“I had the craziest dream. I was 17. I was back in high school. It was terrible. Mmmm.” [1]
An investigation into the representation of teenagers in Hollywood productions and how this has changed over the years.
The representation of teenagers has continuously known to change over the years within the media. Teenagers have been represented from positively to negatively which has created a moral panic in the media. This essay will be exploring the representation of teenagers in Hollywood productions through the three platforms broadcast, e-media and print. This will allow me to look at the different representations that are being created of teenagers in Hollywood productions as the contemporary texts that will be useful in my investigation are texts such as '17 Again' (2009) compared to other Hollywood texts. This shows that this essay will focus upon looking at the representation of teenagers in depth in Hollywood productions and see whether this stereotype is being reinforced or challenged continuously. Murphy believes that ideas become stereotypes that are "unrealistic" and "unsatisfactory" [2] which could be the case when looking at teenagers that will be explored in this essay.
"Today it is widely recognised that stereotypes are inaccurate, simplistic generalisations about a group of individuals that may lead to particular perceptions of the group by others" [3]. Is this the case with teenagers? Youths have continuously been represented in a “negative way thus creating folk devils” [4] within movies due to the personality that has been created. This representation is shown through films such as '17 Again' where teenagers are getting in to fights as the jocks and nerds are always getting in to fights and in the film 'Superbad' (2007) where the boys are obsessed over the girls. This shows that the stereotypes of teenagers are being reinforced in these films and Hollywood institutions are not challenging them but is doing what the media is concerned about as Hollywood has been “decisively juvenalized” [5] towards teenagers. However, in the film 'High School Musical' (2006), teenagers are represented as passionate towards their singing which is a positive representation of teenagers. This relates to the semiotics theory as different interpretations are being created in different films which has resulted to the audience having different views of teenagers. This relates to Lewis who believes that "teen films are addressing major issues like alienation, delinquency, rebellion, sex and gender" [6]. This connotes that different types of ten films are looking at different issues which results to many different interpretations of teenagers from the audience.
During the twentieth century in America, social policies and institutions began to treat those under 20 as "both distinct and separate from adults“ [7]. This connotes that over time the stereotypes of teenagers has changed in the media as in the 20th century, this representation of teenagers begun as they were stereotyped negatively which resulted to a moral panic. This representation is shown in films such as ’17 Again’ where teenagers are causing trouble within school by getting in to fights and more interested in ‘popularity’ and girls which is shown through the character Mike (Zac Efron) who has little interest in education. "In parallel fashion, Hollywood has always made films about young people (Considine, 1981) . They have also made films designed or presumed to cater for what it called 'the juve trade' - juvenile spectators” [8]. This was the case while comparing this contemporary text to a historical text, there was a difference in the stereotypes of teenagers from how it is now which was shown as the jocks in the film is continuously threatening to kill and stab their enemies whereas no violence as such takes place. These type of films have created a representation in parents minds too that every middle school student is “gossip ridden, hormone-raging and naive” [9] which shows the way in which parents are easily willing to “pin these stereotypes to their children, and then judge them accordingly” [10]. This connotes that even though the representation has changed of teenagers over time to an even more negative representation which shows that it is as if Hollywood is producing films on teenagers for fashion as if teenagers are a trend. This relates to the social factors as it connotes that the emphasise of these Hollywood films are resulting to teenagers becoming a social topic with the public and youth groups continuously being targeted as if they do not fit in to society which shows that teenagers representation has changed in the media negatively from a historical view. This has then resulted to an increase in the moral panic and a increase in the way that teenagers are being represented in Hollywood movies.
In addition, Martin Barker (1998) describes the concept of stereotypes as a “useless tool for investigating texts for misrepresenting the ‘real world’” [11]. This connotes that the stereotypes of teenagers are misrepresenting the ‘real world’ and allowing teenagers to be stereotyped in this negative way. This is shown in the film ‘Step up 2: The Streets’ (2008) as teenagers are being misrepresented due to teenagers taking part in street dance and dancing illegally. This connotes that this Hollywood film has portrayed teenagers in a negative way just due to teenagers wanting to fulfil their passion of dancing and as the film’s title mentions “the streets” it connotes that teenagers are trouble makers and hang around in the streets causing the audience to believe this representation of teenagers. Furthermore, is this negative representation of teenagers being created in to a moral panic due to the way that the media is portraying teenagers? The media is known to have “the power through selection and reinforcement to give us very influential portrayals of a whole range of groups” [12]. This connotes that due to the media and its texts, the audience is then being injected ideas in to their minds according to the hypodermic needle theory which has resulted to a moral panic on teenagers. This is also shown as the media organise power through stereotypical representations that “re inscribe social rules and roles” [13] which shows that the media plays a part in the view of teenagers. This has resulted to the way that teenagers are shown in the media and resulting to a moral panic then.
In a historical perspective, the representation of teenagers has changed over the years in a range of ways in Hollywood productions. Marshal Mcluhan he dubbed the media that they “rarely see by accident and never without interest” [14] which shows that the representation of teenagers may have been created continuously by the media due to them wanting to gain an audience for their benefit which has resulted to the historical change in the stereotypes of teenagers in Hollywood productions. This change has been shown as in the Hollywood film ‘Rebel without a Cause’ (1955); teenagers were not represented as negatively as they are now. This is shown as in ‘Rebel without a Cause’; Jim is continuously trying to prove himself to his friends by switchblade knife fights and dangerous driving. This connotes that in this film there is violence present but it is not as much as now as any murder scenes are shown or abuse towards peers whereas it is in contemporary films. Also, the basic stereotypes of teenagers within the 90’s were that teenagers are disrespectful towards teachers and immature whereas now teenagers have become a threat in the media. Barry (1999) believes that ‘Rebel without a Cause’ was “deeply alarming in their portrayal of teenagers willing to defy school teachers” [15]. This connotes that within the 90’s teenagers were not represented as negatively as they are now as teenagers were represented as disrespectful towards teenagers but now teenagers have been stereotyped in the media as a violent group of people.
Another historical media text that can raise awareness on the difference of the representation of teenagers is the Hollywood media text ‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985). Tessa Parking (1997) believed that “we tend to make assumptions about stereotypes which can themselves be misleading” [16]. This could be the case when looking at ‘The Breakfast Club’ as this text looks at teenagers negatively whereas it is not largely negative. For example, the teenagers in the film are in a detention throughout the film in which they give death threats to each other and get in to fights a few times. This connotes that it is a negative representation of teenagers as they are in detention and are getting in to fights whereas the major different between this and contemporary texts is that in this historical text teenagers are not literally fighting and killing each other as there is only threats taking place. This shows that there is a large difference in the representations of teenagers in the historical Hollywood texts than the contemporary Hollywood historical texts. This is different to the representation of teenagers now as teenagers are now committing murders and getting involved in a large amount of violence. This historical text can also be evidence to show that adults have made “protecting and controlling the young as an obsession” [17]. This connotes that this text shows the way in which teenagers are being controlled by both teachers and their parents which may have been the cause of teenager’s delinquency behaviour.
