MODEL ESSAY
A) Outline the impact of mythology on ONE popular culture. 5 marks
Mythology plays an important role in the popular culture of American teen
movies of the twentieth century. The mythology of the teenager as a rebel was
portrayed in the ground breaking teen movie Rebel Without a Cause. Rebel
Without a Cause also introduced the mythology of the generation gap and the
mythology of star crossed teenage lovers, a reference to Romeo and Juliet. The
mythology of the rebel, the generation gap and the star crossed teenage lovers
has been incorporated in teen movies in subsequent decades. Rebel Without a
Cause also instigated the myth that associated the American teenager with
conspicuous consumption. The impact of these myths on American teen
movies has been the production of formulaic texts. The mythology of the teen
movie genre has become part of the social construct of a Western teenager, in
other words the mythology has become real. In the twenty first century as new
myths evolve the teen genre movie has become less formulaic.
B) How have stakeholders perpetuated the myths over time? 8 marks
Stakeholders include the motion picture companies that produce the texts for
the market place. Teen movies can be considered in terms of two economies,
“the financial economy of production and the cultural economy of
consumption”. The first economy is concerned with profit. The second
economy is concerned with the exchange of “cultural meanings and social
identities”. Myths create “cultural meanings and social identities” (Fleming L.
Fleming Y., Excel Society and Culture 2002 p121). Stakeholders also include the
consumers of the teen movies, the teenagers. Teenagers consent to the power
and authority of the motion picture companies when they consume their
products. This is referred to as hegemony. (Fleming L. Fleming Y., Excel Society
and Culture 2002 p122)
Myths are perpetuated by constant cross referencing across the teen movie
genre. The teenager as a rebel is a twentieth century myth easily decoded by
teenagers. The rebel appears in Rebel Without a Cause, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,
The Breakfast Club and Ten Things I Hate About You. This myth has been
perpetuated by presenting the rebel as a misunderstood teenager. The
teenager is able to identify with the rebel not only because he is
misunderstood but because invariably he has some noble qualities.
The rebel needs something or someone to rebel against and in the American
teen movie genre authority figures provide the necessary point of conflict. The
myth of the generation gap is constantly cross referenced. In teen movies of
the twentieth century parents and teachers appear as inept. Their ineptitude
provides both pathos and humour. In Rebel Without a Cause the emasculation
of Jim Stark’s father is the driving force of Jim’s actions. Jim engages in risk
taking behaviour to avoid the emasculation experienced by his father. In Ferris
Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club teachers are figures of fun providing
comedy that appeals to teenagers on two levels, firstly the slap stick nature of
the comedy and secondly empowering the teenager as they project their
identity on to the teenage character in the movie. In Ten Things I Hate About
You the well meaning but over protective father is easily decoded by many
teenagers and provides the comedy of the text.
Screen writers, producers and directors of the motion picture companies
invariably introduced the mythology of star crossed lovers into the American
teen movie genre of the twentieth century. Grease, The Breakfast Club and Ten
Things I Hate About You cross reference this myth. The rebel, the male
protagonist, sweeps the upper class girl off her feet, he fails to meet her
expectations due to peer pressure but in the end his noble spirit and rebellious
swagger win her over. Star crossed lovers provide the formula of the texts, boy
meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back. Generally boy wins girl back on
‘prom’ night.
Stakeholders also use American material culture to perpetuate myths. Across
the decade texts in this genre have presented the teenager driving a ‘dream’
car and living in a two story house with a ‘white picket fence’. Stakeholders
also use product placement to perpetuate myths, particularly the myth that
American teenagers have an endless supply of disposable income. There is
significant product placement of cars and fashion labels. The placement of
Coca Cola or Pepsi in teen genre movies cross references the movie to the soft
drink advertising. Coca Cola and Pepsi advertising is always directed at the
youth market with images of freedom, fun and inclusion.
C) Discuss future directions for the popular culture. 12 marks
Future directions for American teen movies can be gauged by analysing trends
in the genre. All popular culture passes through a compost stage, in this stage
old ideas are recycled. Therefore future directions will include values, norms
and myths presented in previous texts.
Over the past sixty years American teen movies have had strong female
characters from Pink Ladies to mean girls. Judy in Rebel Without a Cause, Molly
in The Breakfast Club and Kat in Ten Things I Hate About You are all strong
characters. This trend has continued in the most contemporary teen genre
movie Juno. Therefore it is anticipated that future texts will portray strong
female characters.
However within the genre of American teen movies is a subset referred to as
‘gross out’ teen movies. This subset is represented by the Porkies trilogy, the
American Pie trilogy and more recently Superbad. This subset within the genre
uses crass language and behaviour and objectifies teenage girls. This trend will
no doubt continue into the future as ‘gross out’ movies enjoy box office
success.
The mythology associated with twentieth century texts such as the rebel and
the subsequent generation gap appears to be losing resonance. The mythology
of conspicuous consumption of the American teenager was most evident in the
1990s. There had been references to this myth in Rebel Without a Cause, Ferris
Bueller’s Day Off, Clueless and Mean Girls but this myth seems to have lost
relevance in contemporary texts. The reality of movies made for Youtube have
influenced institutionalised texts and will perhaps influence future texts.
Twenty first century teen movies have as yet avoided the nostalgia teen movie.
Grease, American Graffiti and Almost Famous reinforced the mythology of
previous decades and in so doing reinforced the social construct of the
Western teenager. Future nostalgia teen movies will encapsulate the
mythology of the turn of the century teenager and reinforce the new
mythology and eventually these myths will become real.
Teen movies are agents of social change and agents of social control and play
an important role in the socialisation of teenagers. The impact of the texts on
teenagers of the future will increase as technology changes and teenagers are
able to access the genre easily and cheaply. “It [popular culture} is the ground
on which consent is won or lost. It is the theatre in which the interplay
between power and consent is acted out” (Fleming L. Fleming Y., Excel Society
and Culture 2002 p122). This is true of American teen movies and as a result of
technological changes will continue to be true of this popular culture in the
future.
Plan
A) Outline the impact of mythology on ONE popular culture. 5 marks
Outline the mythologies:
 the teenager as a rebel
 the generation gap
 star crossed teenage lovers
 conspicuous consumption
Impact - The impact of these myths on American teen movies has been the
production of formulaic texts.
B) How have stakeholders perpetuated the myths over time? 8 marks
Define stakeholder.
Myths are perpetuated by constant cross referencing across the teen movie genre.
 Give examples cross referencing of the teenager as a rebel - Rebel Without a
Cause, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club and Ten Things I Hate
About You
 Give examples of cross referencing the generation gap - Rebel Without a
Cause, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club and Ten Things I Hate
About You
 Give examples of cross referencing star crossed teenage lovers - Grease, The
Breakfast Club and Ten Things I Hate About You
 Give examples of cross referencing conspicuous consumption and product
placement
C) Discuss future directions for the popular culture. 12 marks
Future directions for American teen movies can be gauged by analysing trends in the
genre.
 Compost culture and the future of American teen movies
 The future of gender relationships in American teen movies including a
reference to ‘gross out’ subset.
 The future of 20th century myths in American teen movies such as the
teenager as a rebel, the generation gap, star crossed teenage lovers and
conspicuous consumption
 The impact of nostalgia movies on future teen movies
 The impact of technology on future teen movies