this needs to be hidden from the society and cannot be known to anyone. He was hiding it from the society, as society would not accept it. As the scene, progresses we witness that there is a difference between the tone, language used and expression by both Billy and Michael. Michael, on his own will put the lipstick on Billy’s face making it obvious for Billy to question his sexuality. Furthermore, into the scene, Billy accepts Michael’s sexual inclinations, wondering instead whether it is better to be a ballet dancer or a miner. Daldry has shown the different paths both Billy and Michael are moving, which are not acceptable in the society and needs to be hidden.