Iconography and Conventions - Coming of Age
Iconography:
Iconography used in coming of age films usually revolve around typical items that teenagers will use on a regular basis, such as mobile phones, mp3 players or games consoles, as well as things that have connotations with school life. Pop music is also a strong use of iconography as this is also often related to young people as it is youthful and fun, but also represents the conformity of teenagers as they will listen the things that are popular at the time. Often alternative genres will be used to represent teenagers who are considered outcasts. Posters of bands will be commonplace due to the teen craze in boy-bands such as One Direction or The Vamps, and will often be associated with the typical girly charactered teenager.
Iconography used in coming of age films usually revolve around typical items that teenagers will use on a regular basis, such as mobile phones, mp3 players or games consoles, as well as things that have connotations with school life. Pop music is also a strong use of iconography as this is also often related to young people as it is youthful and fun, but also represents the conformity of teenagers as they will listen the things that are popular at the time. Often alternative genres will be used to represent teenagers who are considered outcasts. Posters of bands will be commonplace due to the teen craze in boy-bands such as One Direction or The Vamps, and will often be associated with the typical girly charactered teenager.
Location:
Coming of age films usually have settings such as school or at the protagonist’s home. A girly teenage character will often be shown doing stereotypical activities, such as shopping with their friends which is something that teenage girls watching can directly relate too. They often show the protagonist's bedroom as a mechanism to reveal and give the audience an insight into the character's interests and private life such as music, games, school work. This creates something that it highly relatable and will make the audience feel much more involved with the film.
Coming of age films usually have settings such as school or at the protagonist’s home. A girly teenage character will often be shown doing stereotypical activities, such as shopping with their friends which is something that teenage girls watching can directly relate too. They often show the protagonist's bedroom as a mechanism to reveal and give the audience an insight into the character's interests and private life such as music, games, school work. This creates something that it highly relatable and will make the audience feel much more involved with the film.
Narrative:
The storyline in coming of age usually revolves around a teenage protagonist who has some kind obstacle in their life. They often want to be accepted and try to be popular or try to win over their crush or they have a hobby or talent such as singing, with dreams of making it big, however, often there will be a barrier in the way of this. This might be a case of their family not accepting their dreams and, trying to steer them down a path that they would prefer, or any personal issues that typically surround adolescence, for example mental problems such as depression. They will often be about a teenager’s day to day life and the struggles they face like in the film 'Wild Bill', directed by Dexter Fletcher. These things relate with their target audience of teenagers as the audience can relate to the situations as they may have been in similar situations themselves.
The storyline in coming of age usually revolves around a teenage protagonist who has some kind obstacle in their life. They often want to be accepted and try to be popular or try to win over their crush or they have a hobby or talent such as singing, with dreams of making it big, however, often there will be a barrier in the way of this. This might be a case of their family not accepting their dreams and, trying to steer them down a path that they would prefer, or any personal issues that typically surround adolescence, for example mental problems such as depression. They will often be about a teenager’s day to day life and the struggles they face like in the film 'Wild Bill', directed by Dexter Fletcher. These things relate with their target audience of teenagers as the audience can relate to the situations as they may have been in similar situations themselves.
Themes:
Education, romance, friendships, overcoming obstacles in daily life
Education, romance, friendships, overcoming obstacles in daily life
Music:
The music in coming of age films is typically anything that is popular at the time, as they will be made so the average teenager will relate. This of course is subjective, and depending on the personality and character of the protagonist, the extent of the relatability will vary. It could display if they are rebellious or a positive person depending on the song but typically pop is the music most often used because it is upbeat and happy which is a quality of a lot of coming of age films as they are supposed to be feel good movies.
The music in coming of age films is typically anything that is popular at the time, as they will be made so the average teenager will relate. This of course is subjective, and depending on the personality and character of the protagonist, the extent of the relatability will vary. It could display if they are rebellious or a positive person depending on the song but typically pop is the music most often used because it is upbeat and happy which is a quality of a lot of coming of age films as they are supposed to be feel good movies.
Protagonist:
The protagonist will be a teenage boy or girl for the most part, often having hobbies, interests or talents that the film will revolve around. Often they are social misfits and the film is about them wanting to be accepted. They almost always have different personalities to the social norm, maintaining originality and keeping the audience engaged, creating a relatable topic. Other characters tend to be the protagonists crush, their friends, bullies, parents, or popular and social outcast groups at school.
The protagonist will be a teenage boy or girl for the most part, often having hobbies, interests or talents that the film will revolve around. Often they are social misfits and the film is about them wanting to be accepted. They almost always have different personalities to the social norm, maintaining originality and keeping the audience engaged, creating a relatable topic. Other characters tend to be the protagonists crush, their friends, bullies, parents, or popular and social outcast groups at school.
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