Point/Counterpoint: Is Hollywood appropriately targeting teens? Yes

By Michael Niemeyer
When this question arose, I thought, "Of course not."
The more I mulled it over, however, the more I began to realize I was wrong.

Summit Pictures

Edward and Bella in "The Twilight Series: Breaking Dawn Part 1."

Making movies is a business just like anything else. And while not all movies are exactly tasteful, the majority of movies catering teens and most top grossing movies are not obscene.

"Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" were top grossing movies from the past year. None of these three movies contain any f-bombs, nudity or positive portrayal of criminals. 

In fact, only two of the top 20 grossing movies of 2010 and 2011 are R rated. In 2012, the hit movie "The Hunger Games," a teen focused film, is found innocent when examined for sexual situations and profanity. Not only is "The Hunger Games" clean, but it is actually an intelligent social commentary with decent acting and a strong plot. This is something that I rarely see in a movie directed towards teens.

It is impossible to say the movie industry doesn’t come out with some raunchy pictures. Nonetheless, it is also hard to say most films with extreme immorality target teens. 

Flicks that have strong suggestive themes and intense profanity are
generally not written with teens in mind. If teens watch movies they are not mature enough to watch, it can obviously have negative effects. 

Many teens decide to watch these movies, intended for much older audiences, but that is not the filmmakers’ fault.  Movies such as "The Kings Speech," "The Hangover," "Schindler’s List," "The Passion of Christ" and "The Silence of the Lambs" are all R rated movies. Each of these movies conquers realms that do not fit a PG agenda. That does not make any of these movies sinister or evil. It might mean teenagers are not ready, or intended, to watch them.

The real problem with Hollywood is not that it forces horrible movies down teen’s throats — well, maybe horrible actors and narratives.
The problem is many themes and concepts can be damaging to teens who are not ready. And if that’s the case, it’s not a movie producer’s job to stop them from watching. 

Movies always will have elements not suitable for everyone. Many stories cannot be told without them. For this reason, it is the responsibility of the individual and their guardians to protect them from these types of films. 

Michael Niemeyer is a junior who is homeschooled.