Representation in Film

Adolescents are typically portrayed as self-absorbed and lazy individuals who have no regards to anything happening around the world that doesn't relate to their own personal and often meaningless problems. The only things that teenagers are portrayed to care about are superficial things such as their self-image, if they're "popular," what parties they go to and who they date. They are also represented as very irritable and rude to adults.

For example, the movie "Clueless" follows teenager Cher and her best friend Dion, who live in luxurious Beverly Hills and only care about going shopping. They are both completely clueless about the world around them and remain ignorant because they only pay attention to anything that revolves them. Cher's ex-step-brother makes fun of her because of the self-absorbed and ignorant behavior that she doesn't even care to watch the news. She has an epiphany towards the end of the film and changes her behavior and begins to see the world and everyone around her and stops worrying about superficial and materialistic things. Another example is the movie "Project X" which features Thomas, Costa and JB, three "uncool" high schoolers who throw the biggest party of their high school years to desperately fit in the cool crowd. They wait for their parents to go out of town and tell everyone about the party, which results in hundreds of teenagers showing up since the address got leaked. Instead of canceling the party due to a large number of people that went, they continue with the party despite the consequences of trashing the house and getting arrested for underage drinking and illegal drugs at the party. They just want to fit in which is enough reason to risk it all.

This representation of teenagers, while some aspects may not be far from the truth, is still taken to an extreme and don't apply to all teenagers. The representation of not caring about anything going on is unfair because it entitles adults to dismiss any ideas that the youth may come up with or any emotions they express. I retain the view that teenagers do enjoy partying, which often relates to illegal possession of drugs and alcohol. Since teenagers are still in the phase of growing up, it is common to be reckless and engage in illicit activities without thinking of the consequences. However, I challenge the idea of teenagers being completely ignorant and indifferent because many teenagers do stand up for their beliefs and voice their opinions, as demonstrated through countless youth-led movements in history. The current March for Our Lives is a challenger to the stereotype itself.