I've been obsessing over the lives of teenage girls recently. I just finished reading an article on girls' zines in Youth & Society, I'm currently reading Phoebe Gloeckner's The Diary of a Teenage Girl, and I watched Thirteen last night. For some reason, especially when I was watching Thirteen, I've got angry...really, really angry. I'm still not sure why, but I think it has a lot to do with knowing girls like those depicted in the film - and being subjected to their cruelty throughout my formative years.
I know that my own teenage years were fraught with confusion, frustration, rage, depression, and hopelessness. What's interesting is that most of these feelings were unspoken and rarely acted upon. It certainly meant that I wasn't stealing wallets or huffing paint, but it did mean that had a lot of pent up emotion that lingered for years later.
So, here's my question - if your teenage years were made into a movie, what movie would it be?
My answer: Welcome to the Dollhouse.
Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day. ;)
I don't think they made a movie about my teenage years but I think I know where you're coming from. I haven't seen 13 but I assume it's the typical clicky teenage flick where people battle group-life vs going-it-alone and battle the "this will effect your future" demons.
I'd divide highschool into (a) groups that didn't get the big picture (the football croud, didn't question much), (b) groups that did get it but still played the game (the AP studies croud), and (c) groups that did get it but refused to play the game (the drop outs). I was in (c). (b) group were the most depressed but made it into Harvard and (a) group are the nitwits that went on to be CEO's and Sales & Marketing turkeys. I'm guessing you were (b)?
Isn't being a teenager about a right of passage, doing something above-and-beyond the norm to join the elders, about being pushed to your limits and discovering who you are? Well - I don't think SAT-prep classes and rigid pointless highschools teaching absolute crap really fit that bill and it's a shame that our society doesn't seem to get this. Our (c) group really pushed the envelope in terms of life experiences - but we got in trouble for it the whole time and were constantly told we'd be doomed if we didn't "shape up". Hasn't happened yet - but non-traditional play is pretty tough sometimes. :)
I think it's great that you got angry... I wish more people did. What our society is doing to teenagers is appalling. But I guess this is too large a topic for a "comment".
Anyhow - Valentines day is just a f'ing greeting card company marketing program based on all the false desires that drive out capitalist engine... so don't let it get you down too much.
-ben (ok - maybe too much coffee this morning) :)