Discuss the connection between cinema and reality in Matinee (1993). How do the events involving Mant connect to the events in the world outside? How does the storyline involving the teenagers, supposedly real in the world of the movie, mirror that of a teen movie?

Discuss the relationship between Dawn and Brandon in Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996)*. Why do they act the way they do?

Discuss the role of crime and punishment in The 400 Blows (1959)*. What are Antoine's crimes? Do the punishments he recieves fit the crimes? Why or why not?

In L.I.E. (2001), is Big John a villain? A threat to Howie? Why or why not? What is the biggest problem Howie faces?

Discuss the role of the parents in Desert Bloom (1986). What is the significance of the fact that Jack is not the girls' real father? How does Aunt Starr fit in? Do Lily, Jack, and Starr prove sufficient as parents for Rose?

Discuss the setting of Beautiful Thing (1996)*. What challenges do the characters face based on their class and where they live?

Discuss the view of sex/sexuality in Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002)*. What is the relationship between the two boys? And how does Ana affect that relationship?

Discuss the narration of The Virgin Suicides (2000)*. How does presenting the story through the eyes of the group of boys affect our view of the story?

Compare and contrast Murder By Numbers (2002) to the Leopold/Loeb case.  How did the filmmakers alter the story to appeal to the teenage audience?

In Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)*, is Murray Abramovitz a good father? Why or why not? Will his kids turn out all right? Why do you think this way?

Discuss the use of guns as a symbol in Guncrazy (1993). What do they symbolize? How does this symbol connect to the common themes of teen films?

The films we viewed in class show characters rebelling because of a lack of or inadequate parents. In Thirteen (2003)*, is Melanie a good mother? Why or why not? To what extent is she responsible for Tracy's behavior?

How is virginity viewed in Circle of Friends (1995)*? What does the film say about the connection between sex and love?

Discuss the various family relationships in The Lost Boys (1987)*. What kinds of families are there in the film? What makes a family in the film? What differentiates a successful family relationship from a destructive one?

In Wargames (1983)*, what is the difference between reality and a game? What is the proper teenage world and the proper adult world? Where do they intersect? In what ways are teenagers better equipped to deal with the "real" world than the so-called adults?

How does Real Women Have Curves (2001)* present the idea of "beauty"? What is the ideal of beauty in the film? How does this differ from other teen films?

Compare and contrast High School Confidential with Plain Clothes.  What are the similarities between the two films?  What are the differences?  Consider changes in time, point of view, tone, audience knowledge, and subject matter.

Discuss the theme of communication in Pump Up the Volume.  How is communication deficient in the film?  Give specific examples of miscommunication or failure of communication. Why is communication so important to the characters?

Compare and contrast American Graffiti with Cooley High.  How are the films similar?  (What led critics to call Cooley High the black American Graffiti?)  How are the films different?  How do the films illustrate the differences between the black teenage experience and the white teenage experience in the 60s? Are these differences still relevant today?

*In C.O.D. library