Blackboard Jungle and Rebel

The representation of youth culture is the most common theme in the movies. However, every movie portrays it in an own way. The film Blackboard Jungle is the most iconic Hollywood’s depiction of deviant American youth. It demonstrates juvenile delinquents in an urban school. Moreover, this movie raises the problem of education crisis that leads to the inability of parents and teachers to control teenagers. The movie Rebel without a Cause portrays the life of middle-class teenagers, their moral decay, and conflicts between generations. Consequently, this essay intends to underline the similarities and differences between the two movies and impact of their soundtracks.

The similarities between Blackboard Jungle and Rebel without a Cause refer to the portrayal of youth culture, showing and criticizing of their deviant behavior that prevents them from receiving the qualitative education. Both movies present the theme of young people as a worldwide problem that can result in outrage, crimes, and violence. The differences between Blackboard Jungle and Rebel without a Cause refer to the choice of genre. The first one is a social commentary film that is interested more in the issues of the education system. The latter one is a drama film that reveals the family problems that lead youth degradation and conflicts between generations. Another difference relates to the social background. Blackboard Jungle operates in the multiethnic and racially diverse environment. Rebel without a Cause refers to the gender roles and social status of families where teenagers live.

The choice of soundtracks to both movies also matters as their impact is evident in the youth movement of the 1950’s. The soundtrack of Blackboard Jungle is based on the innovative use of rock and roll and making it the part of youth culture. The youth movement of the 1950’s wanted to desperate the myth that teenagers are violent, disrespectful of authority, lacking in discipline, reckless, spoilt, and lazy. The soundtracks of Rebel without a Cause are based on jazz music. It means that both movies brought the revolution in music popularizing jazz and rock and roll. The choice of soundtracks proves that young generation was not able to express violence and cruelty but could be sensitive and emotional. It means that their problems were alarming due to the inability of parents and teachers to find the necessary approach to them.

Currently, the issue of youth culture and rebellion against the community remains alarming despite the progress in social studies and psychology that intend to help young people. Consequently, many contemporary movies are similar to Blackboard Jungle and Rebel without a Cause. First, it is Brick released in 2005. This movie deals with the problems of studying in high school, the lack of dialogue between the adults and young generation. Moreover, it criticizes the mean and dirty social politics of high school. Second, it is the movie Juno released in 2007. It raises the problem of pregnancy of teenagers in high school, the peculiarities of pop culture, and dialogue between adult and young generations. Third, it is the movie The Basketball Diaries released in 1995. This film shows that teenagers are vulnerable when it comes to drugs.In conclusion, one should say that despite the differences in genres and plots of Blackboard Jungle and Rebel without a Cause, they remain sharp and actual due to the fact that they portray many alarming issues. These are the lack of understanding between the elder and younger generations, the deviant behavior of teenagers that leads to drug abuse, violence, and crime committing. Consequently, the modern filmmakers use these issues for creating new movies that will reveal these social problems.

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