T HE T EEN F ILM G ENRE What makes a teen movie, a teen movie?

C OMMON T HEMES Anti-bullying/peer pressure Testing friendships Rebellion against authority Generational gap between adults and teens Challenging values in society Gaining a sense of identity A quest for true love Break-ups Rites of passage Tolerance of difference Multi-culturalism

C OMMON S ETTINGS School ground and locker areas Sports oval, gymnasium, change rooms Classrooms and Principal’s office Teenage bedrooms within the family home Leisure grounds such as the beach Driving in a car or a drag strip Local hangout, disco or prom/dance

C OMMON C HARACTERS Most of the characters are stereotypical and may be represented negatively or positively. These include: Parents Teens with a strong sense of identity Police officers Popular teens Authority figures Good-looking teens Teachers Older siblings Rebellious teens Ugly teens Victims/disempowered teens Unpopular teens Compliant teens Bullies/bystanders Quirky, comical or annoying sidekick Sexually active teens nerds

C OMMON P LOTLINES Good versus evil – positive and negative characters conflict with each other; protagonists usually win in the end. Personal journeys of the main characters, overcoming a physical hurdle and eventually winning a reward – finding love, true friendship or a sense of self. A mixture of leisure pursuits that create a multi- layered climax or conflict – a pay back, drug/alcohol abuse. A drag race, a gang fight, the school prom, going to a party, a grand final of a sports event.

H OW ARE MOVIES APPEALING TO TEEN AUDIENCES ? Films like fashion and music and language reflect the society they are produced in, therefore they contain: The promotion or changing of popular fashion styles every year – eg beehive hairdos in 60s or pearls and lace in the 80s The latest trends are represented – skateboards, iPads, or Xboxes Popular or contemporary music Catchphrases, slang language and mannerisms of their icons.