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.