avengingsybil

Teen Drama Springs Eternal

I have to share my latest obsession: MTV's new series, Taking the Stage, which follows several students of the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati . Up until now I have been turned off  by the "scripted reality" genre, a la The Hills. It's all so manufactured and insulting. And this is no less manufactured. But the difference to me is that these kids have real talent, things happen in their lives as opposed to an hour of TV dedicated the glorifying of stupidity and undeservedly glamorous fake careers.There's drama, make no mistake. These are teenagers to begin with, but very talented teenagers in a performing arts school? Let's just say that "humble" isn't an adjective I'd apply to most of the kids. All those egos make for an continually explosive environment. Still, when I saw the promo for this I knew I couldn't resist. A real-life(ish) show just brimming with the potential for a lunchroom dance-off --which, by the way was totally delivered on in the first episode --is something I need to be a part of. Bless DVR, because I can skip directly to these good parts if I so choose.

It's only one episode in, but so far my favorite character is Shaakira. She doesn't get much camera time, but I'm hoping her story line fills out as the season progresses. I forsee many a cringe-worthy moment, but I intend to keep watching.

I know, do I even read books anymore? I assure you that I do. Right now I'm juggling Watchmen and a succession of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels-- I never would have picked these up normally, not my style of reading (I've never been big on the vampire genre or even serial mysteries) but I loved the HBO series on which they were based and, like a good nerd, I can't let it go without reading the book. So far I'm finding them quite wonderful, like a sexy, funny Twilight for grown-ups with a real heroine. I also barreled through an ARC of Elizabeth Scott's moody and engaging Love You Hate You Miss You. It's a tad heavier than Bloom or Perfect You, but nowhere near as devastating as Living Dead Girl. I'd definitely recommend this one. I love the way she nails the complexities of family life. Great cover, too, though I can't decide if the model is supposed to represent Amy or Julia.

Anyway, it's the first day of Spring. It's a particularly welcome development here in New England, but no matter where you live, it's still something to celebrate.

Written material copyright 2009 Dawn A. Emerman

At the Movies

Last night I watched the 2008 documentary American Teen. I found it entirely absorbing, but also excruciating. The four point-of-view characters were well-chosen, as each gave you something to root for as well as cringe on varying levels. I can't tell you the number of times I screamed "noooo!!!!" at my tv as I could tell what Hannah, Jake, Megan, Colin or one of their friends were about to do or say. Honestly, how glad am I that nobody followed me with a camera when I was that age?

What bothered me about the doc it is that at times it felt like watching fiction. The filmmakers were granted so much access, it seemed impossible that the subjects would allow some of their more off-color exploits to be recorded for posterity. I wondered at time how much was genuine, and how much was showing off. There was also some very convenient exposition, for example, were they really there when the all-important phone calls and texts and announcements happened so they could gauge each subject's reaction? Clearly not. But the sum of its parts added up to a realistic picture of what it's like to be a contemporary middle-class white American teenager in all its unhinged glory.

Because she was the most like me at that age, and seemed to be the de facto lead character, I was personally invested in "outcast" Hannah - I really wanted her to get out of Indiana and see what she could become. But she was certainly not above reproach. I especially rolled my eyes at the snotty tone she took with her parents when discussing her future. I guess it shows my age, but I also think that will be the part of the movie she'll look back on and think of differently in years to come, even if she does make all her movie dreams come true.

I would definitely recommend American Teen to actual teenagers, but I do think it's something that takes on a different life when the viewer is a decade or more removed. I'd actually love to read a review of this from the eyes of someone who is coming from a totally different socio-economic perspective. Would the ever-present (if never taken seriously for a moment) specter of military service over Colin's future be such a death sentence? Or Hannah's dread of a 9-to-5 job? Or, heaven forbid, Megan's possibility of ending up at a college other than Notre Dame? Conversely, does the relative luxury of these problems make their stories any less worth telling?

Finally, if anyone's seen it, I wonder what their take is on Hannah's best friend Clark. Is he gay and that's why he and Hannah never hooked up? Were the truly platonic besties, or was there ever an unrequited  attraction? That's one question I was hoping to get answered and never did.

I enjoyed American Teen very much, even if it did leave me mulling over the point of such a documentary. I was invested enough in the subjects that I'd love to see a 7-Up style follow-up.

Written material copyright 2009 Dawn A. Emerman