New Books in Popular Culture Stefania Marghitu, "Teen TV" (Routledge, 2021)
Nov 30, 2025
Stefania Marghitu, a media scholar and author of Teen TV, dives into the evolution of teen television and its cultural significance across generations. She discusses iconic shows like Welcome Back, Kotter and My So-Called Life, shedding light on their progressive themes and representations of diversity. Marghitu also explores changes in teen sexuality portrayals and contrasts British and American television's handling of youth narratives. With insights from showrunners and a focus on geography, she envisions a nuanced future for teen TV.
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Generational Frame Reveals Teen TV Shifts
- Teen TV is best understood through generational shifts tying industry, culture, and youth identity together.
- Stefania Marghitu uses Baby Boomers → Gen X → Millennials → Gen Z to reveal changing teen representation and markets.
Postwar Marketization Created The Teen Audience
- Early television built teen markets alongside postwar consumer culture, with magazines and teen department stores driving interest.
- Segregation and local broadcasting limited Black youth visibility despite rising youth-targeted formats.
Reruns Shifted My View Of Kotter
- Stefania Marghitu recalls watching Welcome Back, Kotter reruns on Nick at Nite and later reassessing its social significance.
- She notes the show uniquely portrayed diverse urban teen life and progressive themes for its era.