In addition, the media holds a vital part in the representation of teenagers who can also be the reason for this representation. This is shown as the media is also known to find teenagers as “easy targets and plenty of materials for sensational journalism” [18]. This connotes that the media may be creating this negative representation of teenagers which has then resulted to Hollywood films also reinforcing this representation. Also, this shows that the media is in a way ‘using’ teenagers in order to gain larger audience who will be attracted to read an issue which will create a moral panic. “Youth has always provided the audience with ample opportunities for negative representations of young people” [19]. This connotes that the media is using this opportunity wisely and creating a negative representation of teenagers which will attract more customers and benefit the media. This shows that this relates to surveillance according to the Uses and Gratifications theory as the audience will be interested to know what is going on in the media. This will mean that the audience will continuously hear about teenagers which will result to the audience believing this too which will result in teenagers being represented negatively in the media which will be reinforced in Hollywood texts. Teenagers have also become a “source of titillation for the older viewer” [20] due to teenagers becoming an amusement topic for adults which is reinforced by the way in which teenagers are presented in Hollywood productions.
Overall by looking at the representation of teenagers in Hollywood productions from a historical and contemporary view, it is clear that the representation of teenagers has changed largely. This is shown as Hollywood productions before in a historical view used to represent teenagers as negative but they did not get involved in large amounts of violence whereas now Hollywood productions include teenagers getting pregnant, knife crime, abuse and many more. Also, Hollywood is known to create “unrealistic expectation for teenagers” [21] which connotes that teenagers are continuously being targeted by major institutions such as Hollywood. As a result, teenagers in the media and Hollywood productions are being stereotyped negatively thus creating a moral panic as teenagers are being seen as dangerous and a threat to the media. This moral panic has been created due to teenagers being a subordinate group who is being controlled by the dominant groups which shows that over time the stereotypes of teenagers is turning worse each year. This concludes that the representation of teenagers is continuously getting negative by year as they are being stereotyped in a way in which the public is afraid of teenagers too which connotes that by looking at the representation of teenagers in a historical and contemporary view, it is clear that the representation of teenagers is not improving year by year but is turning more negative. This shows that overall teenagers are being negatively as we as teenagers are misunderstood but “we’re people, just like everyone else” [22].
[1]. www.imdb.com/title/tt0974661/quotes
[2]. Nicholos, Joe, Price, John (1998): Advanced Studies in Media, United Kingdom; Nelson. p44.
[3]. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil, Calvert, Ben, French, Liam, Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies the Key Concepts, London; Routledge. p229.
[4]. Sardar, Ziauddin, Loon, Boring (2000): Introducing Media Studies, UK; Totem Books. p77.
[5]. Doherty, T (1988): Teenagers and Teenpics: The Suvenlization of American movies in the 1950s, Boston; Unwinhyman. p124
[6]. Blandford, Steve (2001): The Film Studies Dictionary, London; Arnold. p238.
[7]. Neale, Steve (2000): Genre and Hollywood, London; Routledge. p119.
[8]. Cook, Pam, Bernink, Mieke Eds (1999): The Cinema Book 2nd Edition, London; BFI. p218.
[9]. www.teen-culture.suite101.com/article.cfm/teen_stereotypes
[10]. http://www.helium.com/items/1438882-teenagers
[11]. O’Sullivian, Tim, Dutton, Brian, Rayner, Phillip (1994): Studying the Media Second Edition, Great Britain; Arnold. p86.
[12]. www.mediaed.org.uk/posted_documents/repsyouth.html
[13]. Curran, James, Gurevitah, Micheal eds (2005): Mass Media and Society, London, Hodder Education. p341
[14]. Bennett, Peter, Slater, Jerry, Wall, Petter (2006): A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, Abingdon Oxon; Routledge. p77.
[15]. Carter, Cynthia, Weaver, C.Kay (2003): Violence and the Media, Buckingham; Open University Press. p52.
[16]. Bennett, Peter, Slater, Jerry, Wall, Peter (2006): A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, Oxon; Routledge. p81.
[17]. Provert, David, Graham, Andrew (2008): Advanced Media Studies, Oxfordshire; Phillip Allan. p135.
[18]. Ibid. p135
[19]. Brignell, Jonathan (2004): An Introduction to Television Studies, London; Routledge. p240.
[20]. Brignell, Jonathan (2004): An Introduction to Television Studies, London; Routledge. p240
[21]. www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/05/18/hollywood_s_obsession_with_the_perfect_p
[22]. http://www.momaroo.com/696329679/a-teenager-speaking-out-against-teenage-stereotypes/
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Task 2 - Additional Reading. . .
1. Cook, Pam, Bernink, Mieke eds (1999): The Cinema Book 2nd Edition, London; BFI
Page 218
"In parallel fashion, Hollywood has always made films about young people (Considine, 1981). They have also made films designed or presumed to cater for what it called 'the juve trade' - juvenile spectators."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it is a quote that shows that making films based on teenagers was like "fashion" to Hollywood. This links to my critical investigation as it is based on teenagers and its shows how Hollywood created films that made teenagers look juvennile.
2. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil, Calvert, Ben, French, Liam, Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies The Key Concepts, London; Routledge
Page 62
"The term 'counter culture' usually means according to Dick Hebdige (1979), a mix of 'alternative' middle-class youth cultures in which more explicit political and ideological resistance to the dominant culture is expressed."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it is linked to teenagers. It shows that teenagers are not a dominant group and are being controlled over the dominant groups. This shows that youth cultures are usually classified as counter culture.
3. Bennett, Peter, Slater, Jerry, Wall, Peter (2006): A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, Oxon; Routledge
Page 81
"In an influential essay on stereotypes, Tessa Parking (1997) made the point that we tend to make assumptions about stereotypes which can in themselves be misleading."
This quote is useful for my critical investigation as it is on the stereotypes of teenagers and explains how Tessa Parking believes that stereotypes can be misleading. This will be useful for my critical investigation as I can look at how teenagers are being represented in Hollywood productions and if it I'm misleading or not.
4. Probert, David, Graham, Andrew (2008): Advanced Media Studies, Oxfordshire; Philip Allan
Page 135
"Protecting and controlling the young has always been a obsession of adults society, and the media found easy targets and plenty of materials for sensational journalism concerning the growth of the 'sex, drugs and rock and roll' culture and the many stars and celebrities it produced."
