Themes in Young Adult Films

1. Themes in Young Adult Films Dreams and Quests

2. Five essential attributes • The protagonist has a dream • strives for a particular goal • seeks the object of a quest • Obstacles stand in the way of the dream and opportunities open up for the protagonist • Sometimes protagonists lose heart or get discouraged and someone else has to hold onto the dream for them • At beginning, protagonists are insufficient to the task • must develop an aspect of their character in order to attain the goal or fulfill the task • Protagonists attain the dream or they do not • But they learn something valuable

3. Some dreams and quests films • American Graffiti • The Basketball Diaries • Boyz N the Hood • Chariots of Fire • Fame • Hoosiers • Rudy • Stand by Me

4. Dreamers and Dreams • Adolescents stand on the brink of adulthood and imagine a future worth striving for • For some, it is the question of what to do after high school • In American Graffiti— Steve and Curt decide whether to leave for college the next day • In December – join the army vs. stay in school • Others dream of being excellent at their sport so they can get a scholarship • Hoosiers, Chariots of Fire, Rudy • Others focus on personal goals • Stand and Deliver—students want to prove they are capable of success

5. Obstacles and Opportunities • Plot is driven by a series of obstacles that the protagonist must overcome in order to achieve the dream or fulfill the quest • Obstacles may be a personal characteristic of the hero that is at least an inconvenience or sometimes a serious shortcoming • Christianity in Chariots of Fire • Rudy’s size in Rudy • Sometimes the obstacle is a characteristic of the society that surrounds the protagonist • Anti-Semitism in Chariots of Fire • Despair of the ghetto in Boyz in the Hood

6. Obstacles and Opportunities (cont) • Protagonists benefit from opportunities (good fortune) along the journey • Often the main source of support is a family member • Some characters succeed because they create their own opportunities • Fame—some students pursue auditions outside of school • Often the main character is in the right place at the right time • December—turn 18 right at the bombing of Pearl Harbor, can join the army

7. Dream Keepers and Guides • Sometimes the protagonists lose heart and get discouraged and someone else has to hold onto the dream for them • Dreamkeepers are often teachers, coaches, priests, and parents • Hoosiers—coach has to create the dream for the members of the team • Basketball Diaries—Jim is rescued by an older, recovered addict, who stays with him

8. Developing Character to Achieve the Goal • In pursuing the dream, the protagonist often has to face personal deficiencies and then develop the necessary traits to achieve the dream or continue the quest • Rudy wants to play football for Notre Dame • American Graffiti – Curt must give up adolescent illusions in order to take responsibility for his career

9. Achieving the Dream • The films usually end with the protagonist achieving the dream, • Small town wins state championship, Rudy gets to play in big game • Occasionally, the conclusion is ambiguous or bittersweet • Best runner in race stops short of finish line • Fame—some perform beautifully, others fail

10. Achieving the Dream (cont) • Achieving the goal may provide the fulfillment the protagonists want, but sometimes the dream is hollow—they achieve it at too great a cost • Stand by Me—they find the object of their search, but have to face their own fears and failures • Sometimes, the protagonists fail to achieve their dreams, at least within the span of the film, but they come to an understanding • Boyz in the Hood—one of the characters is murdered and no one seems to learn anything from the tragedy