You're Wrong About Inventing the Teenager with Harmony Colangelo
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May 7, 2025 Harmony Colangelo, co-host of This Ends at Prom, dives into the fascinating origins of the 'teenager' concept in America, shaped by post-WWII dynamics. They discuss how educational films imparted life lessons, often through fear-based narratives, and tackle the complexities of teenage identity and emotions during cultural shifts like Beatlemania. Nostalgia for classic sitcoms contrasts the harsh realities youth faced, while the conversation critiques the stereotypes surrounding teenagers today, advocating for empathy and understanding of their rich inner lives.
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Post-WWII Birth of Teenagers
- The American teenager as a category emerged post-World War II due to shifts in family structure and societal roles during the war.
- Teens gained new freedoms but lacked cultural identity until educational films and media helped define them.
Classroom Films Enable Teen Education
- Postwar surplus 16mm projectors enabled schools to widely use classroom films for rapid mass learning.
- These films aimed to teach social guidance, life skills, and mental hygiene scientifically to adolescents.
Cheesy Anti-Drunk Driving Film
- Sarah recalls an 80s driving film where a drunk driver accidentally kills his own child.
- Despite its cheesiness, the film effectively instilled fear of consequences in teenage viewers.