By Kaylee Brewster
Commentary
In 2004, the film “Mean Girls” was released and over 15 years the movie has inspired memes, gifs, a Broadway musical, a music video by Ariana Grande and plenty of quotes for every day use.
In 2014, the Washington Post called “Mean Girls” the “language of the internet.” The reason is because other fandoms (“Harry Potter,” “Hunger Games,” “Lord of the Rings”) also attach themselves to “Mean Girls,” David Hayes, Tumblr’s head of creative strategy, told the Post. These other fandoms use “Mean Girls” quotes in their jokes and memes about their own groups. Tumblr users created more than 10,000 posts and 477,000 notes related to the film in one month alone, according to a 2014 article that ran on the film’s 10th anniversary in the Independent, an online British newspaper.
The meme-ability of the movie is just one of the many reasons the film has lasted so long. It’s also funny and heartfelt, depicting high school life and the complicated social circles of teenage girls. One part of teen life it depicts are the expectations that girls look and act a certain way. It navigates the cliches of high school and bullying. Even the phrase “mean girl” has become a common descriptor for someone who is a bullying, backstabbing, manipulative gossip.
Screenwriter and actress Tina Fey based the script on “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” a self-help book by Rosalind Wiseman which focuses on girl cliches in high school and patterns of teen girl behavior. This makes “Mean Girls” a realistic and relatable topic for many, so much so it’s even used in some sociology classes, according to the Independent.
All these factors (and numerous others) contributed to making “Mean Girls” a classic that has helped to define a generation. Maybe fetch didn’t happen (see sidebar), but “Mean Girls” certainly did.
So today we celebrate Mean Girls Day. Why today? Because on Oct. 3, Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) asked Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) what day it was. After many years of celebration by fans, Mean Girls Day was recognized as an official holiday in 2018 by National Today, a group that marks holidays and celebrations around the world. Last year’s first official celebration was coincidentally on Wednesday, the day “we wear pink,” according to the girls in the film.
In honor of Mean Girls Day are some quotes from the film, with tips on when to use them.
Quote: “Grool.”
When to use: This is a combination of “great” and “cool” so the application is endless.
Quote: “I’m not like a regular mom. I’m a cool mom.”
When to use: When you need to fit in with the cool, young crowd.
Quote: “Get in loser. We’re going shopping.”
When to use: Any time you’re picking up a friend for an event, can be modified to apply to other activities.
Quote: “The limit does not exist.”
When to use: The limit does not exist for how many times you can use this one. How many doughnuts can you eat in a day? The limit does not exist. How many napkins do you need when eating barbecue ribs? The limit does not exist. How many times can you watch “Mean Girls” in a day? The limit does not exist.
Quote: “It’s so fetch.”
When to use: It’s British slang for cool (allegedly) so any case you would use cool, use fetch.
Quote: “Stop trying to make fetch happen.”
When to use: For that person who’s always trying or getting you to try that “fetch” new thing (like a diet trend) and you want to be clear it’s not going to happen.
Quote: “You go, Glen Coco!”
When to use: A general phrase of congratulations or encouragement
Quote: “She doesn’t even go here!”
When to use: If someone tries to join your jump in on your conversation, friend group or bonding time and they’re really overstepping the socially acceptable boundaries.
Quote: “And I don’t think my father, the inventor of Toaster Strudel, would be too pleased to hear about this.”
When to use: The perfect way to show your disapproval or intimidate someone
Quote: “That’s why her hair is so big. It’s full of secrets.”
When to use: Everyone knows that person. That person who knows all the school, office and neighbor gossip, this is for that person.
Quote: “Made out with a hot dog? Oh my God that was one time!”
When to use: When people won’t let go of that thing you did just that one time (can be modified to fit your own personal “made out with a hot dog” moment).
Quote: "I can't go out tonight *fake coughs*. I'm sick."
When to use: Perfect for when you need to escape a social gathering.
Quote: “Oh my God, Karen, you can’t just ask someone why they're white.”
When to use: If someone says something offensive you can use this to call them out on it (name can be changed to fit the situation).
Quote: “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.”
When to use: When you find yourself wearing the same outfit/color as someone else (can be modified to fit the occasion).
Quote: “It’s October 3rd.”
When to use: On Oct. 3, when you’re explaining what Mean Girls Day is.
Quote: “Why are you so obsessed with me?”
When to use: Calling out that person who just won’t leave you alone.
Quote: “Ex-boyfriends are just off-limits to friends. I mean, that’s just, like, the rules of feminism.”
When to use: When you have to explain the rules of feminism to someone.
Quote: “You can’t sit with us!”
When to use: Well this one seems self-explanatory. If you need to directly tell someone they need to leave.
