Representation of Teenagers in the Media

A group that I may want to represent in my project would be the group of teenagers. The group of teenagers specifically in high- school ranging from the ages fourteen to 18. I would want to represent them accurately and attempt to not generalize them, as groups are often generalized in mainstream media. It is often difficult with teenagers as most are going through a period of their life where they are finding themselves and who they are as people and therefore their personalities fluctuate and every person is different, however, they do have some similarities. This, I am sure of as I see them myself as a teenager. 

Throughout the media, there have been several films and television series that have represented teenagers. Two examples on which I would like to analyze include  High School Musical and Mean Girls. Throughout the course of High School Musical, teenagers are represented as overdramatic egotistical and entitled. This can be seen throughout the course of the movie as the characters are constantly arguing with their parents. The movie focuses on two characters "Troy Bolton" played by Zac Efron and "Gabriella Montez" played by Vanessa Hudgens who met at a karaoke party and develop an interest in each other. However, they struggle to uphold their relationship as "Sharpay Evans" played by Ashley Tisdale is extremely jealous of "Gabriella Montez" and therefore plots against them. Not only do they face this issue but also the issue of pleasing their parents and keeping up with their responsibilities as well as performing in a musical. Each of the characters represents a clique within the school. "Troy Bolton" is representative of the jocks or the sporty and popular clique of the school while "Gabriella Montez" represents the nerdy and academic clique of the school. Their different cliques also become an issue throughout the movie as the rules of high school are played out as stating that teenagers from different cliques are not allowed to hang out with those of other cliques or show interest in other activities besides what is done by their respective clique. Therefore representing teenagers as a group which stratifies themselves into groups and isolates themselves from new experiences.  The tension between the main characters and their parents also represent teenagers as having toxic relationships with their parents.

Mean girls is another example of teenagers represented in the media. The film similarly to High School Musical also represents teenagers as moody and entitled. In addition to this, it reinforces the idea that teenagers form groups throughout their high school life that they stick to and make it seem as it is frowned upon or wrong to mix into any different clique or group of people. The movie Mean Girls is about a new girl by the name of "Cady Heron" which has just moved in from Africa and now has to find her place in an entirely new place and school. When "Cady" arrives she is instantly met by two characters which would become her best friends they are categorized as not really being a part of a group and instead more of outcasts. However, they instantly accept "Cady" and demonstrate characteristics of good morals and loyalty. However, throughout the movie, "Cady" is prompted to pretend to be friends with the mean girls of the school and as she does so she slowly adopts their characteristics and jeopardizes her new friendships. This movie again reinforces the idea of teenagers in high school secluding themselves into cliques and rarely socializing with those of another. It also illustrates teenagers as being prone to peer pressure and being selfish. Throughout the movie, "Cady" changes into a whole different person to fit in and to reach a high social status, even at the cost of friendships and morals. 

I feel that the characteristics that are shown in these movies are accurate to a certain extent. Coming from a teenager who attends a school that is extremely diverse and different from most other schools I am most likely not in the position to dispose of these characteristics as being false as my high school does not function in the same way that most high schools do. However, from experience of speaking with other teenagers from other schools and also from slightly observing it in my own school, I do see a trend of groups that form throughout the school. However, I do not think it is correct to reach the extent at which to say teenagers only have a certain group of friends for the entirety of their school life and do not or believe they should not interact with others outside their own group. I do not feel it is fair to say this as there are various teenagers who sometimes indulge in several activities and do not restrict themselves to only one, nor do they restrict their friend group. The biggest problem I see in representation is the amount of work that these teenagers have. I do not believe it is fair to illustrate their priorities as consisting simply of relationship issues and social status. I think especially now teenagers have a lot on their plate including school work, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities. Yet, cinematically many aspects of several groups are usually represented at an exaggerated unnecessary rate so this is somewhat expected. 

Even so, not all of the characteristics pictured in these movies are exaggerated, I do believe and have definitely seen various teenagers part take in petty arguments with their parents as well as having a tense relationship with them. I personally do not have a tense relationship with my parents but they often do blame the fact that I am a teenager for whenever I do anything wrong. I have observed several parents do this and maybe it is not the fairest of assumptions but it definitely is true that parents have more difficult relationships with their children when they reach the age of about fourteen. It is also just a proven fact that teenagers are hormonal and therefore tend to be overdramatic emotional and moody. So in regards to those characteristics, the media is not too far off from the truth.

Science Fiction Genre

Genre: Science Fiction in films

When learning about the genre of Science Fiction one must first reference its definition. The genre of science fiction can be defined as a genre of fiction revolving around a made-up world or unrealistic aspects of the unknown universe and typically involving futuristic technology and devices. The genre often consists of morally strict protagonists and powerful villains which are often pictured in locations established in the future or in outer space.

Genre conventions – content

Movies which fall under the genre of science fiction are often set in alternate universes which often resemble futuristic locations. As seen in the name, the genre involves science as it provides possible however usually unsupported aspects of the universe. Therefore, playing into the fiction part of the name as none of it is meant to be plausible but instead, a possibility intended to entertain an audience, as any other piece of media would. Fiction is seen all throughout these films as there are often nonhuman characters and creatures throughout sci-fi films. However, these films are not completely unrealistic as their creatures and fictitious settings are often simultaneously existing in the same universe as the real world. They might take place on a separate planet or just an entirely different galaxy.

