My Hobby of Watching Movies

Growing up, movies were always a big part of any downtime I had. Generally, they were for most people my age. Typical movies were the Disney classics and the unforgettable Pixar films. The moment when Marlin found Nemo touched us almost as much as when Woody and Buzz became the best of friends. The best part was that movies were common and everyone was watching them so it was a great topic to relate to. It was a general consensus that movies were just pleasurable and not meant to be taken so literally.

Now, they represent advertising rather than leisure. The common trends in the movies recently released and viewed by teens have strayed from delivering motivational messages to a focus on alcohol, partying and who is the most popular kid in school. From the introduction of the ever-so-famous Cady Heron from the teen classic Mean Girls to the banger bash at Thomas’s house in the newly released phenomenon Project X, films have taken the idea of teen drinking and twisted the festivity in reality.

In other words, why is an illegal drug presented as the most sought-after social event for teens? In a study on alcohol use in top-grossing American films featured in the Journal of Community Health, researchers took 110 films, with over 50% of them being rated PG-13 or higher, and found that 96% of the movies had at least one pro-alcohol event (Everett, Schnuth, Tribble 3). With this change in media comes change seen in the lives and behavior of those viewing these types of films from the big screen to their smart phones.

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Instead of guiding these lost individuals down a path more appropriate, PG-13 movies create negative effects on the behavior of these teens through their representations and exposure to alcohol in society.

First of all, the accessibility of R-rated movies is now easy and is one of the many reasons why movies have such a strong impact on teens growing up. Featured in the Journal of Health Communication, Susannah R. Stern, a member of the Department of Communication Studies at The University of San Diego, conducted a sample study covering the messages teen films deliver regarding on teen drinking. Stern states that teens from the ages of 12 to 17 account for 19% of total movie theater admissions (Stern 333). Movies can additionally be viewed in cinema complexes, on DVDs and Blu Ray Discs, on movie channels on televisions, on their smart phones and devices, and through rental programs, such as Blockbuster, Netflix, and On Demand. Ratings have limited control which is an issue being that rated R movies are commonly viewed by individuals younger than seventeen. Teens have developed ways around the systems of society in order to get what they want. Some would like to think they are not permitted to without adult supervision. However, underage teens are frequently sneaking into R movies. For example, they can buy a ticket for a movie they are allowed to see and sneak into the theater playing the R movie. Therefore, it is not surprising that in a recent study featured in the journal Pediatrics, national K-12 education reporter for USA Today, Greg Toppo, estimated that over 2.5 million teens from ages 10 to 14 watch R-rated movies (Toppo). As you can see, rules and regulations are becoming less and less of something to follow being that it is just not what teens are wanting these days. Instead, they are looking to view what is considered to be “cool”. Not only are they looking to see the biggest parties, the hottest actors and actresses, and no rules, but they are also looking for clues on how to be themselves.

Adolescence is a time where individual thoughts and desires begin to form. It is also when teens begin to stray away from constant parental guidance, a part of the development phase. However, the recent influence in assisting such kids is not so much their parents or peers, but is rather now the media. In the Handbook of Children and the Media, Psychologists explain that “an area commonly studied is a child’s identity development and how the media is analyzing the gender-role learning” (Huntemann Morgan 308). It was also stated that the boom of computer and technology use impacts the search for identity being that people are now seen relying on the big screen to help them become comfortable with growing up, sexual encounters, relationships and identity (Huntemann Morgan 313). Movies, in particular, are generating films targeted to these kids who are looking to learn about themselves. These types of alcohol movies are widely accepted by the teenage population, but negatively affect their behavior and identities. One major message that movies illustrate is that drinking is cool. It is not the good student or the religious kid who is focused on, but rather the person who got drunk and did something wild over the weekend. For example, in the 2001 comedy Mean Girls 2, the character of Abby was a timid girl who was loathed by a very popular and vindictive girl. Abby’s friend, Jo, did not want her shy friend to be bullied anymore for reason being she wasn’t like the rest of those in the “in crowd”. In an attempt to change the situation, she threw a party at Abby’s house. With this party, Abby was seen as “more cool” (Mayron). Another example of a film whose message states that drinking is cool is the 2012 comedy Project X. With his parents away, the main character, Thomas, and his two friends planned to have a party in an attempt to be noticed. It was aimed to be small, but one of his friends, Costa, was urging for him “not to be a loser anymore” and throw a huge bash (Nourizadeh). When returning to school after the party, Thomas was then rewarded and acknowledged with huge ovations and hellos. Both movies’ messages imply that one who is seen as a “loser” in society could change that reputation if desired by simply having a party.

