Teen Genre PowerPoint

Teen Genre PowerPoint

• 1.
  Introduction to Introduction to theTeen Genre the Teen Genre By Zsanett Stockdale
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  0 As agroup, we created a mind map of elements we expected to witness in a media product, of the teen genre. We created this before any research and analysis, as we wanted to see what we knew due to our pre existing personal knowledge. 0 The blue post it notes represent key themes, and narratives. The yellow post it notes offer traditional character, whereas the pink ones offer props, and the purple offers settings. The white post it notes contain teenage films, differing in their subgenre (if any), and any other elements separate from the categories provided, which we believed were commonly found in the teen genre. For example, camera angles and music.
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  Defining A TeenGenre 0 The teen genre, is a genre that is ultimately targeted at teenagers. Audiences of alternate ages can also be targeted and attracted to the media product, however this genres primary target audience is teenagers, including all genders. A teenager varies from 13-19, therefore many films are produced, which offer diverse storylines due to the large life stage. For example, film ratings such as 15 and 18 are all included in this teen genre, however they offer opposing narratives only suitable for the ages stated. Teen films can also be restricted 12 and 12A, however offer a more ‘preteen’ approach. As a result of this, the teen genre is very broad and inviting to numerous narratives, themes and opportunities, which allows it to maintain it’s popularity with audiences. 0 Due to their targeting of teenage audiences, teen media products reflect the lives of teens, through their use of mise-en-scene, editing, camerawork, sound and narrative, use of language, dialogue and tone. Macro elements, such as distribution companies and characters are also considered depending on the media products individual approach, such as a teen indie film, is more likely to be distributed by an independent company, rather than a glamorised Hollywood one, this works the same was as with a publishing company for a book or novel.
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  Key Themes andPlots 0 Plots often reflect situations that would occur in teenagers lives, such as coming of age, conflict (with parents, school etc.), first love, alienation, rebellion and ‘fitting in’. Alongside these plots key themes that often occur in the teen genre is substance abuse, physical and mental health, violence, teenage pregnancy, sex, gangs and ‘turf wars’, relationships, teenage pressures (exams, college, university, appearance) and peer pressure. 0 The teen genre may differ in their approach, as a result of their specific target audience. For example, Gossip Girl may not appeal to working class teenagers, as the TV series features the lives of rich, upper class teens in America. Nonetheless, these key plots and themes remain, however may be altered to reflect their desired audience. Similarly, this continues throughout other elements like dialogue, costume and props.
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  Representation and Characters 0Stereotypes are a huge convention featured in the teen genre, which are often based on previous media examples, such as films, TV series or even the portray of teenagers in the news. The use of these stereotypes allows audiences to identify characters more easily as they’re constantly faced with the over simplified image of idea of the person. It also argued that stereotypes are common in the teen genre and the overall portray of teens, due to the adults creating and producing these products. Therefore, adults reflect their stereotypical concerns and anxieties over young people (Giroux). Character stereotypes include: the new boy/girl, the ‘it’ girl, the outsider, the athlete, the nerd, the bully, the class clown, the rebel or misfit, and so forth.
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  Mise-En-Scene 0 Settings areusually of locations which are inhabited by the majority of teenagers. Such as high schools, including the canteen, gym, corridors, particular classroom, common room or the front of the school. This applies to colleges and universities too. Characters houses are common, usually concerning sleepovers, house parties or the dinning table/room. A local, highlighted area may also be used such as a local park or beach, inhabited by young people. 0 Props traditionally incorporated into the teen genre are of: technological devices, such as mobile/smart phones, laptops, Ipads, video cameras etc. Alcohol, dugs, weapons and sexual referenced items are also commonly shown. Props relate to the character, therefore they differ, however props such as exam papers, books, school bags and stationery are common due to their association with teenagers and their position at school, college, university or sixth form. 0 Costume and make up rely heavily on the plot and subgenre, however the traditional elements are of branded items (real or fake), tracksuits, revealing clothing's (especially concerning female teens), ‘hoodies’, caps, trainers, subtle but defined make up and ordinary hair. A product aimed at working class teens may be described as wearing fake branded tracksuits, whereas a product targeting the middle to upper class may have branded, real costumes, to emphasise their wealth.
