Popular Culture Final Paper

Joy Chuang (96540313)
Vinia Huang
Popular Culture
4 January 2010

《High School Musical》

          The most famous and popular series of High School Musicals have taken both America and Taiwan by storm. The musicals described the puberty growing process of a group of high school students; in the way of dancing and singing, the young conveyed both their thoughts and dreams. This series of musicals represented some topics which were related to youth culture containing－future choice, friendship, relationship, studies, family, etc. In this musical, the stories of some characters apparently indicated a main issue of the youth－identity. The route to indentify "who I am" and to be an independent successful "I" might be very different. Some can show their self-identity by exploring themselves while the others can be misled to the wrong track. Basically, the main characters in this musical are Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, and Ryan who represented different aspects of the period of puberty.

      

   First is friendship. Accounting for similar value, interest, and age, it’s easier for the youth to communicate with each other, to express thoughts and to reveal their mood. In this musical, Troy, Gabriella, and other friends could dance, sing, and get along with each other very well. They not only encouraged each other but also helped each other when encountering difficulties; what’s more, they could actively make friends, develop themselves in interacting others, and have fun with everyone. Relatively, they represented the positive side. However, Sharpay, who was born with silver spoon, was very different with others. Having the rich parents and being spoiled, she was arrogant and self-centered. She didn’t even have the tolerance of others; therefore, she couldn’t have close friends and gain respect from her peers. Only thing could she did was to use money and beautiful appearance to identify herself as a special individual. What’s more, because of the temptation of benefits, Troy was once getting away from his friends. By the time, he might think about “Should I do this?” or “What my family will think if I do this?” These questions could be aroused over and over again in the youth’s minds. In this stage, the youth will get into a condition called “role confusion”. They often care about others’ opinions towards themselves, but they aren’t quite sure about their own identification. Therefore, the youth are easily desire to get the identification from others in order to have self-concept.

          Secondly, studies which is also a very important process of the youth. Having good performance on studies can greatly help the youth to gain confidence in themselves while if not, it may make the youth have frustration. In High School Musical 3, Troy, at the stage of third grade, was worried about his future whether to go the famous college which was expected by his father and had a good basketball team or the one he wanted to go. In this stage, it is really tough for the youth to find out the answer to the question “What should I do?” Studies might not be only one key which contributes the youth become a successful individual; various learning is another element which helps the youth cultivate their minds. In the film, Troy performed well on both studies and sports; through this way, he could know clearly about “What he exactly wanted and to be self-affirmed. Various learning creates more choice for the youth to exhibit their confidence in themselves.

         Third, it’s the interaction with family. Family plays an important role to lead the youth. In the route to have self-identity, challenging parents’ view might often occur in the period of the youth; what’s more, establishing intimate interaction with parents is also important. The relationship between Troy and his father was like good friends; they shared their moods, had the same interest, supported the same basketball team, and even learned basketball skills from playing with each other. These things provided a lot of opportunities for both the youth and parents to talk with each other. Troy was once confused about the decision he made; at this moment, his father guided him to wake up from the enticement─fame and gain. Parents are just like lighthouse to guide the lost ships into the right track and destination.

          Finally, bisexual relationship is also a lesson for the youth to learn. In this stage, the youth will raise curiosity about the opposite and have the intention to know. Through love in two persons’ world, the youth can reach another identify. In the film, Troy and Gabriella felt in love with each other. They expressed their love bravely to each other, finding their own importance in another person. However, this couple encountered some challenges－the third person, Sharpay. Because of Sharpay’s jealousness, Troy and Gabriella had misunderstandings which did test their love. Challenges also provided them chance to think about the problems and have the encouragement to face the problems. From love, the youth can learn how to communicate with people and deal with things.

       High School Musical is a very good portrayal of the growing process of the youth. It not only exhibits the way of the youth to find the answer to who I am through different aspects of issues－friendship, family, studies, and relationship, but also how the youth explore and identify themselves. After watching this series of films, I think most youth might have consensus and the same feeling. This film gave both present parents and children food for thought. Parents can learn how to interact and deal with the youth who have very different view with others while the youth can know how to identify and have the self-concept through proper and appropriate ways.

《The End》