Mean Girls Turns 20 This Year. Here’s Why Janis Ian Was The OG Villainous Mean Girl
Mean Girls is a cult classic. Well, it’s so much more than that. It’s a feminine religious film that dissects the nastiness of girlhood. I’ve watched Mean Girls more than any other film. I can quote every line. But maturing is coming to terms with the fact that neither Regina nor Cady were the Mean Girls. It was Janis. It was always Janis. She was the first person to ‘befriend’ Cady.
She had manipulated, trained, and coerced Cady, a newcomer to high school to sabotage Regina’s status. Cady Heron was a fish out water, emigrating to the States and struggled to understand the notion/norms of high school. Cady was subjected to the pressures of Janis’s uncomfortable plans to dismantle ‘The Plastics.’ She had conformed to the negative influence of being a mean girl.
Janis Ian personifies a Mean Girl. She’s negative, she plays mind games to keep everyone at odds, and she is caustic to be around. Janis’s rage against Regina were always justified in a sense. They were once friends, and Janis was betrayed by Regina after she had spread a cruel rumour about her.
You see, Regina unlike Janis had power. Regina George’s validity as a Mean Girl were based on her looks, wealth, and popularity. She ruled North Shore with an iron fist, and the institution was kept in a constant state of fear from social exclusion.
Janis Ian however was the opposite. She was cast at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Almost like a human branding, a mode of punishment to remind Janis her status in high school. Janis was conventionally unattractive and had an overall bad reputation at North Shore. She was the subject of ridicule and teasing from classmates.
Janis and Regina were both crafty, resourceful, and used their knowledge to influence people. Part of what makes Janis sinister is her trauma. She had suffered immensely at the hands of Regina, so she was seeking retribution. Janis exploited Regina’s romantic relationships, friendships, and body image issues. Janis was on a crusade for blood.
Regina George is the archetype socially manipulative mean girl. Her style of bullying was more insidious and hidden in plain sight. Take for example the infamous ‘Burn Book.’ They spread rumours, concocted lies and spread allegations against members of staff culminating in a criminal investigation. The contribution of the Burn Book by The Plastics were used as leverage by Regina to gain social dominance against Cady Heron.
But let’s discuss Janis. Janis so proudly admits to sabotaging Regina’s life. He rage filled admission was clearly pleasurable for her. She had enacted her revenge against Regina. She had finally, got even.
Janis Ian’s iconic characterisation destroys Hollywood’s depictions of what a Mean Girl looks like. Mean Girls can be non conforming social outcasts. Janis is the unorthodox Mean Girl, as no one suspects her vengeful plot against Regina George. Janis Ian breaks the notion you have to be ‘cool to be cruel’.
