Teenage Wasteland Sociology

The five students in this movie are associated with a different class statuses at the beginning. For example, Allison is portrayed as an “outcast” and a liar, while Andy is seen as a jock and an athlete, John is characterized as a criminal and is seen as an older guy who has failed in school shown by his appearance, Brian is known as a smart student, and Claire is seen as a spoiled girl, and who belongs to a higher class. The student has based their self being on social interactions and is impacted by their surroundings, the students have imposed the role that each person should play. Claire and Andy are recognized as being in upper the social class by sitting at the same table in the library, while all other students sit alone demonstrating

Allison steals Brian’s wallet during the detention and also comes to detention without even being in trouble. Claire skips school to go shopping and enters a relationship with John at the end of detention. Andy is different when he smokes the marijuana because he is a varsity athlete. Brian brings a flare gun to school in order to commit suicide and John breaks the school rules in the ways he is not involved in school activities, and destroys school property such as pulling the fire alarm. This shows they are struggling with their own identities inside and outside of school. This relates to “Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia's Dead-End Kids” by Donna Gaines discusses how many social factors like personal lives, economic situations, drugs, alienation from school, and high expectations from parents created a situation in which teens wanted out and they thought suicide that was the only

This is shown by students who belong to different social groups. But when they are all together, they focus their time against the school system. For examples, Alison changes her appearance to be more preppy, Claire shows a different side while spending time with Bender, and he shows his emotions while spending time with Claire. The students become conditioned to their surroundings and establish new roles. They transform into the people they would truly be if society had not impose them to whom they should