This links to my critical investigation as it shows that young people are continuously being controlled by adults. This connotes that the way in which teenagers are being represented is based on how adults portray them. This will be useful for my critical investigation as I will be able to explore if the representations of teenagers in Hollywood productions is due to adults.
5. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil, Calvert, Ben, French, Liam, Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies The Key Concepts, London; Routledge
Page 229
"Today it is widely recognised that stereotypes are inaccurate, simplistic generalisations about a group of individuals that may lead to particular perceptions of the group by others."
This quote will be useful for my critical investigation as it shows that stereotypes are increasingly being seen as inaccurate which means that there may be a chance that the representations that are being created of teenagers may also be this. This connotes that this quote will be able to assist me in my critical investigation as I can see if the representation of teenagers in Hollywood productions is as this quote says.
6. Brignell, Jonathan (2004): An Introduction to Television Studies, London; Routledge
Page 240
"The eroticised youthful body has become a commodity for the attraction of youth audiences and also a source of titillation for the older viewer."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it shows that youths have become a attraction for the audience to see. This connotes that the audience prefer to watch teenagers as it may be because they find it interesting or get to learn more about teenagers. This shows that this will refer to my critical investigation as I will be able to look at if this is the case with my critical investigation.
7. Rayner, Philip, Wall, Peter, Kruger, Stepher (2001): AS Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, London; Routledge
Page 68
"Youth has tended over the later half of the twentieth century to suffer from a rather negative representation in the media. Youth has always provided the media with ample opportunities for negative representation of young people."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it shows that teenagers are gaining a lot of negative press in the media which shows that they are continuously being referred to in a negative way. This connotes that this will relate to my critical investigation as I would need to see whether the news of teenagers is being reflected in Hollywood productions.
8. Doherty, T (1988): Teenagers and Teenpics: The Suvenlization of American movies in the 1950s, Boston; Unwinhyman
Page 124
"These films can be defined as teen pics because they all focus on teenage characters. However, issues of definition are complicated by the fact that since the early 1970s, Hollywood has been decisively 'juvenalized' (Doherty 1988)."
This quote is related to my critical investigation as it shows that Hollywood has a habit of representing teenagers in this way. This connotes that this will help me in my critical investigation as I will be able to see whether this representation is occurring in the Hollywood texts that I will be looking at.
9. Neale, Steve (2000): Genre and Hollywood, London; Routledge.
Page 119
"During the course of the twentieth century in America and elsewhere in the industrialized west, a series of social policies, practices and institutions have increasingly begun to treat those under 20 as both distinct and separate from adults, two key terms have emerged in America to mark it: 'adolescence' (term used by psychologist G.Stanley Hall in 1904) and 'teenager' (a term first used in the popular press in the 1920's)."
This quote will link to my critical investigation as it is showing the way in which America is beginning to view teenagers which is in a negative way as they are being treated as if they are not equal. This connotes that because of this representation, it may be why that in Hollywood productions that teenagers are being represented negatively and shown as a threat to the public.
10. Sardar, Ziauddin, Loon, Borin (2000): Introducing Media Studies, UK; Totem Books.
Page 77
"Stan Cohen argued that the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way, thus creating "folk devils" and were reported in a way to create a moral panic."
This will link to my critical investigation as it shows that Stan Cohen also believes that the way in which teenagers have been stereotyped has resulted in them be labelled as "folk devils" which has meant that they gained a negative image in the media. This connotes that the public now find teenagers a threat and believe that they are a group that will cause trouble in the society.
Page 218
"In parallel fashion, Hollywood has always made films about young people (Considine, 1981). They have also made films designed or presumed to cater for what it called 'the juve trade' - juvenile spectators."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it is a quote that shows that making films based on teenagers was like "fashion" to Hollywood. This links to my critical investigation as it is based on teenagers and its shows how Hollywood created films that made teenagers look juvennile.
2. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil, Calvert, Ben, French, Liam, Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies The Key Concepts, London; Routledge
Page 62
"The term 'counter culture' usually means according to Dick Hebdige (1979), a mix of 'alternative' middle-class youth cultures in which more explicit political and ideological resistance to the dominant culture is expressed."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it is linked to teenagers. It shows that teenagers are not a dominant group and are being controlled over the dominant groups. This shows that youth cultures are usually classified as counter culture.
3. Bennett, Peter, Slater, Jerry, Wall, Peter (2006): A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, Oxon; Routledge
Page 81
"In an influential essay on stereotypes, Tessa Parking (1997) made the point that we tend to make assumptions about stereotypes which can in themselves be misleading."
This quote is useful for my critical investigation as it is on the stereotypes of teenagers and explains how Tessa Parking believes that stereotypes can be misleading. This will be useful for my critical investigation as I can look at how teenagers are being represented in Hollywood productions and if it I'm misleading or not.
4. Probert, David, Graham, Andrew (2008): Advanced Media Studies, Oxfordshire; Philip Allan
Page 135
"Protecting and controlling the young has always been a obsession of adults society, and the media found easy targets and plenty of materials for sensational journalism concerning the growth of the 'sex, drugs and rock and roll' culture and the many stars and celebrities it produced."
This links to my critical investigation as it shows that young people are continuously being controlled by adults. This connotes that the way in which teenagers are being represented is based on how adults portray them. This will be useful for my critical investigation as I will be able to explore if the representations of teenagers in Hollywood productions is due to adults.
5. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil, Calvert, Ben, French, Liam, Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies The Key Concepts, London; Routledge
Page 229
"Today it is widely recognised that stereotypes are inaccurate, simplistic generalisations about a group of individuals that may lead to particular perceptions of the group by others."
This quote will be useful for my critical investigation as it shows that stereotypes are increasingly being seen as inaccurate which means that there may be a chance that the representations that are being created of teenagers may also be this. This connotes that this quote will be able to assist me in my critical investigation as I can see if the representation of teenagers in Hollywood productions is as this quote says.
6. Brignell, Jonathan (2004): An Introduction to Television Studies, London; Routledge
Page 240
"The eroticised youthful body has become a commodity for the attraction of youth audiences and also a source of titillation for the older viewer."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it shows that youths have become a attraction for the audience to see. This connotes that the audience prefer to watch teenagers as it may be because they find it interesting or get to learn more about teenagers. This shows that this will refer to my critical investigation as I will be able to look at if this is the case with my critical investigation.
7. Rayner, Philip, Wall, Peter, Kruger, Stepher (2001): AS Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, London; Routledge
Page 68
"Youth has tended over the later half of the twentieth century to suffer from a rather negative representation in the media. Youth has always provided the media with ample opportunities for negative representation of young people."
