The document provides a thesis and analysis of the film Juno through a semiotic and psychoanalytic lens. It explores how the characters and relationships symbolize modern ideologies around youth sexuality, gender roles, and parenthood. Specifically, it examines how Juno represents a new generation that challenges traditional femininity and how the film shifts depictions of female sexuality from passive to dominant. It also analyzes how Paulie Bleeker and Mark represent changing ideas of masculinity and dominance-submission patterns between genders.

1. A Semiotic Analysis
Mallory Whitefield

2. Thesis
Juno is a portrayal of youth sexuality, gender
roles, parenthood, and expectations of social
class in modern day society. Through the use of
semiotics I will explore how the characters and
relationships throughout the film are symbolic
to the ideologies and culture of a new
generation. I will also make reference to Kaplan’s
psychoanalytic ideas of dominance-submission
patterns to explore gender roles.

3. Juno as an Icon – New Generation
• Goes against conceptual idea of femininity
• Overall look
• Personality
• Uses humor to deal with pregnancy
– normal occurrence
• Progression of gender roles/ideologies

4. Sex Scene
• Shift in depiction of female sexuality
• Change from that to be desired to that which
desires
• Juno’s dominance

5. Paulie Bleeker
• New idea of masculinity
• Masculinity mocked
• Change in gender role – passive
• Kaplan’s dominance-submission patterns

6. Mark and Vanessa
Penny Saver Ad
“Educated, successful couple
wishes to adopt child. We live in a
Suburban area near good schools
and playground. The child will be
raised in a loving atmosphere full of
laughter, learning and teddy bears.
Please call Vanessa and Mark at
320-555-0166”

7. Juno Vs. Vanessa
• Also dominant
• Desire for procreation
• End Result

8. Parents
• Youth sexuality accepted
• Willingness to help

9. Conclusion
Semiotics is concerned with how meaning is
created through images or narratives. Through
the use of characters and the relationships
between them, the film showed the new
ideologies of the 21st century regarding youth
sexuality, gender roles, and parenthood.