Representative Americans (A201)
From 'Flappers' to 'Slackers': Youth Rebels in
Twentieth-Century America
Spring 1997
'Rebel Cinema' Viewing Tips
While you are watching the films assigned in conjunction with this
course, it will help you to think about each film 'critically' (as you
are doing with our common readings--a film is simply another form of
'text' for this course). Each film is enjoyable in its own right, but
each also reveals something about the various 'images' of youth rebellion
that can be found in American popular culture.
As you are watching each film, keep the following questions in mind
(answering these questions will form the basis of our post-viewing class
discussions):
- how is 'youth rebellion' being defined in the film (i.e.,
what sorts of activities or attitudes are the focus of concern)?
- how are young people being depicted in this film?
- how are adults being depicted?
- what explanations (if any) are given for the underlying
causes of youth rebellion (e.g., environment, ethnic background)?
- is there any distinction made between 'good' teens and
rebellious teens (or between 'youth culture' and 'delinquency')?
- how are other relevant social institutions (e.g., families,
schools) depicted?
Return to A201 syllabus