Teen dramas aim to portray realistic issues faced by teenagers, while exaggerating them to make the shows exciting. This helps engage audiences who see themselves in the characters and storylines. Common themes addressed include homosexuality, substance abuse, and violence. Many shows are set in schools to depict different social groups and the dynamics between them. While characters are often shown to be wealthier in American dramas, English shows portray more average families.

2. Teen dramas are often used to show the reality of their target audience, but
exaggerate it to make the show exciting and successful. The key is for the audience to
recognise themselves in the drama, and be able to identify with the characters. This
helps the creators of the drama to use their production to address certain issues, such
as homosexuality, drug taking, alcohol abuse and violence. Examples include:
• Skins
• Misfits
• Waterloo Road
• The Inbetweeners
• Gossip Girl
• 90210
• Dawson’s Creek
• Glee
• Pretty Little Liars

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The new person in school: often becomes the star
Geek
Loner
Mean girl
Underdog/Unpopular Person
A love interest
All of these different characters are looked into and
develop throughout the series. In series like Waterloo Road
or Skins, one episode usually focuses on one character and
follows them, whereas the involvement of other characters
is limited.

4. A lot of teen dramas are set in schools, and revolve around the different social groups
in this setting. This environment is often use as it is a realistic and easy way to portray
different characters, and the contrasts between each social group as they interact with
each other. Examples that do this are Waterloo Road, The Inbetweeners and Gossip Girl.
However, the main character's housing are often shown to give an indication to their
wealth, and to show how the character acts in different settings. The character will
often act differently at home, and this setting if often used to give an insight into the life
they have outside of school. Serious issues are often showed in a home setting.
American dramas often portray their characters as rich whereas English dramas make
their characters more average.

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The beginning plot in Teen Dramas is often a
new arrival at a school, who is often an
underdog or unpopular. A lot of series begin
with a new year/term.
This character often joins the mean, popular
girls at school.
A love interest/relationships are common
themes throughout the genre.
Real life issues are often addressed, such as;
alcohol/drug abuse, homosexuality, ect.
A gay student is outed.

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Overall, bright colours are used to portray positive
atmospheres in teen drama.
However, darker lighting is often used when addressing
certain issues, and is used to make a negative mood.
The costumes used are often a uniform if the drama is set
in a school, otherwise it is casual clothing. Different social
groups are often shown through their clothing; such as
those who are more wealthy may wear more expensive,
designer brands.
Uniform is
modified to look
more appealing
More expensive,
own bought clothes
as opposed to a
uniform that is given
to all students.
However, here the
uniform is more
traditional and
fitting to the setting
of a school (female
character is wearing
a tie).