Character Representation

Throughout the trailer for the bildungsroman drama, the Perks of Being a Wallflower, the main characters are representing the less popular, teenage outcasts whom are pushed away from society due to the lack of regard from others, towards people who are different to them. It suggest that growing up, which is the main theme throughout the film, can be extremely difficult especially when you are different, whether it be your appearance, personality, disability or sexual orientation.

Despite the two boys, Charlie and Patrick, subverting the stereotypical teenage boy, both characters exhibit some traits of  typical teenage boys. Some examples being: going to parties, going to sports events and getting into fights at school. However, this does not outweigh their differences to their piers and causes them to be outcasts.

Applying Theory: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Trailer.

The trailer for The Perks of Being a Wallflower uses many narrative techniques typical of Hollywood romantic dramas. Applying Propp's Character theory we have a clear Protagonist in Logan Lerman's character Charlie. Again we have a clear group of antagonists, the 'popular' kids whom are getting in the way of the protagonist due to his autism. The heroine is Emma Watson's Character, Sam and the helper is Ezra Miller's Character, Patrick.

The Film's Narrative is clearly introduced in the trailer and follows Todorov's theory of equilibrium. The state of balance is the character of Charlie being an outcast in the socially divided school. The introduction of Sam and Patrick creates the disequilibrium - along with the bound of confidence Charlie receives when people notice him. The new equilibrium is not shown in the trailer - this is important as a standard Hollywood romantic drama narrative would suggest that Charlie and Sam get together at the end, however the film is not a typical romantic drama therefore the audience would have to watch the entire film in order to see and enjoy the resolution - be it typical or not typical of a Hollywood romantic drama.

The trailer consists of many of Barthes' enigma and action codes. They are designed to  draw the audience in which results in them watching the entire film. A major enigma code the audience will wonder upon would be whether Sam and Charlie get together in the end and whether Charlie writes the book. another example of an enigma code would be Charlie wanting to 'turn things around this year'. It makes the audience wonder what had happened in the previous years,