Now to pick a genre and stick with it. Films have been created for as long as our generation can remember and they have been filled with all sorts of different themes, stereotypes, conventions and what not thus resulting in a vast amount of (drum roll please…) GENRES! These genres cater to all sorts of tastes. To pick one was a task to say the very least.

 

After going through a long list of genres, my team and I agreed upon "Coming-of-age" which is a genre which places its primary focus on the growth of the protagonist from their childhood to adulthood. It's a transition which marks the loss of childhood innocence by means of internal turmoil resulting in personal development for the character. Primary themes of films in this genre include growing up, youth along with maturation. These films follow the character as they "come of age". This phrase simply holds the meaning that the character is evolving into the next stage of their life. The protagonists are usually teenagers undergoing emotional changes which serve to stir the plot. This is a genre which is more reliant upon dialogue and emotional responses rather than the usual action. In many cases, these stories are told as flashbacks. Through history, the protagonist in this genre was usually a male however in recent years they have become more focused upon females [e.g Lady Bird (2017)]. 

 

The coming-of-age subgenre has been a popular one in film ever since "Rebel Without a Cause" and "The Blackboard Jungle" in the 1950s. These films showed the angst and rebellion of teenagers as well as their difficulties navigating the complex social structures of high school. In the 1960s and 1970s, the genre expanded to include more diverse themes and experiences, such as the African American experience in "The Learning Tree" and the maturation of a young female protagonist in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore."

 

As the genre developed, filmmakers began to explore more nuanced and intricate ideas about identity, sexuality, and cultural differences. John Hughes rose to prominence in the genre in the 1980s with films like "The Breakfast Club," which depicted a diverse group of high school students who come together and break down social barriers through their shared experiences. This film, along with others like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," depicted the struggles and aspirations of young people at the time and became cultural icons for a generation.

 

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the coming-of-age genre continued to develop and expand, with filmmakers exploring issues such as sexual identity, race, and class. Movies like "Boys Don't Cry," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and "Moonlight" depicted young people's triumphs and struggles in figuring out who they are and finding acceptance in a world that can sometimes be hostile and unforgiving.

 

One of the genre's distinguishing characteristics is its capacity to connect with audiences across generations. The universal experiences of growing up are captured in these films, which provide a lens through which viewers can reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery and personal development. As a result, new films in the genre are still made and celebrated, and audiences have continued to enjoy them over time.

 

In conclusion, the coming-of-age film genre is important and timeless because it shows young people's successes and failures as they deal with the challenges of growing up. These films offer a unique perspective on the universal experiences of adolescence and offer viewers a window into their own journeys of self-discovery and personal development. The coming-of-age subgenre will continue to be a significant and beloved part of cinema for future generations as a result of this.