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Teen film

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Teen filmis afilm genretargeted atteenagers,preteensand/oryoung adultsby theplotbeing based on their special interests, such ascoming of age,attempting to fit in,bullying,peer pressure,first love, teen rebellion, conflict with parents, and teenangstor alienation.[1]Often these normally serious subject matters are presented in a glossy, stereotyped or trivialized way. Many teenage characters areportrayed by young adult actors in their 20s.Some teen films appeal to young males, while others appeal to young females.

Films in this genre are often set inhigh schoolsandcolleges,or contain characters who are of high school or college age.

Types[edit]

Teen film genres include

Additional types of teen films can be divided again into sub-categories. These can be found atlist of teen films.

Beach films[edit]

Early examples of the genre in the United States include the "beach party films"of the 1950s and 1960s, such as theGidgetseries.[2]

Codes and conventions[edit]

Codes and conventions of teen films vary depending on the cultural context of the film, but they can includepuberty,proms,alcohol,illegal substances,high school,parties,virginity,teen pregnancy,social groups andcliques,interpersonal conflict with peers and/or the older generations, fitting in,peer pressure,andpopular culture.[3]

The classic codes and conventions of the teen film come from American films. One of the most widely used conventions is an emphasis onstereotypesand social groups. The stereotypes most commonly used include:

Apart from the characters, there are many other codes and conventions of teen film. These films are often set in or around high schools and places frequented by teens, such as shopping malls and themed restaurants. This technique allows for many different social cliques to be shown. These settings are typical for the classic romantic comedy teen film.

Common archetypes[edit]

A good example of the use ofarchetypesin the teen film was displayed in the 1985 film,The Breakfast Club.These archetypes have since become a larger part of the culture. The jock,cheerleader,andsocial outcast,among others, become a familiar and pleasurable feature for the audience. However, genres are dynamic; they change and develop to meet the expectations of their target audience.

Notable writers and directors[edit]

Herman Raucher[edit]

Herman Raucher,along with Robert Mulligan, popularized the genre withSummer of '42(1971), and Raucher continued the trend by writingClass of '44(1973).

George Lucas[edit]

George Lucashas been credited for perfecting the genre by writing and directingAmerican Graffiti(1973).

John Hughes[edit]

The genre gained more credibility during the 1980s with the works of writer and directorJohn Hughes.His legacy of teen films, includingThe Breakfast Club,Ferris Bueller's Day Off,Sixteen Candles,and many more, proved to be popular not only with audiences but also with critics.[2]

Gregg Araki[edit]

Gregg Arakifilmedindependent filmsin the 1990s. His films, particularly theTeen Apocalypse Trilogy(consisting ofTotally Fucked Up,The Doom Generation,andNowhere), are notable for capturing the disaffected attitudes of suburban teenagers ofGeneration X.

Éric Rohmer[edit]

Éric Rohmer,a pioneering director of theFrench New Wave,was notable for focusing on young adults or youth and their complications with love in a number of his films. Some of these works areLa Collectionneuse,Claire's Knee,Pauline at the Beach,My Girlfriend's Boyfriend,andA Summer's Tale.

Noteworthy actors[edit]

Popular actors in teen films have includedAnnette Funicello,Hayley Mills,andSal Mineoin the 1960s and 1970s;Molly Ringwald,Anthony Michael Hall,Brendan Fraser,Luke Perry,Johnny Depp,Christina Applegate,Winona Ryder,John Cusack,Michael J. Fox,Robert Downey Jr.,Matthew Broderickand members of theBrat Packin the 1980s and early 1990s; andSarah Michelle Gellar,Jonathan Brandis,Tatyana Ali,Neve Campbell,Chris Evans,Rose McGowan,Jennifer Love Hewitt,Heath Ledger,Britney Spears,Brandy Norwood,Kirsten Dunst,Shannon Elizabeth,Breckin Meyer,Seth Green,Tobey Maguire,Alicia Silverstone,Gina Ravera,Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen,Frankie Muniz,Hilary Duff,Lindsay Lohan,Rachael Leigh Cook,Drew Barrymore,Freddie Prinze Jr.,Drake Bell,Josh Peck,Amanda Bynes,Leonardo DiCaprio,Matthew Lillard,Gabrielle Union,David Arquette,Jamie Kennedy,Paul Rudd,Blake LivelyandHayden Panettierein the mid-to-late-1990s and throughout the 2000s. Many of these actors were either pre-teens or teens themselves when the movies were made.

Notable teen genre actors in the 2010s and 2020s includeLeighton Meester,Zendaya,Noah Centineo,Timothée Chalamet,Zac Efron,Lucy Hale,Lucas Hedges,Tom Holland,Anna Kendrick,Katherine Langford,Keiynan Lonsdale,Ezra Miller,Evan Peters,Nick Robinson,Cole Sprouse,Amandla Stenberg,Emma Stone,Ashley Tisdale,Emma Watson,Charlie Heaton,Justice Smith,Shameik Moore,Hailee Steinfeld,Odeya Rush,Madison Iseman,Dylan Minnette,Storm Reid,Asher Angel,Jack Dylan Grazer,Charlie Plummer,Vanessa Hudgens,Sophia Lillis,Angourie Rice,Olivia Rodrigo,Finn Wolfhard,Lana Condor,Ramona Young,Liza KoshyandMckenna Grace.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Driscoll, Catherine (June 2011).Teen Film: A Critical Introduction.ISBN9781847888440.
  2. ^abKaveney, Roz (2006-07-11).Teen Dreams: Reading Teen Film and Television from 'Heathers' to 'Veronica Mars'.I.B.Tauris.ISBN9781845111847.
  3. ^Driscoll, Catherine (2011-06-15).Teen Film: A Critical Introduction.Berg.ISBN9781847886866.

Further reading[edit]

  • Bernstein, J. 1997.Pretty in Pink: The Golden Age of Teenage Movies.St. Martin's Press.
  • Driscoll, Catherine.2011.Teen Film: A Critical Introduction.Berg.ISBN9781847886866.
  • Shary, Timothy. 2005.Teen Movies: American Youth on Screen.Wallflower Press.
  • O'Neill, Patrick. 2016.Investigating the 1980s Hollywood Teen Genre: Adolescence, Character, Space.PhD thesis, Kingston University, UK.

External links[edit]


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