Hey hey hey!!
Project/storyboard is still brewing, so let’s just talk about representation of teens in the media to follow up with my last post about my inspiration and target audience on “My So-Called Life” and teens.
As I did mention, “My So-Called Life” was more than just a show, it was a movement as well as a pedestal that pushed for shows such as “Euphoria,” “Outer Banks,” and “The Fosters” to become the production they are and even more so, to be distributed. A big factor in the abrupt cancellation of “My So-Called Life” were the very taboo subjects in the time of its creation, it touched on, as well as the parents seeking to somehow protect their kids from the content they believed was alerting. 
Although the show was basically just a peek into what may be an average American teenager’s experience, in this case Angela, the protagonist, it caused controversy for just that, as it introduced the first-ever openly gay character, drug use, peer pressure, among other experiences teens may happen to face. The limitation to the continued development of the show was its mid 90’s release date, a time where taboos and tabloids were roaming around cities and dinner tables, causing for conversations and conflicts about absolutely everything. From what I’ve seen and heard, and based on my personal opinion, it probably was just as a restricting time as today, but on different subjects. Back then there was a constant need to hide things, such as the real and true identity of things, in order to avoid further conversations. Beauty and a unrealistic expectation of perfection were spread across all angles of the media, but of course, the struggle to get there was hidden under the bed.
With “My-So Called Life” there was some type of bridge that allowed for teens to feel and sense a sort of identification on any of the topics touched on the show, causing them to even go as far to feeling close to the charactersm as they felt that their emotions were valid. That representation was something very much needed during the time, and constantly needed today, even more so with teens facing an entirely new round of issues that ranges from addiction to cell phones, mental health issues, and cyber-bullying, as well as those faced back then such as bullying and peer pressure.
This validation is a goal for my piece, and I would want to make teens feel identified with the specific issue of a toxic relationship. I would want teens to see my film and possibly idenitfy those red flags they may have overseen. As of my personal opinion of my small analysis, media is a great way to touch base with teens, especially now considering how much more we are exposed to it thanks to our mobile devices. With more teen shows, adolescents will not only see themselves in a different lens or way, but they may even see how the decisions they are taking are not the best.
See ya soon!!
Sources:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772296/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10293938/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10293938/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
https://www.thethings.com/the-real-reason-my-so-called-life-was-canceled/
https://www.thelist.com/361698/the-real-reason-my-so-called-life-was-canceled/
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