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By: Beth Kirchenberg Eva Thaler-Sroussi and Matthew Foster Young Adult Books and Film Slide 2 Definition of Young Adult: Media (particularly the film industry) determine young adults to be between the ages of 12-26. Slide 3 Definitions of Young Adult Films First, that teen film is defined most of all by its audience and, second, that whether comic, angst-ridden or violent, the teen film is as transient as adolescence itself. (Driscoll p.1) Teen Films are targeted at teenagers and young adults. Plot is based on special interests of teens, such as coming of age, first love, rebellion, conflict with parents, teen angst, and alienation. Some of these films are targeted at adults as well as teenagers. Teen films have been a trope of the cinema since the 1950s. Slide 4 Major Factors: Economic BOOM Post World War II economy created a teenage population with money to spend and leisure time in which to spend it (Tropiano p.19). Teen Culture Teens were creating their OWN culture which was then targeted by films and reinforced through marketing, media influence, and even parents (Doherty p.35). Film Industry Lowest attendance in Film History drives film industry to court teens. Rise of the YA/Teen Film Slide 5 1955-1960 Horror/Sci-fi, Juvenile Delinquent, Rock-N-Roll Musicals, Romances Blackboard Jungle (1955) based on the book by Evan Hunter (1954). Rebel Without A Cause (1955) I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) A Summer PlaceA Summer Place (1959) based on the book by Sloan Wilson (1958). Slide 6 1960s: By the early 1960s, an estimated 80 percent of the film-going population was between the ages of 16 and 25 (Mintz). The Era of Beach Movies based on music (Shary p.27) Prosperous 60s downturn in the 70s (Shary) Slide 7 1960s Examples: Up The Down Staircase (1967) Based on book by Bel Kaufman (1965). Blue Hawaii (1961) Where the Boys Are (1960) book by Glendon Swarthout (1960) Because Theyre Young (1960) book Harrison High by John Farris (1959). Slide 8 1970s: During the mid- and late-70s, the most popular films were escapist blockbusters like Star Wars (1977) and Superman (1978),featuring spectacular special effects, action, and simplistic conflicts between good and evil--inspirational tales of the indomitable human spirit, like Rocky (1976)--or nostalgia (Brickman) Slide 9 1970s Examples: American Graffiti (1973) CarrieCarrie (1976) based on the book by Stephen King (1974) Star Wars (1977) GreaseGrease (1978) What teens were reading : Carrie, Freaky Friday, Chocolate War, Forever, Flowers in the Attic Slide 10 1980s: John Hughes & the Brat Pack Gestalt of the 1980s teenager (Gora) Shopping Malls & Multiplex Cinemas drive Demand (Topiano) Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Enders Game, Stephen King, Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams Series & Lurlene McDaniel. What teens were watching: The Outsiders (1983) Based on the book by S.E. Hinton (1967) John Hughes Films 1984-1987 What teens were reading: Slide 11 1990s Foxfire, Harry Potter, Speak, The Giver, Lurlene McDaniel, Angela Johnson, L.J. Smith, Garth Nix, Sarah Dessen, Dangerous Angels, Girl Interrupted, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Generation X. What teens were watching: What teens were reading: Clueless (1995) Based on Austens Emma I Know What You Did Last Summer(1997) Book (1973) Slide 12 2000s and Beyond: Before Harry Potter, film adaptations of children's literature accounted for 20% of the book-to-film market (Thornton). By March 2009, this segment accounted for almost 50% (Thornton). Tie-Ins, Fan Loyalty, and Anticipation lead to a flood of YA/Teen Page to Screen Adaptations (Parke 25). Slide 13 2000s and Beyond: Harry Potter (2001) Based on Book (1997) Lord of the Rings (2001) based on Book (1954) Chronicles of Narnia (2005) Based on Book (1950) Twilight (2008) Based on Book (2005) Examples: Slide 14 1995-2013 Book to Movie Historical Statistics: Slide 15 The Information Age Created greater educational requirements Extended adolescents dependency on parents and postponed adult responsibilities Provided more adult information (divorce, sex,etc) earlier with fewer censors Pushed adolescents to grow up faster without forming a clear sense of identity 12-26 years old Youth