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  Dialogue, Editing andCamerawork 0 Slang and jargon are frequently spoken and used within the teen genre, due to their heavy associated with younger people. Stereotypically younger people are known for their use of ‘poor language and vocabulary’, and instead inherit the use of slang and jargon, creating words and phrases suited to their age. These are often shown in teen genre media products to show relation to young people, as well as show the divide between different ages. This doesn’t have to be spoken in a ‘chav’ like way, as it offers the opportunity for all teenagers of all classes to adopt this use of dialogue. 0 Editing in film and TV trailers, differs due to the content of the film itself, as well as it’s subgenre. However, jump cuts are often used to show distortion, especially scenes focussing on parties, substance abuse and mental illness. Some scenes are fast paced to reflect the fastness of youth. 0 Establishing shots are often used at the start of the trailer to show the setting, followed by a long shot to reveal the characters connection. Such as a teenage in a school setting. Extreme close ups are used during more chaotic scenes, such as during the influence of alcohol or drugs. Two shots are used typically to show the relationship between the characters. This could be of a bully and the victim, or a parent and child or teacher and student.
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  Insight into TheHistory of The Teen Genre 0 The teen genre came to of age in the 1950’s, initially in America. This came shortly after the birth of the concept of the teenager in 1940, after the baby boom post World War Two. The change in social attitude and the booming economy post-war, led to the emergence of the teenagers. American films began producing films focussing around the concept of teenagers, such as the 1953 The Wild One. The film followed a group of bikers, who terrorised small towns for fun. In 1955 Blackboard Jungle was released, following an ex veteran become a teacher at an all boys, delinquent school. This followed the conventions of the setting being a high school, featuring corridors and a specific classroom, as well as the use of violence and deviant behaviour. 0 1970 has a flourish of successful teen films, at the hand of their subgenres. These were subject to teen horrors (Carrie 1976), romance (Love story 1970), and John Travolta's musicals (Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978). 0 Films such as Scream (1996), Clueless (1996), Romeo + Juliet (1996) and 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) began the most well known and approved teen films in the 90’s still famously loved to this day. 0 Teen films, (and other media products) remain just as popular with the growth of technology, diverse storylines, numerous subgenres and almost limited opportunities. Some of the most well praised and successful teen products are: John Green’s: The Fault in Our Stars (2012) - book, High School Musical Series (2006) - book and films and Mean Girls (2004) – film.
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  Teen Subgenres 0 Afterthe success of teen films in the mid 1900’s, teen subgenres began to develop during the 70’s amongst numerous media products. Contemporary and pre existing teen subgenres include: 0 Teen Musicals - Songs sung by the character are interwoven into the narrative, the characters are therefore often teens. E.g. High School Musical (2006), Camp Rock (2008), Teen Beach Movie (2012). 0 Teen Thriller – Films with exciting plots, continuously inflicting suspense on viewers, using teenage characters. E.g. Prom Night (2008), Woman in Back(2012), Unfriended (2012). 0 Teen Comedy – Films main emphasise is on humour, a funny side to teenage life. E.g. The Edge of Seventeen (2016), American Pie (2012), The Duff (2015). 0 Teen Drama – Intended to be more serious than comical, looks at the real pressures teenagers face. E.g. My Mad Fat Diary – TV series (2013-2016), If I Stay (2014), Cyberbully (2011). 0 Teen Romance – Focus on relationships and love, usually that of first time loves. E.g. The Fault in Our Stars - book and film (2012), A Walk To Remember (2002), Everything Everything- book and film (2017). 0 Teen Sci-Fi – Looks at imaginary concepts with the use of technology. E.g. The Maze Runner (2014). 0 Teen coming of age films - Focuses on the growth of a protagonist from youth to adulthood. E.g. Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Clueless (1995), 13 Going on 30 (2004).
