In genre studies, a coming-of-age story is a genre of
literature and film that focuses on the growth of a protagonist from youth to
adulthood ("coming of age"). Coming-of-age stories tend to emphasize
dialogue or internal monologue over action, and are often set in the past. In literature this is also called
Bildungsroman
Why is it
popular? Why
should WE study it?
Best coming of age
movies:
Kings of
Summer
The 400
Blows
The Way,Way
Back
Boyhood
The Squid
and the Whale
Big
Almost
Famous
Breakfast
Club
Rushmore
Rebel
without a Cause
Stand By Me
Dazed and
Confused
Female Protagonists
Blue is the
Warmest Color
Beasts of
the Southern Wild
An Education
Ghost World
Welcome to
the Dollhouse
Virgin
Suicides
ON TV:
Freaks and
Geeks
The Wonder
Years
In Literature:
Catcher in
The Rye
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Kite
Runner
David
Copperfield
What changes might
the character experience?
Shame
Sexuality
Political Opinion
Rebellion
Disenchantment with parents, teachers
Acceptance of authority, maturity, wrongheadedness
Conventions &
Icons
-
Young protagonist, often male and teenage.
-
Set in the past, narrated from the present.
-
Personal growth
and change is an important characteristic of this genre, which relies on
dialogue and emotional responses, rather than action.
-
Conflict with
family/authority: http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/MRobinson/clips/welcome-to-the-dollhouse-dawns-family-dinner.wmv/view
Character Types
-
The main idea here is the character going
through a change.
-
A
moment of reflection and learning about yourself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzY2pWrXB_0 almost famous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzY2pWrXB_0 almost famous
-
Intro – inciting event – rising action –
climax/difficult choice – reflection on what we’ve learned
-
Films may focus on a single protagonist, or a
small group as they each learn about themselves on a single day, season, year
Visual & Editing
-
POV, put us in the shoes of the protagonist.
-
High and Low angle shots to emphasize age,
authority and juxtapose experience and innocence
-
Montage of youthful play, exuberance and energy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKE57A7U1XM kings of summer
-
The guilelessness and innocence of youth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmCpmEQD0L4
Freaks and Geeks – Bill
-
THEMES & STORIES:
Narrative
Devices – flashback
Day in the
life
Year/Season
of growth
Jumping
through time to key moments
Morality
Tale
Just Be
Yourself
Can’t trust
anyone
People will
let you down
The past was
better
You’ll never
have friends like that again
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