in Film Slide 16 Young Adult Media May misrepresent youth to appease concerned parents or for comedic value Would not be successful were youth not represented with some accuracy Offers a snapshot of youth that can be traced back through several decades of social change. Has addressed new topics and themes inspired by developing technology Media shapes and reflects societal values and interests Youth in Media Slide 17 Family Dynamics: adolescent/adult relationships Peer Relationships: social networking Personality Traits: identity Romantic Relationships: personal struggles and sexual activity/experiences 4 Issues in Young Adult Literature and Film Slide 18 Family Dynamics Adults are presented as inadequate or nonexistent Youth are portrayed as superior, regardless of the decade Adult traits have evolved from rigid, conservative, authoritarianism to ignorant, irresponsible, permissiveness. The struggle varies from the balance of power to an intellectual struggle for acceptance, forgiveness, and destiny. Book (2003) Movie (2012) Slide 19 Peer Relationships Desire to expose the peer stratification system - often political in tone Discover the true meaning of friendship Mean Girls (2004)Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman (2002) Slide 20 Personality Traits Sexual orientation Coming of Age - American youth have no clearly defined rites of passage Challenging a parent Becoming financially successful Falling in love or having sex Overcoming a moral dilemma or other obstacles Triumphant conclusion Perks of Being a Wallflower Book (1999) Movie (2012) Slide 21 Romantic Relationships Sexual obsession Losing ones virginity Ideal of casual sex Relationships are more than just sex Youth in Revolt Book by C.D. Payne (1995) Movie (2009) Slide 22 Young Adult Literature By the Numbers TV shows (Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl) Movies Blogs (both by authors and fans) Young Adult Literature is taking over the world! Slide 23 Sci-fi and fantasy- often supernaturally themed Universal evil Romantic twist Strong Heroine The One - the chosen one must save the world from evil forces with help from their similarly powerful friends, who might have romantic feelings towards them Pop songs Potential for sequels How to Appeal to Teens A Formula Slide 24 Young adult films can fail if They are too similar or too frequent They vary too much from the source material They appeal to too narrow a demographic The heroes or stories are too clichd The portrayal of courage, good vs evil, and other timeless themes is unoriginal Why the Formula Doesnt Always Work Slide 25 Why do YA Book-to-Film Heroines Look the Same? Slide 26 Young Adult Books from Page to Screen What SHOULD create a good YA film adaptation Books with large and loyal fan bases Removal of nonessential details while preserving the soul; maintaining the themes and emotional ties of the story A crew (writers, director, etc.) that loves and/or respects the original material Avoiding inappropriate comparisons (The next Hunger Games) Bridging generational gaps with timeless issues like courage and good vs. evil Incorporating feedback from existing fanbases: those who have created websites, blogs, trailers, Tweets, etc. Fan fiction is what literature might look like if it were reinvented from scratch after a nuclear apocalypse by a band of brilliant pop-culture junkies trapped in a sealed bunker. Slide 27 Book VS Movie Movie Adaptations Can revive a books popularity Add artistry and critical thought to the work Are a new medium of entertainment Illuminate the sources themes, issues, and unspoken assumptions Aid visual learners One is not better than the other One is the original format Slide 28 Adaptations Before Harry Potter No series only one-shot hits Adaptations mostly targeted by genre rather than age (Jaws=horror) Book by Peter Benchley (1974) Movie (1975) Slide 29 Why Harry Potter Was Successful The Harry Potter books and movies Depict the protagonists progression from childhood through adolescence Span a decade which the intended audience is experiencing or has experienced Overshadow the more usual tween narratives about confidence and independence Focus on: The power of institutions The danger of minority Maturity The romantic triangle between Harry, Ron and Hermione Slide 30 