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  Teen Drama 0 Afterlooking at the teen subgenres, I have selected potential subgenres for my project, that I believe are the three most appropriate and achievable. I have picked a single film for each, as this will contribute to the creation of my film trailer, which I will analyse, provide a synopsis, and a conclusion on how the codes and conventions of a teen film were followed, and altered due to the subgenre. 0 Cyberbully is a 2011 teen drama, who tells the story about a teenager getting bullied online, via her social media account, ‘ Cliquesters’. The young girl joins the site after receiving her own laptop for her birthday, however it brings doesn’t but misery to her life. The film touches on mental illness, as it shows scenes of attempted suicide, and the deep depression the young girl is facing. This all links to the internet and the cause of cyberbullying. This automatically reflects the teen genre due to the props of the laptop and social media websites. Additionally, it reflects reoccurring themes of mental health, social media, bullying and online personalities. The film offers a dramatization of social media, however shows real life situations, as cyberbullying has become a massive problem, especially amongst the younger generation. The protagonist Emily Osment, previously featured in the TV Series and Movie: Hannah Montana. This aired on Disney channel targeted at females aged 12-16. This shows how her character will attract her previously age appropriate fans, due to he initial solid fan base. She also represents a young adult herself, therefore links to the idea of a young cast. The mains settings featured in this film are of her bedroom, and her school, conventional settings to the teen genre. Additional settings such as her therapy room offers opposing characteristics as a result of the drama element. She wears childlike, relaxed clothing relating to her youth. The avoidance of smart wear represents her immaturity. Establishing shots and long shots are used to show the location and the protagonists relationship with it, such as her attendance within a high school.
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  Teen Coming ofAge 0 Coming of age film, 13 Going On 30, was released in 2004. The film follows a young teenage girl (13), who dreams of escaping her positon as ‘outsider’ to be a popular, ‘it’ girl. During her 13th birthday she becomes humiliated by her ‘friends’ and locks herself in a cupboard wishing she was older (30). She later emerges 5 days shy of her 30th birthday, however unaware of how she got there. The first half of the film glamorises the adult life, as the protagonist is granted with nice clothes, a grown up body, an apartment, a top job and a handsome boyfriend. However the remainder of the film shows the realism to adult life, such as loosing old school friends, unable in your job, lack of true friends, being separated from your parents and having to suddenly defend for yourself. The first few scenes are featured in a school and the protagonists house, conventional to the teen genre. However, as she progresses to adulthood the settings change to a workplace, apartment and sophisticated nightclubs. This shows the difference in settings a subgenre makes. The film continues to flashback and look at he previous younger self, ensuring they include a reasonable amount of youthful characters to attract audiences of the similar age. In addition to this the adult protagonist resembles child like characteristics as a result of her ‘coming to age’. It shows portrays a typical Hollywood film, nonetheless highlights realistic points of the transition from youth to adult. Props include alcohol, which linking to it’s context, is conventionally shown in the teen genre. The film continues to alternate from adult to teen conventions, to create the coming of age element, ensuring it qualifies as this particular subgenre. For example, she wears childlike hairstyles during the beginning, but then smart work suits during the middle of the film during work. We see her physically and mentally struggle, and succeed as she changes from a child to an adult. Slang and jargon is commonly used, especially during the initial scenes to reflect teenage language and dialogue.
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  Teen Thriller 0 PromNight is a 2008, teen thriller which focuses the majority of the whole film on a teenage prom night. A high school girl is left traumatized after witnessing her former teacher brutally murder her entire family, after becoming dangerously obsessed with her. Three years later, the high school girl is getting ready for her prom. However, the murdering teacher escapes from custody and follows her to the hotel hosting the prom, in hope of a reunion with the young girl. He is fearless and is willing to kill and brutally injury anyone who becomes a problem in his path to reunion. The setting of a school and a high school prom automatically targets younger audiences due to the teenage conventional setting. Prom is more of a bigger event in America, than it is in Britain, suggesting how Prom is something American teenagers wait for their entire teenage years, therefore a film dedicated to this will attract them. The characters of student and teacher are also conventional characters found in teen films, as a result of audiences being students and teachers being heavily involve din their life. Props and costumes of long dresses and suits reflect the traditional prom night, as well as the glamorising limos and venues which highlights the American culture. Editing is fast paced, and quick cuts during the scenes of the party itself, before things turn sinister, suggesting the influence of alcohol on these teenagers, a theme traditional in the teen genre. In addition to this, the theme of growing up is highlighted as we watch the teenagers prepare to leave high school, attending their last reunion as a school, as their prom. The thriller elements alter the lighting, appearance of characters and costumes, to create the eerie and suspense feel. However, they remain in the prom venue for the majority of the night, ensuring that traditional codes and conventions remain, but allowing for that of the thriller genre to also be portrayed. The characters resemble youthful individuals, linking to the relation and identification young audiences can have with the young actors and actresses. As well as this, some of the characters are also known for starring in other teen genre films, widening their already solid fan base. 0