The changing fabric of modern society not only broke that tradition but exposed adolescents to a diversity of conflicting views, life styles, and options that could challenge the beliefs and expectations that were commonly accepted by earlier generations. This is not to say that these issues did not exist before. It is just on such a greater scale today. Because they are in the process of finding their own places in a world which today is constantly and rapidly changing, adolescents are often the trend setters of new fads, styles, technological advancements, and ways of thinking. This frequently puts them in conflict with parents and older siblings who often see the teenagers as rebellious and being drawn into strange and not all together acceptable situations and behaviors.
Adolescents reflect the spirit of the time in ways that can be very threatening to older people.
The following films explore various aspects of adolescent life including the strain that often exists between teenagers and adults. Each movie in some way reflects on the confusion, hesitation, risks, rebellion, idealism, and change that characterize this period of life. For many teenagers, high school is a boring and unrewarding place that has no purpose other than maybe allowing one to be with one's friends. When the school is in an economically challenged community and the academic standards for that community are low, school becomes even less meaningful for many of the kids. It is easy for adolescents in this environment to lose faith in themselves and believe that they are losers.