TEENAGERS IN TODAY'S SOCIETY.
            
            
            
            
             How society and the media perceive teenagers does not necessarily represent reality. Not
             all texts are designed to tell the real story but to cater for the dreams of a target audience.
             Whether fiction or non-fiction, teenagers are similarly presented as rebellious uncontrollable and unstable. Some texts do show teenagers as heroic in themselves, whether achieving great feats or just surviving the trials of ordinary life. Unfortunately these texts are rare, although many have proved popular with teenagers and adults alike. Two such pieces are Lionheart (Martin & Gannon 2000) and Looking for Alibrandi (Marchetta 1992) at the other end of reality are two television series, Dawson's Creek and Heartbreak high. Taking a middle line is the movie Stealing Beauty, showing a realistic reaction to a contrived, or at least extremely unusual situation.
            
             What are the reasons for unrealistic representations? It generally comes down to money and target audience. People generally read/watch for entertainment and want to read/see something, which is more glamorous, exiting and or dramatic than their own lives. Even
             biographies documentaries can 'highlight' the truth to gain reader/viewer appeal. Target audience also determines how the subject is seen. A fiction work targeted at teens would be more likely to have teen heroes, with adults playing either the villains or lesser supporting roles. As most texts are produced by adults, they often don't show a realistic
             view as the emphasis is on target market. To adults, the power of teenagers is often solely perceived by their consumer power, so reality is often a casualty. Teenagers input in society, other than as consumers, is not valued. This shows in many fictional works. Culturally it seems that the more teenagers are seen as consumers, the more power they have in society. But is this the kind of ...