This quote links to my critical investigation as it shows that teenagers are gaining a lot of negative press in the media which shows that they are continuously being referred to in a negative way. This connotes that this will relate to my critical investigation as I would need to see whether the news of teenagers is being reflected in Hollywood productions.
8. Doherty, T (1988): Teenagers and Teenpics: The Suvenlization of American movies in the 1950s, Boston; Unwinhyman
Page 124
"These films can be defined as teen pics because they all focus on teenage characters. However, issues of definition are complicated by the fact that since the early 1970s, Hollywood has been decisively 'juvenalized' (Doherty 1988)."
This quote is related to my critical investigation as it shows that Hollywood has a habit of representing teenagers in this way. This connotes that this will help me in my critical investigation as I will be able to see whether this representation is occurring in the Hollywood texts that I will be looking at.
9. Neale, Steve (2000): Genre and Hollywood, London; Routledge.
Page 119
"During the course of the twentieth century in America and elsewhere in the industrialized west, a series of social policies, practices and institutions have increasingly begun to treat those under 20 as both distinct and separate from adults, two key terms have emerged in America to mark it: 'adolescence' (term used by psychologist G.Stanley Hall in 1904) and 'teenager' (a term first used in the popular press in the 1920's)."
This quote will link to my critical investigation as it is showing the way in which America is beginning to view teenagers which is in a negative way as they are being treated as if they are not equal. This connotes that because of this representation, it may be why that in Hollywood productions that teenagers are being represented negatively and shown as a threat to the public.
10. Sardar, Ziauddin, Loon, Borin (2000): Introducing Media Studies, UK; Totem Books.
Page 77
"Stan Cohen argued that the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way, thus creating "folk devils" and were reported in a way to create a moral panic."
This will link to my critical investigation as it shows that Stan Cohen also believes that the way in which teenagers have been stereotyped has resulted in them be labelled as "folk devils" which has meant that they gained a negative image in the media. This connotes that the public now find teenagers a threat and believe that they are a group that will cause trouble in the society.
Task 6 - Introduction & First Paragraph . . .
An investigation into the representation of teenagers in Hollywood productions and how this has changed over the years.
The representation of teenagers has continously known to change over the years within the media. Teenagers have been represented from positively to negatively which has created a moral panic in the media. This essay will be exploring the representation of teenagers in Hollwood productions through the three platforms broadcast, emedia and print. This will allow me to look at the different representations that are being created of teenagers in Hollywood productions as the contemporary texts that will be useful in my investigation are texts such as '17 Again' (2009) compared to other Hollywood texts. This shows that this essay will focus upon looking at the representation of teenagers in depth in Hollywood productions and see whether this stereotype is being reinforced or challenged continously. Murphy believes that ideas become stereotypes that are "unrealistic" and "unsatisfactory" [1] which could be the case when looking at teenagers that will be explored in this essay.
"Today it is widely recognised that stereotypes are inaccurate, simplistic generalisations about a group of individuals that may lead to particular perceptions of the group by others" [2]. Is this the case with teenagers? Youths have continously been represented as delinquent, immature and illmannered within movies due to the personality that has been created. This representation is shown through films such as '17 Again' where teenagers are getting in to fights as the jocks and nerds are always getting in to fights and in the film 'Superbad' (2007) where the boys are obsessed over the girls. This shows that the stereotypes of teenagers are being reinforced in these films and Hollywood institutions are not challenging them but is doing what the media is concerned about. However, in the film 'High School Musical' (2006), teenagers are represented as passionate towards their singing which is a positive representation of teenagers. This relates to the semiotics theory as different interpretations are being created in different films which has resulted to the audience having different views of teenagers. This relates to Lewis who believes that "teen films are addressing major issues like alienation, delinquency, rebellion, sex and gender, consumption and nostalgia" [3]. This connotes that different types of ten films are looking at different issues which results to many different interpretations of teenagers from the audience.
“During the course of the twentieth century in America and elsewhere in the industrialized west, a series of social policies, practices and institutions have increasingly begun to treat those under 20 as both distinct and separate from adults, two key terms have emerged in America to mark it: ‘adolescence’ (term used by psychologist G.Stanley Hall in 1904) and ‘teenager’ (a term first used in the popular press in the 1920’s).” [4]. This connotes that over time the stereotypes of teenagers has changed in the media as in the 20th century, this representation of teenagers begun as they were stereotyped negatively which resulted to a moral panic. This representation is shown in films such as ’17 Again’ where teenagers are causing trouble within school by getting in to fights and more interested in ‘popularity’ and girls which is shown through the character Mike (Zac Efron) who has little interest in education. "In parallel fashion, Hollywood has always made films about young people (Considine, 1981). They have also made films designed or presumed to cater for what it called 'the juve trade' - juvenile spectators." [5]. This was the case while comparing this contemporary text to a historical text, there was a difference in the stereotypes of teenagers from how it is now which was shown as Andrew, the jock in the film is continuously threatening to kill and stab Bender, the rebel in the film whereas no violence as such takes place. This connotes that even though the representation has changed of teenagers over time to an even more negative representation which shows that it is as if Hollywood is producing films on teenagers for fashion as if teenagers are a trend. This relates to the social factors as it connotes that the emphasise of these Hollywood films are resulting to teenagers becoming a social topic with the public and youth groups continuously being targeted as if they do not fit in to society which shows that teenagers representation has changed in the media negatively from a historical view.
[1]. Nicholos, Joe, Price, John (1998): Advanced Studies in Media, United Kingdom; Nelson. Page 44.
[2]. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil, Calvert, Ben, French, Liam, Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies The Key Concepts, London; Routledge. Page 229.
[3]. Blandford, Steve (2001): The Film Studies Dictionary, London; Arnold. Page 238.
[4] Neale, Steve (2000): Genre and Hollywood, London; Routledge. Page 119.
[5] Cook, Pam, Bernink, Mieke eds (1999): The Cinema Book 2nd Edition, London; BFI. Page 218.
The representation of teenagers has continously known to change over the years within the media. Teenagers have been represented from positively to negatively which has created a moral panic in the media. This essay will be exploring the representation of teenagers in Hollwood productions through the three platforms broadcast, emedia and print. This will allow me to look at the different representations that are being created of teenagers in Hollywood productions as the contemporary texts that will be useful in my investigation are texts such as '17 Again' (2009) compared to other Hollywood texts. This shows that this essay will focus upon looking at the representation of teenagers in depth in Hollywood productions and see whether this stereotype is being reinforced or challenged continously. Murphy believes that ideas become stereotypes that are "unrealistic" and "unsatisfactory" [1] which could be the case when looking at teenagers that will be explored in this essay.
