In David Denby's essay
"High School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies," he questions
whether teen movies "reflect reality" or follow a "set of
conventions that refer to other films." Using hyperbole and film
references, he explores the similar patterns between teen movies.
Denby begins by
describing the stereotype of the “most hated young woman in America.” In a
majority of modern teen movies, this is the popular, tall, blond girl who is
not liked. Although this exaggeration is not always true, it is a recognizable description
of the antagonist in many teen movies. By starting the essay with these
familiar stereotypes, Denby appeals to teenage readers. He then introduces the
overlying question: Do these stereotypes truly reflect actual high school life?
The references throughout
the essay connect Denby’s ideas to numerous movies. He alludes to movies that
portray the typical high school life such as Clueless, 10 Things I Hate
About You, Never Been Kissed, She’s All That, and Disturbing Behavior. By describing different characters and
different plotlines, he connects repeating story lines and the similar
characters. The movies become Cinderella stories as the nerdy girl attracts the
most handsome and popular boy in the school and the movie “turns into a myth of
social reversal.” These references help the audience understand Denby’s ideas
through popular movies that they’ve most likely seen before.
Denby concludes that most
teen movies have both the elements of reality and references to other films. They
attack the status quo of teenage society, but usually end up conforming to it
in the end. He also explores the idea of teen movies being the writers' way of
obtaining vengeance for their own years of pain in high school. Regardless
where teen movies come from, many remain classics that capture the essence of
high school.
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