Teen Dramas and their Influence on Culture
The shows that fall into the teen drama genre are all, at their core, about the same things. They all follow teenagers simply living their lives. But every show needs a gimmick to be successful and the most watched programs are the ones that impact popular culture in some way.
The Vampire Diaries fed into the vampire hysteria that was sweeping society. Following the success of Twilight, The CW jumped at the opportunity to adapt the novel series for television. This show now owns the vampire genre. With eight seasons and two successful spin-offs, you can’t think about a vampire without picturing Damon or Stefan. The Damon versus Stefan argument sparked a classic debate: which one is better for the main girl? Elena became the “it girl” of the moment and the character every teenager wanted to be. The show was addictive and extremely popular at cons. The success of The Vampire Diaries re-introduced the vampire genre to film, TV, and music. There was even an increase in vampire themed video games.
One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl are commonly looped together. One is about a group of friends in a big city trying to survive high school and the other about a group of friends in a small town trying to survive high school. Although they had similar concepts, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill were vastly different shows. It’s all about the gimmick that I referred to earlier. Gossip Girl was about the rich, so everything was on the table. Nothing seemed too absurd because anything can happen to people with money. One Tree Hill on the other hand had to get more creative. It followed many typical high school storylines that were laid out before them by Degrassi, but also amped up the drama. There was drug use, stalking, and even death. The small town drama didn’t seem too small. Something both shows have in common is a fierce female lead. I’d be perfect if I were a combination of Blair Waldorf and Brooke Davis. Those two characters influenced culture at the time, helping young women realize that they can be independent and strong, while still being loved and feminine.
My So-Called Life genuinely rocked my world. As a fan of Freaks and Geeks and 90s teen grunge, My So-Called Life was an obvious show for me to add to my list. Despite only lasting for one season, the series, lead by a young Claire Danes, broke boundaries with its dramatic plotlines. It featured stories regarding alcoholism, divorce, child neglect, LGBTQ issues, learning disabilities, and more. Additionally, the show dove into parental problems and demonstrated the issues that the main character, Angela’s, parents struggled with. Most importantly, My So-Called Life set a precedent for teen dramas. It featured normal high school problems and teen romance. Sometimes it felt like Angela’s romantic dilemmas were about nothing, and THAT made them seem real. Without My So-Called Life, Euphoria, Skins, Glee and Degrassi: The Next Generation would not have happened, nor would they have had such an incredible impact on culture and TV.
Two series that influenced American teen dramas were Skins and Degrassi: The Next Generation. These were shows from the UK and Canada that featured heavy storylines. No plot can be done in any show without it somehow connecting to one from Degrassi. Additionally, Skins had the shock factor that made your eyes glued to the TV. You can’t believe that teenagers can say and do those things on television. Each set a precedent for how real and raw American teen dramas can be.
Glee didn’t influence culture, it inserted itself into it. Ryan Murphy decided musical theater and a cappella groups were the next big thing and we all agreed with him. I was so immersed in the Glee culture that I went to their concert, dressed up as a “Gleek” for Halloween, and themed my Bat Mitzvah around it. The fact that Glee covered popular songs was how it most affected culture. Every week you would hope that they’d cover your favorite song and wonder how they’d tie it into Artie’s storyline. Additionally, Glee has contributed to cringe culture. The show is guilty of referencing every stereotype known to man, has creepily invasive teachers, and random dialogue. Recently, Glee has had a resurgence and has been the subject of many memes and online videos making fun of the show.
Euphoria is the latest TV show to completely rock the teen world. The wardrobe and makeup of the women in this program have changed the way girls express themselves. Eccentric makeup and creatively revealing outfits have caught the eye of many. Countless women dressed as Maddy for Halloween, and college girls, in particular, have started to model their makeup after the show. These trends are a testament to the artistry of the show. Along with Blair Waldorf and Brooke Davis, the female characters in Euphoria have given its viewers new confidence.
Teen dramas appeal to us because they’re rooted in real issues. Even if the plot lines are exaggerated for dramatic effect, or include supernatural creatures, the main themes are something every person can relate to in one way or the other. Also, TV shows shape who we are as people. With teen dramas, you can actually imagine yourself being friends with the characters so it makes sense for their tropes to invade our everyday culture.
Honorable mentions: Riverdale, Outer Banks, All American, On My Block, The O.C., Dawson’s Creek, and many more.
Disclaimer: I don’t write about shows I’ve never watched because it’s not fair to express my opinion on something I know little about. If I left out one of your favorites then that’s probably the reason.