Teen Rebellion and Parental Fear in 1950s Cinema

In the 1940s, the term “teenager” was coined to describe a newly distinct and scrutinized segment of the American population. By the 1950s, this demographic shift exploded onto the silver screen with films like The Blackboard Jungle, The Wild One, and High School Confidential, shocking audiences with gritty portrayals of delinquent youth. In this course, we look at the books, headlines, and Hollywood movies that highlighted their unruly behavior; and discuss how advertising, film craft, and shifting social norms seized on parental anxieties to propel stories of generational conflict. We explore the transition of youth from traditional, family-centric roles into film fantasies of mischief, mayhem, and sock hops, and learn why the movie, Rebel Without a Cause, unsettled viewers by placing rebellion squarely within white, suburban America. This course uses the Hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for 30 days.