basically it's just Emma begining to figure out that she's a bit of a brat/idiot/insert profanity;) she figures out that it's not all money and social status that is the be all, end all, but in actualy fact it's Harriet's compassion for others and that of her father, sister etc. She learns to...
this is probably just my wharped idea but anyhoo
cultural is kinda just how popular culture has evolved since Austen wrote Emma. i.e in Emma going to "dinner parties" and going for walks were "like, so totally cool";) and in Clueless the "in" thing to do is go to parties (ok so that bit...