The experience of American high school is something that has been the subject of much media attention both nationally and internationally and has become somewhat iconic. From its portrayal in films and tv shows, American high school has become this idolized "golden age" which middle school students look forward to, adults reminisce about and foreigners wish they could experience. Yet, the American high school which is portrayed is nothing like the high schools in down town Harlem or Detroit or Chicago or any inner city area. Nor is it some small high school out in the country of the Midwest or the South. The cool and hip image of high school from movies is one in a suburban area like Beverly Hills or our very own Fairfield County. The majority of the most famous of American high school movies that give us this iconic image take place in middle class/wealthy suburban areas of the country. Usually these movies are characterized by the house party scenes where the silver spoon trust fund characters throw a massive binge party in their Mansions when there parents are out of town for a while. Various other details hinting to the economic class of the characters can be picked up on such as the quality of cars they drive to school, dress and racial homogeneity (they're almost all white).
You don't believe me? let me just name some examples that fit my description. Examples include: The Breakfast Club, Rebel Without a Cause, Ferris Buellers Day Off, 21 Jump Street, 16 Candles, Clueless, Dazed and Confused, Election, Mean Girls and many more. American Tv-Series that protray high school also seem to follow this trend like Glee, 90210, Degrassi, One Tree Hill, Saved by the Bell and Victorious. Even American Horror movies seem to be set in suburbs with local white high school students being the victims such as Halloween, Carrie, Scream, and Nightmare on Elm Street. Why is that? Why has a small percentage of wealthy American teenagers influenced public view on what high school life is like and why are high school students almost always portrayed as rich white kids who live in the suburbs?
It is because most Americans see high school as the best time of there life. It was before all responsibility arrived and after the innocence of childhood. The High School experience is something we all truly cherish and therefore we want those memories to be represented in film by best of us or the elite. We furnish our image of high school with our most attractive white actors in the most expensive settings with the best cars and best accessories and they throw the best parties. We as Americans want our nostalgia to be protected by our greatest memory being portrayed handsomely. It is also because americans have always enjoyed watching the lifestyle of the rich (or anyone richer than themselves) as it is far more interesting than anything they can experience. Films about inner city schools usually have a depressing undertone and lack the iconic high school feeling altogether and therefore don't give people the sugar rush enjoyment they get from traditional high school movies. A more realistic view of American high school is present in films like Lean on Me where students struggle to maintain a basic level of literacy and deal with problems like teen pregnancy, aids, gun violence and domestic violence instead of teen drama. This of course, does not represent all American high schools much represents a significantly larger amount than those taking place in the suburbs.
I definitely see your point; I wonder if it would change depend on which channel you're watching. There are movies geared especially for young black women about, well, young black women in high school. But, as you say, those aren't terribly realistic, either.
ReplyDelete