Metamorphosis Films … · Metamorphosis Films AKA: “Coming of Age” !!...
Transcript of Metamorphosis Films … · Metamorphosis Films AKA: “Coming of Age” !!...
Metamorphosis Films AKA: “Coming of Age”
This unit is titled “Metamorphosis” but could be wrapped in many labels. The most common is “Coming of Age” which are movies about youth or the teenage years; in fact, “Coming of Age” applies to the majority of titles in my film list. The “Metamorphosis” label, however, allows viewers to also consider movies that feature protagonists over the age of twenty. What does “Metamorphosis” mean? The word comes from Greek and means to quickly “transform” or “change shape”. It is often attached to biology. Think of a butterfly: It begins as an egg, becomes a larva (caterpillar), enters a pupa stage and, after a short time, finally bursts out as a butterfly. The movies in this Metamorphosis unit connect that transformative process to humans. As well, since the greatest physical, mental, and social changes occur between the ages of 10-‐20 so it makes sense to commonly associate this idea with teenagers, right?
Many “Metamorphosis” films can be considered via Erick Erickson’s “Stages of Psychosocial Development”. Each stage is a step to the next.
The following are COMMON ELEMENTS in “coming of age” movies/TV/literature but can also apply to adult characters. Coming of Age Tropes often have combinations of the following:
[source: TVtropes.org]
Check ✔ the “Metamorphosis/Coming of Age” films you’ve seen:
Many monster-‐horror films could fit in this category too. They include… The Fly All Werewolf movies Most Vampire movies The Thing The Cat People
Ø Adult Fear (No longer being scared of “monsters”; losing parents/divorce, being destitute, banishment from social group or community.)
Ø Combat (often replaced with sports in more peaceful times).
Ø Hunting or the main character getting their first job.
Ø Finally seeing one's parents as people with weaknesses.
Ø Trying to stand out, paradoxically, by fitting in.
Ø First crushes or relationships. Ø First experience with death, grief, loss. Ø Questioning religious beliefs,
or societal traditions/rules/customs. Perhaps even doing away with any one of them, or changing them.
Ø Coming-‐Out Story. Ø First experience with sexism, racism,
homophobia, or similar prejudice. Ø Sex as Rite-‐of-‐Passage or developing
sexuality. Ø Growing Up Sucks.
Ø Bittersweet age, often 16-‐18 years old, when a person realizes they have to be responsible.
Ø Loss/death of best friend (for young protagonist, may be pet/animal).
Ø Down the Rabbit Hole (The protagonist, most often a young girl, is transported to a fantasy land and learns her strengths. Was it all a dream?).
Ø The Hero's Journey (Luke Skywalker).
Ø Wanting to have friends or be popular.
Ø “I Just Want to Be Normal” e.g. Peter Parker, Frodo Baggins…Often attached to ‘The Hero’s Journey’.
Ø Having one last experience or vacation with friends or family.
Ø First experimentation with drugs, alcohol, tobacco or any combination of the three.
Rebel Without a Cause Ghost World Stand by Me C.R.A.Z.Y. Spirited Away E.T. The 400 Blows Most John Hughes Most Wes Anderson The Piano (?!) Beasts of the Southern Wild Whale Rider Clueless Girlhood Son of Rambow My Own Private Idaho The Perks of Being a Wallflower Scott Pilgrim vs the World Boyz N the Hood Pinocchio
Call Me by Your Name Boyhood Welcome to the Dollhouse Room Juno Little Miss Sunshine (?) Mean Girls Superbad Submarine Dazed and Confused The Matrix Bend it Like Beckham Y Tu Mama Tambien Fish Tank Dead Poets Society Good Will Hunting Dirty Dancing The Virgin Suicides Groundhog Day The Lion King
The Last Picture Show The Graduate Blue is the Warmest Colour About a Boy High Fidelity The Life of Pi