Another common feature of these films is the heavy incorporation of technology and advanced machinery. Due to the reason, that these films are often set in the future, it is predicted that as time advances so will our knowledge and discoveries, therefore, these movies incorporate creative machinery as well as weapons that do not exist in our world today. However, not all of these movies are set in the future, some simply incorporate “alien” species which are expected to have different technology and machinery as they are believed to have lived in an entirely different way than humans in the narrative world. Although films in this genre often incorporate characteristics which are completely parallel to those of reality they often incorporate deep meanings which apply to issues in real life. These films often resemble daily problems in our society and illustrate them in a completely different way. In this way, these films provide a completely different universe to entertain audiences while simultaneously delivering a theme to which the audience can relate to.

The plots of science fiction movies often resemble those of adventure movies as they sometimes focus around a goal or a mission. Other common plots of science fiction movies consist of dystopias or defeating a foreign threat to earth. As for the characters they often feature protagonists with a good sense of moral and powerful villains. However, science fiction plots are not as predictable as plots of other genres as they are often reflective upon their respective realities.

Genre conventions – production techniques

The production of science fiction films often consists of the more lengthy and tedious production techniques than most of the other genres. Due to the fact that science fiction films are based on completely new universes, the Mise-en-scene aspects of the film are essential to their success. Often when different species are incorporated into these films in order to bring them to life and allow the story to be understood an entirely different wardrobe must be created for the actors and even extras. Not only will costume design play an important role in the portrayal of a different life form but sometimes even special effects makeup will be required to illustrate the vision of the director. However, with recent technology science, fiction movies containing such extraterrestrial species often incorporate the use of CGI to create realistic depictions of what these creatures from the narrative world would look like if they existed. Moreover, some of these films are set in space or futuristic settings that are far from similar to those of earth, in order to illustrate these on the big screen set design is an essential part of the production of these movies. Sets are often built to accurately depict the setting or sometimes even green screens are used to present the fictional setting to the audience.

Moreover, one of the most important aspects of the production of these movies is the creation of props which depict the technology of the narrative world created in the films. The props and technology of these movies are often fabricated professionally for the visual effect of a technologically advanced society or species. However, their functions, since the technology is out of the range of possibility in our current day, is represented through editing or green screens. However, since not all science fiction films take place in the future some weapons are simply fabricated to fit the aesthetic of whatever extraterrestrial species or societies are being depicted. However, props are not restricted to the weaponry and often include different machinery and even vehicles.

Film #1 – Interstellar

Interstellar is a movie set in the future where the earth is becoming uninhabitable as a second dust bowl is setting upon earth along with a widespread harvest failure due to plant disease. The main character “Cooper” who is a former NASA pilot played by Matthew McConaughey is sent on a mission with a team of researchers to find a new home as Earth is no longer fit for life. The aspect in which it is set in the future is one of the main signs that this movie fits in the genre of science fiction. Furthermore, “Professor Brand” who is played by Michael Caine is a genius scientist who has developed a way to send people through wormholes. Through this technological development, “Cooper” and his team are sent to find planets which can be inhabited by humans. The incorporation of technology which is not available in our current day is another feature demonstrated in many science fiction films. Robots, machinery, and scientific equipment incorporated throughout the movie are examples of props which aid in the illustration of the advanced technology that is seen in this future world. Moreover, the set design of the Earth and the depiction of the dust bowl is another aspect of the production of most science fiction films in which sets must be created to illustrate the narrative. Many green screens and CGI effects were also used by Christopher Nolan to create a visualization of space without filming in space. In this specific movie, however, Christopher Nolan used some physical sets and real shooting locations such as the cockpit that was featured in the movie which was a physical set that even acted as a flight simulator. Production techniques such as the mise en scène seen in this film create the fictional futuristic narrative world which is commonly seen in sci-fi films.

Film sample #2 – Valerian and the City of a thousand planets

Valerian and the City of a thousand planets is a movie set in a futuristic world in the 28th century where two special operatives go on a mission to identify and defeat an unknown villain which threatens the universe. The main characters “Valerian” and “Laureline” are played by Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan depict a pair of friends which both show romantic interest towards each other. The movie such as other films which fall under the category of science fiction focuses on a plot similar to that of an adventure movie where there is a specific mission that must be completed. In addition to this, the movie also features the incorporation of an evil unknown force which threatens the future of the universe which is another common plot for science fiction movies. The mise en scène throughout the movie is also resemblant of the sci-fi genre as there is heavy incorporation of tedious costume design to develop a sense of a technologically advanced society that has changed over the years. There is also an incorporation of CGI and green screen effects in order to depict the extraterrestrial life that lives in the narrative world of the movie. There is also an abundance of props representative of advanced technology such as complicated weaponry, machinery, spaceships, and vehicles which further establish a sense of an advanced society. The plot paired with the futuristic setting and meticulous mise en scène which was developed to create a depiction of a futuristic world categorizes this film in the genre of sci-fi.


List of five other film examples within the genre:

1. Alien

2. E.T.

3. Star Wars

4. Star Trek

5. Gravity