It is a habit among most parents to assume that teen movies are harmful in their portrayal of teens. On one hand, some films do depict teenagers as sex- and drug-obsessed individuals with destructive habits. It is the fear of parents that these films may encourage these habits in impressionable teens. While this may be true, it is also true that teen movies are capable of illustrating the consequences of these behaviors. Teen movies can also support contemporary research showing that teens are not as destructive in their decision-making as their parents may believe. An example of a film like this is the 2007 comedy Superbad, which exhibits the complex relationship between the portrayal of teens in movies and their behavior in reality.
From the very first lines of dialogue in the film, the characters reveal a significant part of their ideology. Seth calls Evan to discuss a porn site he would like to subscribe to, the Vag-tastic Voyage. The fact that these are the first lines spoken by the main characters not only shows that sex is of paramount importance to them, but it also implies that most of the sex they are having is probably with themselves. In fact, Seth and Evan are both virgins in their senior year of high school. This coincides with the current trend that a smaller proportion of teenagers are having sex (Stepp, 2002). However, Seth and Evan are concerned with losing their virginity before college (a particularly revealing exchange goes: “Everyone has sex in college.” “Yes, but the point is to be good at sex by the time you get to college.”) The irony in these lines is that this logic is the sort featured in teen movies in which college students not only have a lot of sex, but they have a lot of good sex. While Superbad seems to perpetuate the desire to have sex before college, it also reflects real world trends with sex. The teens discuss condoms several times, and never imply that they intend on having unprotected sex. This supports research showing that teen pregnancy is actually on the decline (Stepp, 2002).
Intricately tied with Evan and Seth’s quest for sex throughout the movie is their search for alcohol. When Jules asks Seth if he can provide her with alcohol for her party, he leaps at the chance. Seth explicitly states a correlation that would frighten any parents: alcohol is directly related to the “fun-ness” of a party. This is confirmed during the movie when both parties they attend show large groups of (drunk) people having a good time. Not only do teens associate alcohol with fun, but they also connect it with an increased probability of having sex. Of his chances of hooking up with Jules, Seth tells Evan that, “She’s gonna be at the party, and she’s gonna be drunk.” Seth’s approach to sex is an unhealthy one, but it’s a popular one among teens. People assume that the only way someone will like them is if they are both drunk. Of course, Seth is wrong in his logic – Jules and Becca show interest in the boys even when they are all sober.
The film depicts its main characters, which are incredibly likeable and therefore capable of making impressions on the teenage audience, engaging in the underage consumption of alcohol. However, neither the film nor any of the alcohol companies are explicitly endorsing underage drinking – none of the brands featured in the movie are real. Goldschläger becomes Goldslick Vodka, Mike’s Hard Lemonade becomes Kyle’s Killer Lemonade, and even though the beers appear to be Miller High Life, they are not. Although it is responsible that the film refuses to advertise specific alcoholic brands to teens, the brands are only thinly veiled, and easily decipherable to anyone with a passing knowledge of alcohol.
While it may seem that the film promotes underage drinking, the end the film illustrates some of the consequences of this behavior. Seth makes a fool of himself when he drunkenly falls over and head butts Jules, hurting her. When Becca and Evan are hooking up (Becca is already drunk, Evan has chugged a few beers in an attempt to get drunk), Becca acts sloppy and unattractive. This conveys the message that drunken hookups are more awkward and weird than romantic. When Becca gets sick and throws up in front of Evan, it ruins both of their nights. When Evan asks her the next day if she had fun, she says she can’t even remember. Not only does this present the teenage audience with an important question – Is binge drinking actually fun? – it reinforces research showing that most college kids consider binge drinking an escape from the seriousness of college rather than a good time (Stepp, 2007).
Maybe the most accurate way to reconcile Superbad’s flaws and strengths is to compare it to an actual teenager. While it does many things right (showing the consequences of binge drinking, reinforcing current attitudes and beliefs of teens) it also loses its way occasionally (an exaggerated focus on both alcohol and sex). While we may want to make accusations and slap it on the wrist, the best thing to do is to accept its faults. It’ll grow up.
Reference List
Stepp, L.S. (2002, January 21). Generation hex: Stereotypes hurt today’s teens [Electronic version]. Washington Post, p. C10. Retrieved August 28, 2011, from www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64995-2002Jan30
Stepp, L.S. (2007, January 3). Good times 101: College students make a study of having fun [Electronic version]. Washington Post, p. C01. Retrieved August 28, 2011, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201151.html
Intricately tied with Evan and Seth’s quest for sex throughout the movie is their search for alcohol. When Jules asks Seth if he can provide her with alcohol for her party, he leaps at the chance. Seth explicitly states a correlation that would frighten any parents: alcohol is directly related to the “fun-ness” of a party. This is confirmed during the movie when both parties they attend show large groups of (drunk) people having a good time. Not only do teens associate alcohol with fun, but they also connect it with an increased probability of having sex. Of his chances of hooking up with Jules, Seth tells Evan that, “She’s gonna be at the party, and she’s gonna be drunk.” Seth’s approach to sex is an unhealthy one, but it’s a popular one among teens. People assume that the only way someone will like them is if they are both drunk. Of course, Seth is wrong in his logic – Jules and Becca show interest in the boys even when they are all sober.
The film depicts its main characters, which are incredibly likeable and therefore capable of making impressions on the teenage audience, engaging in the underage consumption of alcohol. However, neither the film nor any of the alcohol companies are explicitly endorsing underage drinking – none of the brands featured in the movie are real. Goldschläger becomes Goldslick Vodka, Mike’s Hard Lemonade becomes Kyle’s Killer Lemonade, and even though the beers appear to be Miller High Life, they are not. Although it is responsible that the film refuses to advertise specific alcoholic brands to teens, the brands are only thinly veiled, and easily decipherable to anyone with a passing knowledge of alcohol.
While it may seem that the film promotes underage drinking, the end the film illustrates some of the consequences of this behavior. Seth makes a fool of himself when he drunkenly falls over and head butts Jules, hurting her. When Becca and Evan are hooking up (Becca is already drunk, Evan has chugged a few beers in an attempt to get drunk), Becca acts sloppy and unattractive. This conveys the message that drunken hookups are more awkward and weird than romantic. When Becca gets sick and throws up in front of Evan, it ruins both of their nights. When Evan asks her the next day if she had fun, she says she can’t even remember. Not only does this present the teenage audience with an important question – Is binge drinking actually fun? – it reinforces research showing that most college kids consider binge drinking an escape from the seriousness of college rather than a good time (Stepp, 2007).
Maybe the most accurate way to reconcile Superbad’s flaws and strengths is to compare it to an actual teenager. While it does many things right (showing the consequences of binge drinking, reinforcing current attitudes and beliefs of teens) it also loses its way occasionally (an exaggerated focus on both alcohol and sex). While we may want to make accusations and slap it on the wrist, the best thing to do is to accept its faults. It’ll grow up.
Reference List
Stepp, L.S. (2002, January 21). Generation hex: Stereotypes hurt today’s teens [Electronic version]. Washington Post, p. C10. Retrieved August 28, 2011, from www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64995-2002Jan30
Stepp, L.S. (2007, January 3). Good times 101: College students make a study of having fun [Electronic version]. Washington Post, p. C01. Retrieved August 28, 2011, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201151.html
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