Themes in Young Adult Films

Belonging

Questions Teens Ask Themselves

• Am I normal? • Am I good enough?• Am I smart enough? • Am I pretty enough? • Do I fit in? 

Three Essential Attributes

1. Tension exists between an individual and a group.

2. The plot is often driven by what the individual does to be accepted by the group or by the protagonist’s active attempts to remain separate.

3. In order to resolve the conflict, someone—either the individual or the group—must change or make accommodations.

Some YA Films about Belonging

• Addams Family Values (1993) PG-13

• Angus (1995) PG-13• Benny & Joon (1993) PG• Breaking Away (1979) PG• Clueless (1995) PG-13• Dark Horse (1992) PG• Housekeeping (1988) PG• The Inkwell (1994) R• Lantern Hill (1989) NR

• Lucas (1986) PG-13• Mask (1985) PG-13• My Bodyguard (1980) PG• Powder (1995) PG-13• Rebel Without a Cause

(1955) NR• School Ties (1992) PG-13• Welcome Home, Roxy

Carmichael (1990) PG-13

Individuals in Conflict with Groups

• Adolescent typically tries to join a group but ends up being rejected by the group.

• The reason for the rejection: the individual is different from the group in some way. – New kid in town (My Bodyguard)– Different physically (Powder)– Mental retardation (Benny & Joon)

Individuals in Conflict with Groups

• Group typically rejects an individual because something about the individual offends the values of the group.

• Group may value beauty or popularity—in short, people like themselves. – School Ties– Breaking Away– Lucas

Individuals in Conflict with Groups

• Sometimes protagonists have secrets that keep them out of the group or make them different in some way– Europa, Europa– Au Revoir les Enfants

Seeking Acceptance• Plot is often driven by the

attempts of the individual to gain the acceptance of the group– Rebel Without a Cause– My Bodyguard 

• Sometimes the individual does not try to be accepted by the group – Powder– Breaking Away

Making Accommodations

• Groups don’t tolerate anyone who is different

• To be accepted, either the individual or the group has made accommodations

• Belonging is so important that they will try to change themselves drastically to belong.

Making Accommodations

• Sometimes members of the group reach out to the outsiders to draw them into the group– Clueless– Rebel Without a Cause

• Sometimes the group recognizes special qualities in the outsider and comes to accept that individual– Mask

Lucas• Directed by David Seltzer • First released on March 28, 1986• Tragicomedy geared toward a teen

audience• Ranked number 16 on Entertainment

Weekly's list of the 50 Best High School Movies 

Actors in the Movie• Corey Haim

• Winona Ryder—her first feature film role

• Charlie Sheen• Jeremy Piven

Reception• Roger Ebert gave the film 4 out of 4 stars• Ebert later included the film in his top 10

films of 1986.• Not considered a box office success• Gained a cult audience on home video and

cable• Both Corey Haim and Kerri Green were

nominated for a Young Artist Award in 1987

Themes• From two different worlds• Coming of age• High School Relationships• Fitting In