Genre and Sub-genre Task (1)

Genre and Sub-genre Task
Mainly focused on examples of sub-genres


What is a teen film?

A teen film is a film genre that is mostly targeted to teenagers or young adults as they explore  the special interests of teenagers: first love, teen angst, rebellion, alienation, conflict with parents. However, teen films are not always targeted to teens and young adults as they are divided into sub genres: Teen Comedy, Teen Sci-Fi, Teen Thriller, Teen Romance, Teen Fantasy, etc.

For example, Mean Girls is a 2004 American teen film, with the subgenre of comedy.

Within typical, conventional teen films, the protagonist is usually seen shopping with a group of friends which would appeal to a group of teenagers as it reflects the realism of teens socialising with their peers.



Conventional themes regarding teenagers are usually topics like:

• teen angst
• gangs
• crime
• conflict with parents/adults/authority
• relationships
• lust
• rebellion
• cliques
• friendship
• drugs

 

These typical themes cause the media to portray a stereotypical outlook on teenagers today:



The typical locations in Teen Films are:

• Girls bedroom - This is the location where the girl is usually seen talking or 'bitching' on the phone to her friends about others or typically crying over a break up or some sort of conflict with friends or family.

• School/public toilets - This is usually where the anti-social outcast is picked on and bullied. They usually go the toilets as a hide-out away from the areas where the congregation of cliques takes place.

• School lockers - This is usually where the girl and boy who gradually become love interests for one another, congregate or flirt or make some sort of eye contact.

• The local diner -The social outcast tends to work at a nearby diner where all the popular people go and congregate and give her orders in an impolite way. 

• Parties - This location is where all the popular people go and have fun. Sometimes drugs are involved. Alcohol is almost always involved.

Within Teen Films, the characters are usually based on strong stereotypes. This is one of the generic conventions of teen films. These characters are:

• The typical bully, could be a girl or a boy. They are usually popular and admired by the opposite sex. E.g. Regina George from the Teen Comedy film called 'Mean Girls'

• Popular cheerleader girl - Almost always admired by the popular boys who are usually Jocks.

• The jocks (different cliques)

• The nerd/loner - The social outcast who gets no attention from no one. They're almost always in love with the popular girl who they believe they can never get. In some films, he somehow becomes the popular girl's boyfriend.