Teen Dreams: Reading Teen Film and Television from ‘Heathers’ to ‘Veronica Mars’

In this pioneering and entertaining book, Roz Kaveney examines the crucial films and television shows in the teen-driven genre and reveals the inner workings of their consistent themes. From John Hughes’ early films, to the cheerleaders of Bring It On , the films and their characters deal with sex and gender relations, presenting a picture of the hidden life of teenagers. Hit teen films can also promote products, launch bestselling soundtrack albums, and be career-makers for young actors. Kaveney also shows how the teen genre has absorbed classic material in the case of Clueless , has made up gender etiquette manuals like American Pie , and how teen films and TV series deal with the tragic and comic undersides of the American dream.