The document discusses various elements of the teen drama genre. It focuses on the genre of "coming of age" teen dramas and provides examples. Key elements discussed include characters (e.g. stereotypes like jocks and nerds), settings (typically high schools), narratives (following a protagonist who makes friends and faces hardships), style (using shots that establish locations and characters), and iconography (things like school sports games and prom night that symbolize the genre).

1. Genre Research

2. Genre
The genre of choice is Teen Drama, this genre is focused
on teenagers and some young adults, the genre also has
sub-genres like every other genre such as romance e.g.
The perks of being a wallflower, Sing Street, Submarine.
For our Teen Drama we will have the sub-genre of
'Coming of Age', this means that the teenagers are
transitioning from teenagers to young adults, the genre is
usually seen with sub genres such as romance, and some
teen dramas are also accompanied with genres like
thriller, Psychological and sometimes horror. But for our
choice we chose the more light hearted part of teen
dramas.
Examples

3. Character
The types of characters that are seen within
teen dramas are usually the stereotypes of
different types of teenagers e.g. The Jock, The
Nerd, The 'Weirdo', The Popular Girl etc. The
protagonist usually starts as a social outcast
with no friends and avoids attracting attention
to themselves; if it's a romance they fall in
love with someone who is either the same as
them or the complete opposite. The
antagonist is usually the popular person with a
group od 'friends' following them around and
trying to make their life hell e.g. A girl like
her.
Examples

4. Setting
The most popular setting for a teen drama is a
School setting where it emphasizes that this is a
teen drama as the age of students are indeed in the
'teenage' area, the year that the movies takes place
usually moves with the years in real life, e.g. the 80s
will have a teen drama based I the 80s and a teen
drama in 2017 would be set in 2017.
Teen dramas are also usually set in America as the
stereotypes are also been defined in American teen
dramas, the movies usually use many shots of
school but also shots of outside school to show
progression of the characters and to broaden the
scenes in the movie.
Screenshot from Submarine
Screenshot from perks of being a
wallflower

5. Narrative
The typical storyline for teen dramas is that the protagonist
enters school (usually on their first) lonely with no friends,
after a few the protagonist becomes friends with people
and possible develops a romance arc with a character, then
they face a hardship which will test their friendship then it
gets resolved, they’re friends forever, roll credits.
Usual plots of movies is that the protagonist was bullied
and became scared at social interactions or they are a
loner that wishes to change that or they are a new student
forced to move homes and schools because of a job or
something on those lines; another plot is that their friends
were forced to move and they became alone again.
Example

6. Style
Teen dramas usually use establishing shots
to identify the protagonist’s residence and
neighbourhood, there also is a long shot of
their school while also having light hearted
non-diegetic music over the camera shots,
the lighting used is to give it warm and
welcome feeling of a teenager’s life, the
editing used is usually jump cuts from one
location to another, the camerawork also
focuses on the main characters e.g. the
protagonist and their future friends and/or
love interest. It will also show the antagonist
if there is one; a brief time on the screen to
show who their enemy is.
Screenshot from perks of being a
wallflower (Area of residence)
Screenshot from perks of being a
wallflower (Shot of School)
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5rh
7O4IDc0
Link to trailer:

7. Iconography
Iconography in teen drama usually comes in the form of
school activities and events, an icon for a teen drama
especially American is to have a ‘football’ or basketball
game and all the school there cheering their team on,
another icon could be prom night as it is the most popular
event that is based around teen dramas, iconic sounds in
teen drama vary from the school bell, the idle chatter of
students in the hallways and cafeteria. Other iconic sounds
are the song used in the trailers, the music gives a light
hearted feel to it indication that it may be a teen drama.
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=n5rh7O4IDc0