High School Confidential: Notes On Teen Movies

Film and television have played a big role in Americans lives since their creation. Americans have seen how it has improved but most importantly what has changed as well. Since the beginning of history, one of the main purposes of television and film has been to entertain people and make them laugh. As quality changed overtime, so did the meaning of it. Modern television shows have now shifted their focus and expanded their purposes of television and film. Today, what is shown on the screen can have great effects on Americans. Television and film can be harmful to Americans by influencing bad behaviors, categorizing people and causing many to be unsatisfied with their lifestyles. As of 2016, it is accurate to say that many of the shows and
Similarily like television shows, these films are also filled with stereotypes and can develop a type of society that the producers intended to create in the film itself. In more detail, it categorizes people and divides them among each other. In the essay “High School confidential: Notes on Teen Movies.”, author David Denby states that typical teen movies all have the same two type of characters that are repeatedly used. “She is beautiful and rich…everyone is afraid of her, that’s why she is popular…she has a counterpart. He’s usually a football player” (366). In reality, this may apply to many schools where it is indeed correct that the popular people are the most attractive and athletic. Numerous films are based on stories where the “cool kids” are never seen with the nerds because it simply goes against society’s rules. “The social queens and jocks, using their looks to dominate others, represent an American barbarism of beauty” (Denby 369). In actuality, it is a realistic representation in America. Therefore, it is these films that tell its audience that it is the way it should be and not the other way around. In addition to films using attractive and athletic people to represent reality, films also tend to exaggerate in people who have low social statuses. In the reading, “Class and Virtues”, the author states that the people who are low-class are made to
While people watch television or movies, they are being fed false information. Such as, one must be rich and attractive to be accepted into society. It is highly likely that the audience may have learned more than the moral message of the story. Americans have learned new information like behaviors that are now tolerable, people they should not converse with, and that their lifestyles are not good enough. What Americans are watching on the screen is what is being pushed into their heads. Unfortunately, television and film has now changed into a way that promotes negative behaviors, limitations among who one can be seen with, and self- insecurities. Television and film is a very serious issue that Americans should be aware of and should also reconsider what they have been