5/15/2013
Creators know that their teen characters must be relatable if they are to successfully connect with a young audience. But that’s easier said than done, since there is no typical teen to serve as the basis for this relevance, according to Insight Research Group’s Stacey Matthias. “There are typical four-year-olds or eight-year-olds where there are milestones to measure against. But teen maturity does not correlate with age.” Some 16-year-olds might still be treated as children, complete with parents who cater to their every whim. Others might be working part-time, taking care of others, and otherwise mimicking an adult lifestyle. Which is the typical teen?
Still, several universally shared traits influence teen development.
All teens develop their identities through three areas: knowledge, perception, and experience.
Parenting values-whether their parents are prohibitive or permissive-primarily mold their personalities.
Broader cultural norms, such as the growing acceptance of gay marriage, influence their mind-set and beliefs.
Subculture adoption-in which teens self-define themselves as nerds, jocks, or preppies-influences their personal interactions.
It’s important for creators to incorporate these traits rather than rely on clichés such as the surly teen or the jock. Mattias also advises property holders to remember:
- Teens are a messy mix of contradictions. They are both naïve and wise; careful but risk-takers; smart and stupid. To be relatable, characters must also embody these lovable contradictions.
- Teens live their lives through their on-screen characters, which means they want to see consequences that they themselves may never face. What happens when a character cheats on the test? What happens when a character runs away from home?
- Teens value their home life and want to see it depicted fully and realistically on screen. They want to see parents interacting with other adults and managing their lives. They realize their lives don’t revolve around teens.
SOURCE: Insight Research Group, Stacey Mattias, Principal, 401 Greenwich St., 3rd Fl., New York, NY 10013; 212-584-2323; stacey@insightresearch.biz; www.insightstrategygroup.com.
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