Depiction Analysis

 The controversial Netflix film, Cuties, has not only been one of the most controversial films produced by Netflix, but one of the most analyzed because of society’s view on the film. Although the film may include some provocative shots of 11 year old girls dancing inappropriately, the film is much more than that. 

The film’s storyline is originally based on society’s influence on young girls and the influence of social media. As said by a Netflix spokesperson, “Cuties is social commentary against the sexualization  of young children.” Throughout the film, 11 year old Amy is trying to figure herself out and along the way becomes friends with the fierce and outgoing group, the cuties. Seeing how the cuties seem so confident and their true selves, Amy is determined to find that confidence within herself to fit in and become a “cutie” herself. This makes her hungry for attention, whether it be from the cuties themselves, kids at school or older family members. Through her desperation she steals her older brother’s phone, looking at things on social media to look at society’s view on how women are to look and dance. After seeing several music videos and photos on social media, Amy tries to make herself look like what is popular online by making and buying crop tops, as well as trying to do her hair differently by trying to straighten it and learning the dances she sees women doing in music videos. She teaches these moves to  the other cuties for a dance competition. Along the way, Amy also finds herself in trouble at school for posting pictures of her private area with the intentions of “that is what I’m supposed to do.” 

Not only does this film explore things that are done within society, but they also address the problems that society creates within itself. This is what made Cuties so controversial in the United States because rather than focusing the moral of the story, most have judged the film on only the trailer or clips they have seen on the internet. They don’t see what they have to see because they aren’t ready to fully address the situation at hand.