As you can see, being a reserved individual was not condoned whereas partying was. Teen films encourage the consumption of alcohol when searching for what is considered to be cool. The psychological issues here that arise for adolescents are those that regard themselves and the problems found with them. Combining the effects of alcohol with the vulnerable psychological state of teenagers is even more dangerous. Moreover, when someone drinks, they lose self-control, common sense, and stability. This makes for opportunity for poor decision making and can hurt a person’s reputation, identity, and their lives. To elaborate further, teen movies are dangerous to identity development because it changes adolescent values away from what they have already been taught to believe what they see on screen is more perfect. Drinking is not helpful to finding adolescent identities, but rather unconstructive. As teens keep viewing these types of films all while continuing to grow up, their views start to alter and behaviors tend to worsen. If someone doesn’t know exactly who they are and need guidance, many teens tend to look at those on the big screen and take the fiction being showed as reality. When the characters who party often are the ones who have a lot of friends, have fun, and are happy, teens will then try parting as the answer to being cool.

The “coolness” on the big screen commonly linked with partying also affects their view of what is popular. So if the messages movies are pushing for include partying to be the way into the “in” crowd, no “wimp” gets the girl, and being drunk is the most fun one could have with their friends, teens will judge others this way and encourage each other to drink. Drinking is often portrayed as positive. Nearly 40% of the major teen characters in Stern’s sample were shown drinking at least once, and 14.4% more than once. (Stern 339). Movies often illustrate parties where massive consumptions of alcohol occurring in one sitting, more commonly known as binge drinking (Urban Dictionary). Drinking, in other words, equals giant parties, as seen in Project X and Mean Girls 2 already.

To discuss further, in the previously mentioned film, Project X, stressed the importance of popularity and partying. Thomas and Costa were amongst those hardly noticed in school. This film focused predominantly on the fact that the party that was thrown in order to gain some sort of popularity (Nourizadeh). In review of the film, Peter Travers of the Rolling Stone comments, “Project X is an unholy mess that reaches down to the age-irrelevant drive in all of us to just get shitfaced and run amok” (Travers). Additionally on the big screen in 2009, the comedy 17 Again illustrated how the partying and popularity combination go hand in hand. Seventeen-year-old Mike O’Donnell was transformed from an adult to his teenage-self due to a wish. Mike takes this opportunity of being a teen again to become popular and well more liked than he is as an adult. Seen as merely the new, weird kid, he decided to get more popular by having a party. Instead of taking fixing his life like he had originally intended, society skewed him otherwise as he then aimed to provide more “happiness” for him by becoming popular. The party was Mike’s key to spiking his status. Both movies’ messages represented the common attitude scene in movies that partying was thing to do, especially when looking for popularity growth.

This coolness seen in drinking also connects to the change in how adolescents view and treat others. Some teens face behavioral changes as they become more open or cocky being that they now find themselves to be cool because they drink. A further example of a teen film whose main character became popular due to partying and as a result treated others differently is the 2004 comedy Mean Girls. Protagonist Cady Heron was the new girl at school, but when she joined a group of three popular girls, she began to hang out with them in school and attended their parties. The girls’impacted Cady so much that she was even pushed to lie to her parents and best friends and throw a big party at her house. This came with her new found popularity (Waters). Partying and popularity influenced Cady’s relationships negatively. This doesn’t necessarily aid the self-identity search process. If anything, it stunts it. Partying movies affect the view of others additionally being that what is seen in movies may be completely different as to how their life is and they look to change that. Adolescents watch these movies and become motivated to be more like what is on screen and strive to do so with their new found attitudes. Another factor that plays a part in relationship issues is that partying doesn’t involve the consent of parents.

