Comparison of Genre Conventions in Drama Films
(Juno, Dead Poets Society, and Aftersun)
After panicking about the sudden genre modification, I thankfully came to the realization that while coming-of-age movies are not exactly dramas, some of them are coming-of-age dramas since they focus on emotional growth, personal challenges, and realistic experiences.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie, a shy high school freshman who’s dealing with past trauma and trying to figure out where he fits in. Through new friendships and experiences, he starts to understand himself better and learns how to connect with others. The movie shows the emotional struggles of growing up, from first love to mental health challenges, which makes it a coming-of-age drama.
Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods, a bubbly and fashionable college student who goes to Harvard Law to win back her ex boyfriend. Along the way, she discovers her own intelligence, confidence, and potential. Elle’s journey is all about self-discovery, breaking stereotypes, and learning to trust herself, which are all key elements of a coming-of-age story, even with the film’s fun, and comedic tone. Despite this film being a coming-of-age comedy, it still showed me a new style of storytelling and including all types of different elements into the plot that doesn’t necessarily fully fit the drama genre but was still useful to research as it does touch upon self-discovery as a big theme explored in the film.
The Edge of Seventeen centers on Nadine, a high school junior feeling awkward and left out as her best friend grows closer to her brother. She navigates the ups and downs of friendships, crushes, and family tension. The movie captures the raw, emotional side of adolescence such as frustration, loneliness, and growth, making it another strong example of a coming-of-age drama.
Thankfully not all my work was useless and two and a half of the three movies I had previously analyzed are coming-of-age dramas. I say two and a half since I’m not 100% sure if Legally Blonde falls under coming-of-age drama. However, now that I’ve come to this realization I decided to further research similar films that fall under coming-of-age dramas. After looking at the openings of Juno, Dead Poets Society, and Aftersun I was truly shown how differently drama films can introduce their stories while focusing on the emotion and character of the story. Juno begins with a playful, slightly sarcastic tone, even though the situation she’s dealing with, an unexpected teen pregnancy, is serious. Dead Poets Society sets a completely different mood right away, using a strict and serious atmosphere to highlight the pressure at the boys’ academy. Aftersun opens much more quietly, using calm visuals and soft moments to create a nostalgic and reflective tone. Despite the different styles used for each individual film, each movie makes it clear early on that its story will revolve around personal challenges and emotional depth.
The early scenes also give hints about each film’s main conflict. In Juno, the conflict is clear from the start, she’s pregnant and trying to figure out what to do next. In Dead Poets Society, the conflict emerges through Todd’s discomfort and the school’s strict culture, suggesting the pressure the boys are under. Aftersun presents conflict in a quieter way, through unspoken emotions and gentle tension between father and daughter rather than a direct explanation. These opening scenes all showcase how dramas don’t always rely on obvious or dramatic conflict but display how sometimes the emotional tension is subtle but just as powerful.
The visual styles in each film help set the mood right away. Juno uses bright colors and a more stylized indie look that contrasts with its serious themes. Dead Poets Society has a more traditional, structured visual style that matches its formal school setting. Aftesun uses soft lighting and handheld camerawork to create an intimate feeling, almost like looking back on memories. While the visual approaches vary, they all serve the same purpose which is to make the characters’ emotions feel authentic and central to the story.
In the end, Juno, Dead Poets Society, and Aftersun reveal the wide range of styles drama films can use while still focusing on human emotions and real-life struggles. Each opening scene uses a different tone and approach, but all three make their characters and their emotional experiences the center of the story. This shows that drama can take many forms such as funny, serious, quite, or intense, as long as it stays grounded in genuine human feelings.
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