"Today it is widely recognised that stereotypes are inaccurate, simplistic generalisations about a group of individuals that may lead to particular perceptions of the group by others" [2]. Is this the case with teenagers? Youths have continously been represented as delinquent, immature and illmannered within movies due to the personality that has been created. This representation is shown through films such as '17 Again' where teenagers are getting in to fights as the jocks and nerds are always getting in to fights and in the film 'Superbad' (2007) where the boys are obsessed over the girls. This shows that the stereotypes of teenagers are being reinforced in these films and Hollywood institutions are not challenging them but is doing what the media is concerned about. However, in the film 'High School Musical' (2006), teenagers are represented as passionate towards their singing which is a positive representation of teenagers. This relates to the semiotics theory as different interpretations are being created in different films which has resulted to the audience having different views of teenagers. This relates to Lewis who believes that "teen films are addressing major issues like alienation, delinquency, rebellion, sex and gender, consumption and nostalgia" [3]. This connotes that different types of ten films are looking at different issues which results to many different interpretations of teenagers from the audience.
“During the course of the twentieth century in America and elsewhere in the industrialized west, a series of social policies, practices and institutions have increasingly begun to treat those under 20 as both distinct and separate from adults, two key terms have emerged in America to mark it: ‘adolescence’ (term used by psychologist G.Stanley Hall in 1904) and ‘teenager’ (a term first used in the popular press in the 1920’s).” [4]. This connotes that over time the stereotypes of teenagers has changed in the media as in the 20th century, this representation of teenagers begun as they were stereotyped negatively which resulted to a moral panic. This representation is shown in films such as ’17 Again’ where teenagers are causing trouble within school by getting in to fights and more interested in ‘popularity’ and girls which is shown through the character Mike (Zac Efron) who has little interest in education. "In parallel fashion, Hollywood has always made films about young people (Considine, 1981). They have also made films designed or presumed to cater for what it called 'the juve trade' - juvenile spectators." [5]. This was the case while comparing this contemporary text to a historical text, there was a difference in the stereotypes of teenagers from how it is now which was shown as Andrew, the jock in the film is continuously threatening to kill and stab Bender, the rebel in the film whereas no violence as such takes place. This connotes that even though the representation has changed of teenagers over time to an even more negative representation which shows that it is as if Hollywood is producing films on teenagers for fashion as if teenagers are a trend. This relates to the social factors as it connotes that the emphasise of these Hollywood films are resulting to teenagers becoming a social topic with the public and youth groups continuously being targeted as if they do not fit in to society which shows that teenagers representation has changed in the media negatively from a historical view.
[1]. Nicholos, Joe, Price, John (1998): Advanced Studies in Media, United Kingdom; Nelson. Page 44.
[2]. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil, Calvert, Ben, French, Liam, Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies The Key Concepts, London; Routledge. Page 229.
[3]. Blandford, Steve (2001): The Film Studies Dictionary, London; Arnold. Page 238.
[4] Neale, Steve (2000): Genre and Hollywood, London; Routledge. Page 119.
[5] Cook, Pam, Bernink, Mieke eds (1999): The Cinema Book 2nd Edition, London; BFI. Page 218.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Task 5 - Essay Plan . . .
Para 1: Introduction
In this paragraph, I will introduce what my critical investigation is and explain that I will be coming to a conclusion to see how the representation of teenagers has changed over time and are teenagers being represented in a positive way or negative way. I will be also mentioning in this paragraph that I will be looking at this on the basis of a historical text and a recent text which will allow me to see the difference of the way in which teen genre films are being shown. (G, R, H)
Para 2: What are the stereotypes of teenagers?
In this paragraph, I will be explaining the basic representations that has begun of teenagers and how this is being influenced by different institutions in Hollywood as I will be able to see the difference is how institutions are portraying teenagers for example, are the reinforcing stereotypes or challenging them. In this paragraph, I will also mention the texts that I will be looking at that have represented teenagers which will be contemporary texts and this will realte to the semiotics theory as what connotations are being created of teenagers. For example, 17 Again, Super Bad and High School Musical. I will explain them briefly to show what representations are being created. In this paragraph, I can also fit in the quote "Lewis (1992) sees the teen film as addressing major issues like alienation, delinquency, rebellion, sex and gender, consumption and nostalgia". (G, R, I)
Para 3: How has the representation of teenagers changed over time?
In this paragraph, I will be comparing my historical and current text which will mean that I can look at how the representation of teenagers has changed in Hollywood over time. This will make it more clear as to what changes have occured over time and how the clothing, attitude of teenagers have changed over the time and the use of propps. I will also look at SHEP in this paragraph and see what is changing and happening. This will result to me being able to see is there a positive change or a negative change. This will link to the news and different realities issue as the way in which teenagers are being represented in films, is it reflecting the news view of teenagers? and it will also relate to the violence in the media issue as is there more violence in current films now. Also, if the change is negative, I will be able to fit in this quote "During the course of the twentieth century in America and elsewhere in the industrialized west, a series of social policies, practices and institutions have increasingly begun to treat those under 20 as both distinct and separate from adults, two key terms have emerged in America to mark it: 'adolescence' (term used by psychologist G.Stanley Hall in 1904) and 'teenager' (a term first used in the popular press in the 1920's)." (M, R A, S ,H, E, P)
Para 4: Is this representation resulting to moral panics and all Hollywood productions looking at teenagers in this way?
In this paragraph, I will be looking at whether this representation of teenagers is causing a moral panic and resulting to all Hollywood institutions representing teenagers in this way. This will link to the marxism and hegemony theory as it looks at the way in which the representations can construct the view of the audience. I will need to look at how teenagers are typically being represented in Hollywood films and how this is having a impact on the audience. This will link to the quote "Stan Cohen argued that the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way, thus creating "folk devils" and were reported in a way to create a moral panic." (R, A)
Para 5: Conclusion
In my last paragraph I will be coming to a conclusion and looking at how teenagers have been represented in Hollywood films and how it has changed over time. I will be concluding whether it is a negative representation or positive that has changed over time and what are the social factors concerned with this. This will allow me to come to a decision of the representation of teenagers based on whether it has changed in a good way or not. "Martin Barker (1998) goes further, to the extent of dismissing the concept of the stereotype as a 'useless tool for investigating texts'. Its first objection is that stereotypes are condemned both for misrepresenting the 'real world'." I can fit in this quote in this paragraph to back up what I am saying in my conclusion. (R,S, H)
In this paragraph, I will introduce what my critical investigation is and explain that I will be coming to a conclusion to see how the representation of teenagers has changed over time and are teenagers being represented in a positive way or negative way. I will be also mentioning in this paragraph that I will be looking at this on the basis of a historical text and a recent text which will allow me to see the difference of the way in which teen genre films are being shown. (G, R, H)
Para 2: What are the stereotypes of teenagers?
