The coming of age genre centers around the universal experience of growing into adulthood. Relatable struggles of friendship, insecurity, and more can resonate with all types of audiences. The great thing about this genre is viewers can easily pick and choose the themes that have related to them or not. But lets think about who is the target audience for this genre:
Teenagers (13-21 years old)
Young adults and teenagers are the main demographic for coming of age films as it targets a point in their life that they're currently experiencing.
I've spoken on the relatability this genre offers before, but that's because I can't stress this idea enough. These films allow teenagers to feel seen when it comes to major points in their lives. For example, the common theme of the different social dynamics often comes into play. The 2023 film, Bottoms, follows two unpopular queer girls in high school who are trying to impress a group of cheerleaders.
All these dynamics create a sense of "I'm not alone" to the audience that is validating to teenage audiences. Plus, these movies are a perfect Friday night movie that teenagers can throw on and enjoy popcorn and candy with.
The coming-of-age sub-genre also encourages its teenage audience to overcome challenges. While something may seem to be life-altering, these films provide a model for teenage audiences to better their lives.
Parents (30+ years old)
While life is much more complicated than it was back then, these movies offer older individuals a sense of nostalgia. Personally, while it may seem like my mom is just some lady who knows everything, I have to remind myself that she was once a high schooler, too. She once was all giddy over her first kiss and had to learn how to drive a car like she was learning to do addition.
These films act as time machines for these older generations who miss when times were simpler. The teenage stage, although different for everyone, still occurred. Even for your grandpa, who is too old to remember his childhood neighbor.
Many coming-of-age films are set in the past. For example, Dear God its me Margret can trigger memories of what it was like to be a teenager in the the 1970's to 1990's. Seeing characters go through their own challenges can spark forgotten memories.
Reflection
After conducting research on the target audience of the coming of age genre I was more sure of myself. This genre can be enjoyed by anyone and is always helpful when it comes to sparking emotions. Moreover, by involving parental figures in films, parents could also feel seen when it comes to dealing with a teenager.
Source: Bottoms
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