Adaptations After Harry Potter Successes Twilight (2008-2012) The Avengers (2008-2012) and the movies that set it up Hunger Games (2012) Failures The Dark is Rising (2007) Cirque Du Freak (2009) Beautiful Creatures (2013) Technology is allowing for more extravagant effects Slide 31 Sci-fi and fantasy- often supernaturally themed Universal evil Romantic twist Strong Heroine The One - the chosen one must save the world from evil forces with help from their similarly powerful friends, who might have romantic feelings towards them Pop songs Potential for sequels How to Appeal to Teens A Formula Slide 32 Twilight (2008-2012) $292.3 Mil Vegetarian vampires vs Human Bloodsuckers Bella (heroine) has a love triangle with Edward and Jacob who both help her against the bad vampires 3 sequels (split into 4 movies) Series already had a loyal fanbase Discusses all 4 major issues in YA film (Family, Peer, Self and Romantic Relationships) Slide 33 Avengers & Prequels (2008- ) $623.3 Mil Specially Assembled Team to fight Evil Origin movies frequently had romantic interests and strong female characters, 5 (previous) movies that set up the story plus hundreds of comics to add. Comic book nerds Discusses all 4 major issues in YA film (Family, Peer, Self and Romantic Relationships) Slide 34 Hunger Games (2012- ) $408.0 Mil Katniss (heroine) is chosen to represent her home and fights against the tyranny of the government. She finds herself in a love triangle between Peeta and Gale Catching Fire just released this year, Mockingjay is slated for 2014 Discusses all 4 major issues in YA film (Family, Peer, Self and Romantic Relationships) Slide 35 Young adult films can fail if They are too similar or too frequent They vary too much from the source material They appeal to too narrow a demographic The heroes or stories are too clichd The portrayal of courage, good vs evil, and other timeless themes is unoriginal Why the Formula Doesnt Always Work Slide 36 The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (2007) $8.7Mil Though the book was published in 1973, this story of a young boy who must grow up in both the real world and a world in which he is a chosen warrior who must defeat the forces of evil was released as a movie at the same time as the fifth Harry Potter film. The author states You do have to do violence to a book to make it into a screenplay the two mediums are so different, but the alteration is so enormous in this case. Protagonist changed from British to American (to make it different from Harry Potter) Age changed from pre-pubescent 11 to 13 Language and settings changed from lyrical, poetic kaleidoscopic to make the story more action-packed. The director did not like fantasy Slide 37 Cirque Du Freak (2009) $13.8 Mil A young boy, Darren, is transformed into a vampire, causing strife between two groups of vampires. Numerous changes from the book Movie attempts to contain the first three novels which results in less time for each part of the story Book(s) - Main character is just entering puberty when he is changed into a vampire and struggles with the morality of sucking blood while going through adolescence Movie Main character is in his teens when he is changed into a vampire and struggles with the morality of sucking blood Slide 38 Beautiful Creatures (2013) $19.4Mil A young man and woman fall in love, but a curse threatens their happiness so they must fight to stay together This movie copies aspects of Twilight, Instead of a mortal female lead, it is a mortal male lead. The supernatural lead is conflicted about their inner morality. This movie hits all the major issues for YA film, but is not sufficiently original to avoid comparisons to Twilight Slide 39 Upcoming Movie Adaptations: Vampire Academy February 14, 2014 Trailer filled with action and explosions Adds short segments of awkward high school comedy Little bit of swearing Suggestive activity Divergent March 20, 2014 Trailer has little humor Lots of suspense Filled with action and movement. The author spent some time on set and advised some decisions with the director. The Fault In Our Stars June 6, 2014 While not a trailer, this is a brief vlog from John Green having to do with the filming process. The authors obvious role in the filming process indicates his approval of any changes that are being made.