In this paragraph, I will be explaining the basic representations that has begun of teenagers and how this is being influenced by different institutions in Hollywood as I will be able to see the difference is how institutions are portraying teenagers for example, are the reinforcing stereotypes or challenging them. In this paragraph, I will also mention the texts that I will be looking at that have represented teenagers which will be contemporary texts and this will realte to the semiotics theory as what connotations are being created of teenagers. For example, 17 Again, Super Bad and High School Musical. I will explain them briefly to show what representations are being created. In this paragraph, I can also fit in the quote "Lewis (1992) sees the teen film as addressing major issues like alienation, delinquency, rebellion, sex and gender, consumption and nostalgia". (G, R, I)
Para 3: How has the representation of teenagers changed over time?
In this paragraph, I will be comparing my historical and current text which will mean that I can look at how the representation of teenagers has changed in Hollywood over time. This will make it more clear as to what changes have occured over time and how the clothing, attitude of teenagers have changed over the time and the use of propps. I will also look at SHEP in this paragraph and see what is changing and happening. This will result to me being able to see is there a positive change or a negative change. This will link to the news and different realities issue as the way in which teenagers are being represented in films, is it reflecting the news view of teenagers? and it will also relate to the violence in the media issue as is there more violence in current films now. Also, if the change is negative, I will be able to fit in this quote "During the course of the twentieth century in America and elsewhere in the industrialized west, a series of social policies, practices and institutions have increasingly begun to treat those under 20 as both distinct and separate from adults, two key terms have emerged in America to mark it: 'adolescence' (term used by psychologist G.Stanley Hall in 1904) and 'teenager' (a term first used in the popular press in the 1920's)." (M, R A, S ,H, E, P)
Para 4: Is this representation resulting to moral panics and all Hollywood productions looking at teenagers in this way?
In this paragraph, I will be looking at whether this representation of teenagers is causing a moral panic and resulting to all Hollywood institutions representing teenagers in this way. This will link to the marxism and hegemony theory as it looks at the way in which the representations can construct the view of the audience. I will need to look at how teenagers are typically being represented in Hollywood films and how this is having a impact on the audience. This will link to the quote "Stan Cohen argued that the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way, thus creating "folk devils" and were reported in a way to create a moral panic." (R, A)
Para 5: Conclusion
In my last paragraph I will be coming to a conclusion and looking at how teenagers have been represented in Hollywood films and how it has changed over time. I will be concluding whether it is a negative representation or positive that has changed over time and what are the social factors concerned with this. This will allow me to come to a decision of the representation of teenagers based on whether it has changed in a good way or not. "Martin Barker (1998) goes further, to the extent of dismissing the concept of the stereotype as a 'useless tool for investigating texts'. Its first objection is that stereotypes are condemned both for misrepresenting the 'real world'." I can fit in this quote in this paragraph to back up what I am saying in my conclusion. (R,S, H)
Task 1 - Textual Analysis. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhJrN3B6J1M
I will be writing about the clip shown above which is a clip from the movie 17 Again. This is a movie that looks at teenagers which will be a film that will allow me to look at how teenagers are being represented in Hollywood movies.
At the beginning of the scene, the audience is shown Zac Efron and his friend (Alex) and they are shown in the canteen. This creates the atmosphere that it is based on typical teenagers at school having their lunch. There is a long shot at the beginning of the scene which shows Zac Efron and Alex from a distance. The purpose of this long shot is so that the audience can see the environment in which the two characters are as they are in the school canteen which is full of teenagers. The scene begins of with allowing the audience to be familiar with the two characters personality as the teenagers begin talking about their parents knowing each other. This then follows on to Zac Efron saying to Alex "we should look after each other" which connotes that teenagers need support within school and do not prefer to be alone as they would prefer someone to be there for them. This is the first stereotype that is created of teenagers within the scene that shows how teenagers are. Alex then responds by saying "next time you can get there before they tape me to the toilet". This connotes that Alex is being bullied within school and instantly shows his position in the film which is a "geek". This shows that teenagers in Hollywood productions are being split up in to the "popular" group and the "unpopular" group.
While Alex and Zac Efron are having lunch, they are shown in a medium shot which allows the audience to see what a typical teenage lunch is like. Zac and Efron begin to talk about a teenage girl who is called Nicole. When Alex refers to her as "the head cheerleader", he shows the audience clearly that the head cheerleader cannot be seen as a "geek" like him. This shows that within Hollywood films, teenagers are being separated in to groups of what then characterises them for the whole time that they are in school. This results to bullying and not being popular in school. This relates to the issue and debate of representation and stereotyping as it shows that teenagers are being in a way discriminated against due to their position within school. It also connotes that Hollywood productions are stereotyping teenagers as having a set of groups of teenagers which consist of jocks, cheerleaders, geeks and the popular teenagers. This is usual in Hollywood films as Alex is dreaming over Nicole the head cheerleader when he knows that he stands no chance of being recognised by her.
This looks at the audience theory and shows that this specific scene is attracting the audience as they can then relate to what is happening as this is common between teenagers. This also means that the people that may watch this film that are not teenagers would then be injected ideas about how teenagers are viewed which will relate to the Hypodermic Needle theory. This shows that due to the way in which teenagers are being represented in Hollywood movies, it has resulted in teenagers being seen as a group of people that are in "certain" groups. For example, the "geeks" may result in being stereotyped as hardworking by the audience whereas the "jocks" may be stereotyped as negative and always causing problems. This connotes that by the different roles in Hollywood films, it has taken an impact in the way that the public view teenagers.
As the scene progresses, the "jocks" are shown to the audience from a long shot to a medium shot as it shows them walking in as if they own the place. This then stereotypes them as trouble makers as Stan the "lead" jock is shown in the middle of the group and grabs a sandwich out of someones hand and gets away with it. This then results to a pattern in Hollywood films as the jocks are mainly represented negatively as causing problems and assuming that they are better than everyone else in the film. Zac Efron then gets in to a fight with Stan for just making eye contact and Alex also warns him and says "don't make eye contact with him". This gives the impression to viewers that jocks are so frightening that they should do what they want and everyone else should sit back. This results to a further stereotype of teenagers being represented negatively in particular due to jocks. This represents them as causing trouble and being too arrogant and think too much of themselves which is a representation that is commonly created through Hollywood productions.
Overall, this shows that by looking at this clip it shows a range of ways that teenagers are being represented in Hollywood productions as they are being represented in many different groups such as the geeks, the jocks, the popular teenagers, the unpopular teenagers and etc. This has resulted to this typical representation of teenagers occurring in Hollywood productions which is shown in the clip of 17 Again as in a four minute clip, all these representations of teenagers are being shown. This shows that teenagers are being represented in a slight negative way in Hollywood productions as they are firstly divided in to different groups and they are then seen to be getting in to fights and causing trouble.
