If you don't already know, here is the actual question:
- How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
To start, I should discuss the conventions of the COA genre and which conventions I used in my opening (which I have already researched on day 10 and basically just need to pull my information from there).
First of all, what is a COA film?
A COA film usually explores themes of self-discovery and not fitting in. Main characters in this genre are generally teenagers who are trying to figure out their life in some sort of way. COA films also commonly used voice overs as their narration style to create a more intimate bond between the character and audience. It can also highlight the character's personality over their actions.
Examples (that you might know!):
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| Ex: Charlie - The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) (Not fitting in) |
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| Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) (Voice over) |
My product uses the COA conventions such as not fitting in and voice over. In the opening, it is revealed that Maia actually gets bullied, because of her child-like character, which is why she doesn't fit in. I also utilize voice over as the main auditory technique to develop intimacy between the audience and Maia.
My product challenges the conventions of a COA film because the main characters are usually not portrayed as childish as mine. Teens in COA films are usually seen going to parties and trying to be adults, whereas Maia is not. She is just trying to discover who she is as she goes through high school.
Though I challenge the conventions of a COA film there are also some conventions that I specifically chose to stick to because they are key features of films in this genre. The key conventions I'm referring to are voice overs and the theme of not fitting in. When audience members watch a COA film, they usually expect the main character to not be "normal", which is why the film is about that character. Maia is "different" because of how childish she is, though she is already in 10th grade. I also chose to stick mainly with voice over because I want the audience to connect and sympathize with Maia's character.
Finally, how does my product represent social groups?
Well, my opening represents teenagers as a very broad group, through relatable experiences like sleeping a lot and getting bullied (which I hope is not a relatable experience for many).
My opening also represents a certain group of teens that are more energetic and like to be creative. Through my set and costume design, I fully present Maia's personality of being bright, bubbly and still a little bit childish. There are many bright colors, fun shapes and a ton of stuffed animals throughout her bedroom which directly translates to her personality. Her phone case also represents her creativity and enjoyment of being happy.
Thank you so much for reading and I'll catch you on the next one for week 6? (I've already lost count at this point...) Bye!!
Sources:
Heller-Nicholas, A. (2020, December 31). What is a coming-of-age movie? No Film School. https://nofilmschool.com/what-is-coming-of-age-movie
The Screen Academy. (n.d.). Teen movies genre. https://www.thescreenacademy.com/knowledge/genre/teen-movies-genre
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