Review 1: Television without Pity
Alex Semigran is not a fan of Ja'mie as he refers to her as 'unfathomably terrible, lacking of redemptive qualities, and a sociopathic force of evil.' The first half of his critique involves a descriptive analysis of Chris Liley's work entangled in a brief summary (Liley is the actor, producer and writer of this mockumentary). Semigran shares a negative portrayal of the series with his audience. Semigran refers to a numerous amount of dehumanizing, bigoted quotes which Ja'mie uses to offend minorities and maintain her authority at the top of the social hierarchy. The latter half of this review caters to the target audiences shared opinion of narrative television. Semigran suspects that his readers would be disappointed in the show. He claims that "there is no sense of Schadenfreude for viewers who get the whole Ja'mie gag," as Ja'mie's demise and consequences for her terrible actions fails to exist.
Jo Qualmann also finds Ja'mie to be quite distasteful. Her review on the series is framed in a feminist perspective, one which envisions a sense of society without the -isms. This viewpoint gives Qualmann a desire for equality to be represented through the television medium. (Maybe she should stick to watching shows such as Star Trek and Community...) She critiques the message portrayed through Liley's satirical portrayal of 'Generation Selfie.' How could a 39 year old man understand the complexities behind the hardships of being a teenage girl? Using Qualmann's analytical tone, how dare Liley simplify high school interactions through one mean girl named Ja'mie?
Review 3: The Guardian
Rob Moran provides a more neutral ground in presenting Ja'mie in his reviews. Towards the first half Moran is optimistic of Ja'mie's ability for personal developments, while the latter expresses the opposing view and a desire to see the demise of Ja'mie in a schoolyard catfight. This review starts off with a visual anecdote that embodies the character of Ja'mie. "And so, with blouse unbuttoned and hips gyrating erotically during a 'full slutty' school assembly dance routine, Chris Lilley’s teenage Medusa returns to our screens for her ultimate reign of terror." Instead of analyzing the implications of negative repercussions on society, symbolized by the protagonist, Moran showcases the unique characteristics Ja'mie embodies as charismatic and entertaining
For my review, I will emulate the style portrayed by Rob Moran in The Guardian.
Leave it to Chris Liley to rile up audiences as Ja'mie King takes center stage through provocative hip thrusts, shattering the administrative boards' systemic ruling constraints. Ja'mie's overachieving habits and manipulative wits in Hilford Girl's Grammar High School has caused mayhem, or milkshake containers, to launch at full force on Asians, Africans, overweights, povos, and lesbian borders alike. Nobody can get in the way of Ja'mie's ambitious effort to rise to the top.
Her efforts would not suffice if she wasn't backed by her entourage of lack-luster girls who laugh at every joke she makes, yet never say more than a sentence or two during the entire season. The are pact together by the 'Perfect Promise' Oath. As Ja'mie puts it, "Like, for example, if one of us got depression and wanted to kill themselves, then we—as part of the Prefect Promise—would probably all kill ourselves."This bond makes their clique super 'quiche'. Quiche is Ja'mie's personal spin on Paris Hilton's 'That's Hot', captured by Kardashian persona, that differentiates her herd from the rest. Since Ja'mie was raised in a wealthy lifestyle, she instantly gains access to the top of the social hierarchy.
Taking throne as Queen of controversy, Ja'mie has sparked conversation amongst viewers and critics for her obscene vulgarity and bigoted narratives on the herds of students at Hilford Girl's Grammr School. This time around, Liley amplifies the monstrous affairs Ja'mie embodies as social anthropologist.
First, there are the Asians who appear to be helpless and frightened by Ja'mie's brashness. Ja'mie ridicules them by forcing group Instagram selfies, where the Asians seem uncomfortably awkward, as Ja'mie uses the hashtag 'Fried Rice' and runs off to the distance to harass yet another herd. The Lesbian Borders, who Ja'mie ridicules on a daily basis, to maintain her authority on campus. For instance, "Erin Walker is this boarder, and she is seriously no offense, such a dumb bitch. She's pretty much a confirmed lesbian, she's severely overweight, and she's like a massive suck..." Then, there are the povo (poverty) Africans who Ja'mie visits, in humanitarian attempts, for a reading of The Hunger Games.
The humiliation of others does not only occur at school. Ja'mie brings this personality with her home as she encounters her cheating dad and her pilled-out mother. Ja'mie seductively approaches her father to gain his approval for a house party to be thrown that week. Failing to resist her tempting charm, he hesitantly accepts her request as his secretary, who is also his mistress, urges the father to listen to her daughter. After her father and mistress leave Ja'mie approaches her mom, who was in the room the whole time, in a sympathetic attempt to empathize for the failure of their marriage. This only lasts half a second as Ja'mie tells her mother that her outfit makes her look like a cancer patient.
- Christina Puspita Taufan
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