Genre and Sub genre task

What is a teen film?

A teen film is a film that is aimed at, and revolves around teenagers. The plot usually involves a regular teenager whose life undergoes a significant change and has to face the challenges that arise from it. The protagonist can either face these challenges by themselves, which titles such as The Amazing Spider-Man have included, or they could confront the challenges with a group of people - most likely other teens - an aspect which occurs in films like Superbad.

This poster of Superbad suggests that the protagonists are about to embark on an action-packed adventure the likes of which they have never before experienced, hence the juxtaposition of the explosion and police officers in the background in comparison to the nerdy appearances of the characters in the foreground. It also implies that they will go through the experience together as a group, rather than individually.

This poster of The Amazing Spider-Man shows the protagonist is on his own which implies that he will face his challenges by himself, as a pose to with help from other characters. The inclusion of the city in the background behind also him suggests that he has sole responsibility for its protection, thus branding him as a hero, an aspect that is bolstered by the luminous city lights surrounding him in the background.

Who watches them? 

Teenagers generally tend to watch them, as they are made in order to appeal to them as an audience. However, many adults may also be attracted to them because of the nostalgic affect that it has on them. They may also watch them because of their interest in the lives of teens of their current generation, but they may end up with a warped perspective of them because of the stereotypes that most films choose to portray as opposed to what occurs in reality.

What sub genres are common?

Common sub genres within teen films include: teen drama, teen horror, teen comedy, teen musicals and teen sci-fi. The various sub genres cover a wide spectrum of themes that appeal to different teens based on their personality and interests. Producers often exploit these personal preferences with their advertising and merchandise, which ensures that they make maximum profit after the film's release. Comedy is among the most popular sub genres of teen film. This may be because it appeals to a wide audience, as people generally enjoy laughing. It is also aided by the fact that the age ratings can range from universal to 18, thus giving it a greater potential to appeal to as much people as possible. Conversely, the sub genre of horror is restricted in terms of who is able to watch them. However it is still a successful genre as titles like: Scary Movie and Scream have demonstrated.