In Mean Girls, Project X, and 17 again, the parents were not home. Instead, they were surrounded by their peers. In a sample study featured in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Mark D. Wood, from the University of Rhode Island, examined the “influences of peer and parent variables on alcohol use and its problems”. It was found that “as young adolescents begin to assert their own independence from the family, additional extra-familial socialization influences become more incorporated into their sense of identity” (Wood 19). “Active” and “passive” social influences were also observed and linked to adolescent drinking. To be actively influenced would be if a drink was offered whereas passive influences consist of someone’s view and beliefs on drinking based on their surroundings (Wood 20). Wood’s sample study concluded that “both active and passive peer influences were uniquely associated with heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences” (Wood 25). As you can see, movies support the idea that a drink in their hand leads to a foot in the door. With this said, it is extremely rare that movies portray the bad that accompanies drinking. This is part of the problem and contributes to the negative impact PG-13 movies have on the behavior of adolescents watching them. Teens fail to see the problem in drinking because they are blinded by the attraction of partying. Teens look to stray away from rules and more towards the alcohol because they see nothing telling them otherwise.

Project X is an example of a film where consequences of teenage drinking are absent. Thomas and Costa’s party ended in havoc as cops were everywhere, the house went up in flames and kids ran through the streets to get away. After being caught by his parents, however, Thomas was not portrayed as losing out when he is punished by being grounded (Nourizadeh). Film critic, Wesley Morris, of The Boston Globe writes, “This one [production) downplays the legal and personal consequences of the party and celebrates the glory of having achieved it” (Morris). In Stern’s sample study of substance use and messages in teen movies, it was found that 22% of characters who appeared to be under the age of 18 drank, with 60% of them not experiencing consequences as a result of their consumption. (Stern 334). As seen in Project X, the film industry fails to shine light on the consequences of drinking. Yes, there are a few scenes out there that show a teenager “learning their lesson”, but what consequences are actually shown? Movies choose to not display the consequences that are to occur if the events on screen take place in reality, but rather the depicted “fun” and amusement that comes with getting drunk. These teenage movies create problems in society because there are actual negative consequences that come from consuming alcohol and they are not being shown. When studying the connection between movies’ exposure to alcohol and related problems in adolescents, Doctor of psychology, Thomas A. Wills, states, in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, that alcohol related problems can vary from relationship problems, difficulties in school, or even as extreme as accidents. (Wills 24). In addition, Wood came across “a number of negative alcohol related consequences” in his previously mentioned sample study. “Hangovers and becoming sick from drinking were the most frequent occurrences, reported by 45.7% and 44.2% of respondents, respectively. Alcohol related memory impairment (33.7%), saying things that were later regretted (31.5%), becoming rude and obnoxious (23.4%), and engaged in sexual situations that were later regretted (18.2) were the next most commonly endorsed negative consequences” (Wood 23). To name a few more, too much alcohol consumption can lead to heavy vomiting, increased urge to fight, spiked emotions, and loss of self-control, decision making, perception, balance, and reason.

In Wills’ study based on alcohol and its consequences on adolescents, it was discovered that “out of a total of 961 teens between the ages of 10 and 14, 64% experienced no problems when drinking, 20% had experienced one problem, 8% had two problems, 4% had three problems, 3% had four problems and 1% had experienced five or more problems” (Wills 27). Some of the heavier penalties and problems that can be faced when drinking are drunk driving, being arrested, and alcohol poisoning. In addition, some serious long-term consequences include death, both one’s self and killing another, permanent brain damage, severe injuries, and sicknesses. As I stress the importance of these issues, note films chose not to highlight these complications. Granted, should it matter that teens are shown drinking in films it if is illegal to do so? Parents and other authorities would like to believe this. However, what they don’t take into account is that it is still easy to obtain alcohol. INSERT YOUTH SERVICE SURVEY. In this paper, I aimed to contesting this claim and argue the advertisement of alcohol would cause “forbidden fruit” theory to show how that makes it even more desirable. With this, I mean it would push for the idea that when teens can’t have something they want, they want to get it even more.