I will be writing about the clip shown above which is a clip from the movie 17 Again. This is a movie that looks at teenagers which will be a film that will allow me to look at how teenagers are being represented in Hollywood movies.
At the beginning of the scene, the audience is shown Zac Efron and his friend (Alex) and they are shown in the canteen. This creates the atmosphere that it is based on typical teenagers at school having their lunch. There is a long shot at the beginning of the scene which shows Zac Efron and Alex from a distance. The purpose of this long shot is so that the audience can see the environment in which the two characters are as they are in the school canteen which is full of teenagers. The scene begins of with allowing the audience to be familiar with the two characters personality as the teenagers begin talking about their parents knowing each other. This then follows on to Zac Efron saying to Alex "we should look after each other" which connotes that teenagers need support within school and do not prefer to be alone as they would prefer someone to be there for them. This is the first stereotype that is created of teenagers within the scene that shows how teenagers are. Alex then responds by saying "next time you can get there before they tape me to the toilet". This connotes that Alex is being bullied within school and instantly shows his position in the film which is a "geek". This shows that teenagers in Hollywood productions are being split up in to the "popular" group and the "unpopular" group.
While Alex and Zac Efron are having lunch, they are shown in a medium shot which allows the audience to see what a typical teenage lunch is like. Zac and Efron begin to talk about a teenage girl who is called Nicole. When Alex refers to her as "the head cheerleader", he shows the audience clearly that the head cheerleader cannot be seen as a "geek" like him. This shows that within Hollywood films, teenagers are being separated in to groups of what then characterises them for the whole time that they are in school. This results to bullying and not being popular in school. This relates to the issue and debate of representation and stereotyping as it shows that teenagers are being in a way discriminated against due to their position within school. It also connotes that Hollywood productions are stereotyping teenagers as having a set of groups of teenagers which consist of jocks, cheerleaders, geeks and the popular teenagers. This is usual in Hollywood films as Alex is dreaming over Nicole the head cheerleader when he knows that he stands no chance of being recognised by her.
This looks at the audience theory and shows that this specific scene is attracting the audience as they can then relate to what is happening as this is common between teenagers. This also means that the people that may watch this film that are not teenagers would then be injected ideas about how teenagers are viewed which will relate to the Hypodermic Needle theory. This shows that due to the way in which teenagers are being represented in Hollywood movies, it has resulted in teenagers being seen as a group of people that are in "certain" groups. For example, the "geeks" may result in being stereotyped as hardworking by the audience whereas the "jocks" may be stereotyped as negative and always causing problems. This connotes that by the different roles in Hollywood films, it has taken an impact in the way that the public view teenagers.
As the scene progresses, the "jocks" are shown to the audience from a long shot to a medium shot as it shows them walking in as if they own the place. This then stereotypes them as trouble makers as Stan the "lead" jock is shown in the middle of the group and grabs a sandwich out of someones hand and gets away with it. This then results to a pattern in Hollywood films as the jocks are mainly represented negatively as causing problems and assuming that they are better than everyone else in the film. Zac Efron then gets in to a fight with Stan for just making eye contact and Alex also warns him and says "don't make eye contact with him". This gives the impression to viewers that jocks are so frightening that they should do what they want and everyone else should sit back. This results to a further stereotype of teenagers being represented negatively in particular due to jocks. This represents them as causing trouble and being too arrogant and think too much of themselves which is a representation that is commonly created through Hollywood productions.
Overall, this shows that by looking at this clip it shows a range of ways that teenagers are being represented in Hollywood productions as they are being represented in many different groups such as the geeks, the jocks, the popular teenagers, the unpopular teenagers and etc. This has resulted to this typical representation of teenagers occurring in Hollywood productions which is shown in the clip of 17 Again as in a four minute clip, all these representations of teenagers are being shown. This shows that teenagers are being represented in a slight negative way in Hollywood productions as they are firstly divided in to different groups and they are then seen to be getting in to fights and causing trouble.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Task 3 - Historical Text Analysis & Research . . .
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Who would have thought that the John Hughes classic The Breakfast Club would still be Hollywood’s best attempt at understanding and then destroying stereotypes? Most of Hollywood’s forays into this realm are nauseatingly patronizing and unrealistic. However, a teen movie out of the alleged “Decade of Greed” successfully shows us what it is like to be different and, at the same time, how we are the same.
The Breakfast Club is a collection of high school students who attend a Saturday detention for each of their indiscretions. The movie introduces us to the characters as the stereotypes that each student considers the other: the Nerd (Hall), the Beauty (Ringwald), the Jock (Estevez), the Rebel (Nelson), and the recluse (Sheedy). Also, we are introduced to another stereotype; the mean overbearing teacher. Paul Gleason (the KING of all character actors) is Mr. Vernon, the teacher in charge of Saturday detention.
While in detention, Mr. Vernon gives them a simple assignment. They must write an essay about “who you think you are.” Each person has a good idea of what the other is. Yet, through several discussions and arguments, they learn that they have more similarities than at first sight. The Rebel, John Bender, initially focuses his anger at Andrew the Jock and Claire the Beauty. His outward hatred towards their “good life” masks his hurt about his own life. In reality, Claire just wishes her parents gave a damn about her, and Andrew wishes he had the guts to stand up to his overbearing father. All three seem to think Brian the Nerd is the “perfect son” and doesn’t have the same problems. My only character complaint is that Allison the Recluse is not developed nearly as well as the other cast members. Her problems are more self-created in order try to get attention but at the same time, keep people away.
Each has his or her own problems and as insignificant as they might appear, to a teenager, they are everything. This is what this movie captures the best. If anything, the teenage years are a time of self-consciousness and angst. When we look back at it, it seems a little ridiculous. Yet, at that point in our lives, it is important. Parents don’t get it and teachers don’t get it.
The movie does an outstanding job of deconstructing the stereotypes of the kids. However, The Breakfast Club misses a chance to do the same with stereotypes about adults. Mr. Vernon is almost comical in how mean-spirited he is. The typical mean teacher who is more put off by kids than anything. During a scene with Mr. Vernon and the custodian, Carl (Kapelos), Hughes begins to get inside the character of the teacher. When he bemoans that the students have changed, Carl tells him “No, you’ve changed”. Hughes stopped there but he could have introduced humanity into Mr. Vernon several times by having him at least show a facial expression of regret for his actions. Actually, there is one brief scene. After a verbal tête-à-tête with Bender early in the movie, you see Mr. Vernon pause just for a second as he leaves the detention hall. Yet, the movie does not expound on this. I suspect that Hughes planned to develop this subplot but dropped it when he realized his target audience had zero interest in a non-stereotypical teacher.
