Generic Conventions - Coming Of Age films

GENERIC CONVENTIONS OF TEENAGE COMING OF AGE DRAMABY SABRINA BOURHABA

SETTINGS: HIGH SCHOOLL-R: Mean Girls (dir: Mark Waters, 2004), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (dir: Stephen Chbosky, 2012), The Breakfast Club (dir: John Hughes, 1985)

SETTINGS: TEENAGER'S BEDROOM L-R: 10 Things I hate About You (dir: Gil Junger, 1999), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (dir: John Hughes, 1986), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (dir: Stephen Chbosky, 2012)

SETTINGS: TRANSPORTATION L-R: Clueless (dir: Amy Heckerling, 1995), Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (dir: Peter Sollett, 2008), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (dir: John Hughes, 1986)

SETTINGS: OTHER EXAMPLES

Cafes/Diners

A family home

An isolated suburban area

City centers

American football/sport games

Shopping Centres/Malls

CHARACTERS: 'DUMB BLONDE'L-R: Karen Smith of Means Girls (dir: Mark Waters, 2004), Cher Horowitz of Clueless (dir: Amy Heckerling, 1995), Bianca Stratford of 10 Things I Hate About You (dir: Gil Junger, 1999)

CHARACTERS: THE 'PROBLEM' TEENAGERL-R: Ferris Bueller of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (dir: John Hughes, 1986), John Bender of The Breakfast Club (dir: John Hughes, 1985), Poppy Moore of Wild Child (dir: Nick Moore, 2008)

CHARACTERS: THE 'OUTCASTS' L-R: Allison Reynolds of The Breakfast Club (dir: John Hughes, 1985), Charlie of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (dir: Stephen Chbosky, 2012), Kat Stratford of 10 Things I Hate About You (dir: Gil Junger, 1999)

CHARACTERS: OTHER EXAMPLES

The easily influenced characters (e.g. by drugs and alcohol provided by friends)

The wrongly lead protagonist.

The bitchy female antagonist who leads the protagonist astray.

The wallflower

The homosexual best friend

ICONOGRAPHY: ALCOHOL & DRUGSL-R: The Breakfast Club (dir: John Hughes, 1985), 10 Things I Hate About You (dir: Gil Junger, 1999), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (dir: Stephen Chbosky, 2012)

ICONOGRAPHY: MOBILE PHONESL-R: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (dir: Peter Sollett, 2008), Clueless (dir: Amy Heckerling, 1995), Mean Girls (dir: Mark Waters, 2004)

ICONOGRAPHY: COMPUTERS/LAPTOPSL-R: Sydney White (dir: Joe Nussbaum, 2007), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (dir: John Hughes, 1986), 10 Things I Hate About You (dir: Gil Junger, 1999)

ICONOGRAPHY: MORE EXAMPLES

Television

Branded clothing

School bags

Bank account cards

School books

CDs

DVDs

Magazines

Posters

NARRATIVE EXAMPLES

Story plot of flashback is fragmented within present day Scene of drugs being taken Usually takes place over the course of one night Wanting to leave the area a character lives in because they aren't happy Teen issues such as identity crisis Feeling isolation from the protagonist Some social issues the audience can 'relate' to e.g. homophobia, racism, prejudices of classes Teenagers rebelling e.g .bunking school, ignoring parent's wishes Struggling to obtain the affections of a crush A death/illness occuring

SOUNDS

Indie (genre) soundtrack Narration from protagonist (non diegetic sound) School bell Pop music Car engine being ceased Chatter of high school hallways