11. SUB GENRE'S OF TEEN FILMS

The term genre means "category' or 'type' and is useful when discussing film because it helps to group or organize different films according to what they are about and what the audience should expect to see from the film. This helps producers make and market their film to the audience. With these films, common plots and storylines, character, settings and location refer to contemporary popular culture (especially music and fashion) became established as a codes and conventions of the genre.


However, not all films use the codes and conventions in the same way. Films of the same genre, which use the same codes and conventions in distinctly different ways, are known as sub- genres of the given genre and are another way in which we can further categorise teen films.




Youth Drama -

Focus on the social dilemmas faced by the protagonist.  Youth drama’s are popular with teen audiences, and are seen to be more authentic representation of youth than HSD, especially in the UK. The character is often rebellious and in conflict with other/ other groups. This focuses on the difficulties of adolescent experience, and shows the teen years to be difficult.


High School Drama-

High school dramas became very popular between the 1970s and 90s with lots of variations within the sub-genre.

The socialisation of teens and young adults by institutions such as school, college and at home, plays a large role in the plots of high school dramas. There is often a conflict between the home life and school life of the protagonist. They often, but not always celebrate the idea of being young or youth as fun. They tend to focus on changes, and conflict within different groups at school.





The term genre relates to the "category" or "type" of a production. It allows us to organise and have a clear distinction between the different themes behind the films available. As a consumer the different genre's attached to films allow us to set expectations about the kind of film we will be watching and contributes to peoples understanding as well as their decision on whether to watch it or not.