When I was in high school and college, I used to watch a lot of independent movies. Every once in a while, one of them is an absolute gem, but most of them? Most of them have a pretty bleak outlook on life and humanity. Young Adult could have made me feel worse about my life, but what did bother me the most, quite frankly, was that it was an embarrassment to young adult literature. Charlize Theron is a rather despicable character, who shook off the dust of her home town in Minnesota and headed off to Minneapolis, which, for all the airs she puts on, may as well be Paris or Milan. There, she’s made her career ghost writing a “wildly popular” YA series. In reality, the series is being ended, and she’s currently penning the last book. Shortly after being divorced, she receives a birth announcement via e-mail with a picture of her ex-boyfriend’s new baby. She prints it out, stares at it obsessively, until she decides to pack her bags, head home, and win back the love of her life (aka wreck a perfectly happy home).
At one point during our watch, my boyfriend says “I imagine this is exactly how most young adult authors are in real life…only you know, less attractive.” We quickly agreed that 99.9% of the world’s population is less attractive than Charlize Theron, but then I made him look at pics of authors like Maureen Johnson and admit she was cute while I also told him about how funny and wonderful she seemed as opposed to the heinous, tempestuous Peter Pan character that was Charlize Theron in Young Adult. I bristled under this comment, and from this movie in general, because the thought that this is how ‘young adult’ can be portrayed to the world just degrades it and feeds into so many of those naïvely negative opinions out there.
The thing about her writing that I liked: She drew inspiration from teens around her, and tried to write how these teens actually talked.
The thing about her writing that I didn’t like: It was pretty much a vessel for her to relive her youth that she’s never left. Her main character is very shallow, vapid, and pretty much a cardboard cut-out of her teen self. I get the whole she never really grows up or gets over high school thing, and I think it’s great that they did this with a character who did get out of a small town and have a successful career—it proves that it’s not always townies who get stuck in high school, sometimes you can stay in your home town and move on with your life. But still. It paints a picture of young adult literature as equally shallow and vapid, and those adults of us who read it as unable to get over our own youth. There have been all manner of discussions as of late as to what YA lit has to offer readers of all ages, and they’ve been good ones, so I won’t go on and on reiterating those facts here. I will say that I don’t in any way believe that reading it means I need to grow up, or that it lacks depth (okay some of it does, but not what I usually read).
Have any of you sat down and watched Young Adult? If so, what did you think? I’m trying not to get too annoyed at the negative portrayal of the literature I love (and yes, I will continue to refer to it as literature despite those damn critics), I realize that this was an independent movie, and not really main stream. It did, however, have some big names from the independent world involved (writer of Juno, director of Up In the Air) that are sure to draw a wider audience. It’s not really worth getting all up in arms over this, but I am curious to see how other YA fans felt. If you haven’t seen Young Adult, I’m not trying to discourage anyone from watching it. It’s not a bad movie, but it is a pretty bleak one…
I have avoided watching it. I have such a hard time with people bashing YA literature. People only focus on Twilight and think that every story is about a damsel in distress.
ReplyDeleteI also like to think that YA authors write novels to inspire teens and help them grow, versus just staying in their teen lives.
Thank you, for this post.
I didn't think watching Young Adult was a waste of time, but I'm not going to go around telling people it's a must-see either. If you have a hard time with negative images of YA lit, you're probably best off continuing to avoid it. I completely agree about the positive incentives for young adult authors! Thanks, Ashley. =)
DeleteI've been wanting to watch this film too, Heidi--it's so interesting to read your reaction to it as a fellow YA lover, because I was curious about how CT's character would be portrayed. I'd love to see YA discussed/seen in a more positive way across all media, and perhaps this will happen more in the future since it's such a driving force in entertainment dollars now and is getting so much more mainstream press. I can't say I'm entirely surprised by how the movie portrayed the author, though--and frankly, given all the meltdowns we've seen from YA authors recently, I'm not sure that the stereotype is entirely unfounded, either. But here's hoping for better experiences in movies and online!
ReplyDeleteAnd agreed, Maureen Johnson's photo is super cute. :)
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
Wendy, you're so right, there HAVE been a lot of YA author meltdowns lately. Some of them have been so damning that I've decided not to read particular authors because of them. I hope you're right that the increasing popularity of YA, especially in the movie market, means that it will start to be portrayed in a more positive way!
DeleteI couldn't make it through it. She was just such an awful person that I kept cringing. I only made it about a third into it. I agree, though, that I didn't mind that she mined conversation points from real-life teen conversations.
ReplyDeleteI liked the new Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:) I liked the Swedish ones a bit more but I'm probably just being a snob who doesn't think the US one was strictly necessary lol.
I totally agree! Lol, the US version of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was totally unnecessary, but I'm glad that they at least did it well. And I don't fault you for not making it through Young Adult, because SPOILER ALERT she doesn't become a better person or learn any lessons in the end.
DeleteI haven't seen this movie yet, but planning to and glad to bring a bit of your perspective into watching it.
ReplyDeleteI also don't think US version is better than Swedish. My heart belong to Noomi Rapace, even though Mara was good too. BUT Daniel Craig is definitely a better Blomkvist.
I'll give you that, Daniel Craig was pretty perfect for that roll! Good luck watching Young Adult, interested to hear what you think when/if you do.
DeleteThis is one that I had thought for a tiny second about wanting to see, then thought better of it. I'm sure one day I'll get around to it when it is on TV, but I just don't think I have it in me to watch it right now. Honestly, though, (and probably shallowly - but I can admit it) it's because there are just so many other awesome-looking things out there and let's face it: this poster doesn't scream WATCH ME! to me. Nor does the summary. Nor does the outcry/response of the YA-lit-loving population.
ReplyDeleteI love reading what you think, Heidi, because you always try to look at things from an objective standpoint. Eventually I'll watch it. But not now. Great post!
Thanks, Asheley! And yes, I agree, why spend time on stuff that is less than awesome and that you won't enjoy so much when there's so much out there that you will enjoy more? I'm trying to be more selective about the books I read these days for the same reason. So much stuff I know I'll love, I'm picking up fewer that I'm unsure of.
DeleteUgh. I hate YA bashing, especially when it's something that many people will see and then agree with simply because they're uninformed.
ReplyDeletePretty much. It wasn't by any means the theme of the movie, but it was there, and I did not approve.
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