Some critique the ending of the movie for being a little too contrived. Those people weren’t paying attention during the middle of the film. In a normal Hollywood movie, they would have all become best buddies. This movie, on the other hand, admits that come Monday, they probably won’t be friends. The biggest truth about high school is missed here. Most kids, while saying they want to be seen as more than a stereotype, will never take that risk. Come Monday, they will each return to their comfort zone rather than risk the ridicule of their “friends”. So while the ending leaves us with the idea that the Jock hooks up with the Recluse, the Rebel has found his Princess, and the Nerd, er…might have a couple of friends, we could also leave with the opposite idea. Come Monday, the Jock and the Beauty might be back with their kind, the Rebel might go back to hating everybody, and the Nerd and Recluse might still be ignored in the hallway. Yet, Hughes leaves that to us. How you feel about the ending might be due to which stereotype you most represent yourself with.
(Source: http://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/The-Breakfast-Club-440.html)
The Breakfast Club is a collection of high school students who attend a Saturday detention for each of their indiscretions. The movie introduces us to the characters as the stereotypes that each student considers the other: the Nerd (Hall), the Beauty (Ringwald), the Jock (Estevez), the Rebel (Nelson), and the recluse (Sheedy). Also, we are introduced to another stereotype; the mean overbearing teacher. Paul Gleason (the KING of all character actors) is Mr. Vernon, the teacher in charge of Saturday detention.
While in detention, Mr. Vernon gives them a simple assignment. They must write an essay about “who you think you are.” Each person has a good idea of what the other is. Yet, through several discussions and arguments, they learn that they have more similarities than at first sight. The Rebel, John Bender, initially focuses his anger at Andrew the Jock and Claire the Beauty. His outward hatred towards their “good life” masks his hurt about his own life. In reality, Claire just wishes her parents gave a damn about her, and Andrew wishes he had the guts to stand up to his overbearing father. All three seem to think Brian the Nerd is the “perfect son” and doesn’t have the same problems. My only character complaint is that Allison the Recluse is not developed nearly as well as the other cast members. Her problems are more self-created in order try to get attention but at the same time, keep people away.
Each has his or her own problems and as insignificant as they might appear, to a teenager, they are everything. This is what this movie captures the best. If anything, the teenage years are a time of self-consciousness and angst. When we look back at it, it seems a little ridiculous. Yet, at that point in our lives, it is important. Parents don’t get it and teachers don’t get it.
The movie does an outstanding job of deconstructing the stereotypes of the kids. However, The Breakfast Club misses a chance to do the same with stereotypes about adults. Mr. Vernon is almost comical in how mean-spirited he is. The typical mean teacher who is more put off by kids than anything. During a scene with Mr. Vernon and the custodian, Carl (Kapelos), Hughes begins to get inside the character of the teacher. When he bemoans that the students have changed, Carl tells him “No, you’ve changed”. Hughes stopped there but he could have introduced humanity into Mr. Vernon several times by having him at least show a facial expression of regret for his actions. Actually, there is one brief scene. After a verbal tête-à-tête with Bender early in the movie, you see Mr. Vernon pause just for a second as he leaves the detention hall. Yet, the movie does not expound on this. I suspect that Hughes planned to develop this subplot but dropped it when he realized his target audience had zero interest in a non-stereotypical teacher.
Some critique the ending of the movie for being a little too contrived. Those people weren’t paying attention during the middle of the film. In a normal Hollywood movie, they would have all become best buddies. This movie, on the other hand, admits that come Monday, they probably won’t be friends. The biggest truth about high school is missed here. Most kids, while saying they want to be seen as more than a stereotype, will never take that risk. Come Monday, they will each return to their comfort zone rather than risk the ridicule of their “friends”. So while the ending leaves us with the idea that the Jock hooks up with the Recluse, the Rebel has found his Princess, and the Nerd, er…might have a couple of friends, we could also leave with the opposite idea. Come Monday, the Jock and the Beauty might be back with their kind, the Rebel might go back to hating everybody, and the Nerd and Recluse might still be ignored in the hallway. Yet, Hughes leaves that to us. How you feel about the ending might be due to which stereotype you most represent yourself with.
(Source: http://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/The-Breakfast-Club-440.html)
This is a useful text for me to look at as it is a 1985 film based on teenagers which shows a range of similarities and differences to how teenagers are portrayed now. This is shown as in the film teenagers are not represented as negatively as they are now. For example, there is still the typical prom which teenagers look forward to, the school princess, teenagers getting in to trouble, the school criminal which shows that the typical stereotypes of teenagers are still being used of teenagers in film. There are many similarities and differences in this teenage film based on what teenage films are like now...
The similarities of The Breakfast Club compared to films now:
* Teenage films are still showing teenagers getting in to trouble. For example, teenagers in the film The Breakfast Club are in detention for doing something wrong which is still the case in films now as in teenage films, teenagers are always being portrayed as getting in to trouble and misbehaving which results in to them getting detention.
* There is usually a jock who is shown in teenage films. This is shown through the character Andrew in the film who is a jock. This is also the case in films now as there are teenagers films where there are jocks. For example, in the film SuperBad. These are the people who are usually popular within school which is common in films and this is shown through Andrew.
Differences of The Breakfast Club compare to films now . . .
* The difference is that in The Breakfast Club, Andrew the jock is continuously threatening to kill and stab Bender but in reality nothing violent happens between them. This is different from teenage films now as teenage films now show clear violent scenes between teenagers. For example, scenes now show stabbing and violent fighting between teens whereas in The Breakfast Club this is not shown. This connotes that this is a large difference between films then and now as teenage films have become more violent. This shows that genre and society has changed as it has become more clear on what is being shown rather than films having a limit which has now gone as teenage films are more violent.
* Another difference of The Breakfast Club compared to films now is the clothing of teenagers. This is shown as in The Breakfast Club, teenagers are dresses appropriately that the audience is not made aware completely who the rebel is whereas now it is completely clear to the audience. This is shown as teenagers now in films where hoodies and dark colours which stereotypes them as violent and aggressive. However, in this film teenagers are not dressed in dark colours and are not wearing hoodies which shows that this is another difference as the characters personality is not made clear to the audience but it is up to them to work out who the rebel is. This shows that genre has changed over time as the clothing of teenagers has also changed.
Overall, this shows that the genre of films has changed over time as before there used to be less crime shown and aggressiveness whereas there is more now. This is shown as in The Breakfast Club, teenagers do not be aggressive to each other whereas now in films gun scenes are shown and stabbing and violently beating each other up. This connotes that the way in which teenagers have been represented has changed over time due to teenagers being portrayed more violently in films such as knife crime and etc.
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