Drugs, hardcore partying, and sex – these are typically the things that come to mind when thinking of modern teen life portrayal in movies. On top of that, all characters must be unrealistically attractive and preferably played by actors at least twice their age.
Looking back at teen movies from the 90s or early 2000s and comparing them with the ones we watch today, it becomes apparent that the movie industry has drastically changed over the years. The image of a ‘troubled teen’ who’s underestimated by society has evolved and reached a new meaning. To stand up for themselves and fight against conformity they turn to alcohol and drugs in an attempt to escape the pressure of constantly being in the public eye. Shows like Euphoria or Elite are perfect examples of such portrayals, where characters, faced with drug abuse, bullying, or sexual violence, quickly end up losing control over their actions and causing mayhem as they do so.
What happened to those high school movies of our past? To the teenage rebels, we once wanted to be? To answer that question we’ll have to go back in time and take a closer look at a story that started it all. 10 Things I Hate About You is a romantic comedy featuring the life of Kat Stratford, a teen feminist who loves rock and takes pleasure in ‘destroying’ just about any guy that comes in her way. Little does she know, that the infamous Patrick Verona, the male equivalent of Kat, has already set his eye on her and is about to turn her teenage world upside down.
Kat and Patrick are rebels in every possible way. They both share a bad reputation. They’re both alienated by their community and they’re both ‘built differently’. Yet, the most rebellious part about their behavior is that they’re not afraid of being themselves and speaking their truth whenever they have to. Instead of daydreaming about boys, Kat spends her free time reading feminist prose and doing the things she truly loves without worrying about her image. The same goes for Patrick and the notorious aura he has surrounded himself with.
Even after 20 years, 10 Things I Hate About You remains an adequate depiction of that teenage desire to rebel against the pressure to fit in. The characters express their disapproval by not giving up on their beliefs and challenging society to accept them as they are. The movie subtly displays the frustration of being misunderstood by the people around you and reveals the complex reality behind being a teen in a simple, yet captivating way.
So why has that portrayal changed so much? Is this really how the youth is perceived today? Fighting against conformity with recklessness and rage? As the world keeps expanding at a rushed pace, our fantasy of teenage life continues to transform. The forbidden fruit is what the audience now craves. The parties, the sex, and the alcohol are all just a tool to create an unrealistic plot that’s filled with drama and complicated issues. The teens we watch on screen are no longer the relatable kids with regular lives, but their unrealistic versions created with the sole purpose of entertaining the audience. Although it may seem upsetting now, let’s not lose all hope. ‘Ordinary’ rebels will come back one day and remind us what’s it like to be a teenager all over again.
Let's Rewind 
I miss those times when the teenage rebel was represented by leather jacket, only!
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