Metamorphosis Films AKA: “Coming of Age”

    This  unit  is  titled  “Metamorphosis”  but  could  be  wrapped  in  many  labels.  The  most  common  is  “Coming  of  Age”  which  are  movies  about  youth  or  the  teenage  years;  in  fact,  “Coming  of  Age”  applies  to  the  majority  of  titles  in  my  film  list.  The  “Metamorphosis”  label,  however,  allows  viewers  to  also  consider  movies  that  feature  protagonists  over  the  age  of  twenty.       What  does  “Metamorphosis”  mean?  The  word  comes  from  Greek  and  means  to  quickly  “transform”  or  “change  shape”.  It  is  often  attached  to  biology.  Think  of  a  butterfly:  It  begins  as  an  egg,  becomes  a  larva  (caterpillar),  enters  a  pupa  stage  and,  after  a  short  time,  finally  bursts  out  as  a  butterfly.  The  movies  in  this  Metamorphosis  unit  connect  that  transformative  process  to  humans.  As  well,  since  the  greatest  physical,  mental,  and  social  changes  occur  between  the  ages  of  10-­‐20  so  it  makes  sense  to  commonly  associate  this  idea  with  teenagers,  right?  

                                                             

Many “Metamorphosis” films can be considered via Erick Erickson’s “Stages of Psychosocial Development”. Each stage is a step to the next.

 

 

   The  following  are  COMMON  ELEMENTS  in  “coming  of  age”  movies/TV/literature  but  can  also  apply  to  adult  characters.  Coming of Age Tropes  often have combinations of the following:  

[source: TVtropes.org]

Check  ✔  the  “Metamorphosis/Coming  of  Age”  films  you’ve  seen:  

Many  monster-­‐horror  films  could  fit  in  this  category  too.    They  include…    The Fly All Werewolf movies Most Vampire movies The Thing The Cat People  

Ø Adult  Fear  (No  longer  being  scared  of  “monsters”;  losing  parents/divorce,  being  destitute,  banishment  from  social  group  or  community.)  

Ø Combat  (often  replaced  with  sports  in  more  peaceful  times).  

Ø Hunting  or  the  main  character  getting  their  first  job.  

Ø Finally  seeing  one's  parents  as  people  with  weaknesses.  

Ø Trying  to  stand  out,  paradoxically,  by  fitting  in.  

Ø First  crushes  or  relationships.  Ø First  experience  with  death,  grief,  loss.    Ø Questioning  religious  beliefs,  

or  societal  traditions/rules/customs.  Perhaps  even  doing  away  with  any  one  of  them,  or  changing  them.  

Ø Coming-­‐Out  Story.  Ø First  experience  with  sexism,  racism,  

homophobia,  or  similar  prejudice.  Ø Sex  as  Rite-­‐of-­‐Passage  or  developing  

sexuality.  Ø Growing  Up  Sucks.

 

Ø Bittersweet  age,  often  16-­‐18  years  old,  when  a  person  realizes  they  have  to  be  responsible.  

Ø Loss/death  of  best  friend  (for  young  protagonist,  may  be  pet/animal).  

Ø Down  the  Rabbit  Hole  (The  protagonist,  most  often  a  young  girl,  is  transported  to  a  fantasy  land  and  learns  her  strengths.  Was  it  all  a  dream?).  

Ø The  Hero's  Journey  (Luke  Skywalker).  

Ø Wanting  to  have  friends  or  be  popular.    

Ø “I  Just  Want  to  Be  Normal”  e.g.  Peter  Parker,  Frodo  Baggins…Often  attached  to  ‘The  Hero’s  Journey’.  

Ø Having  one  last  experience  or  vacation  with  friends  or  family.  

Ø First  experimentation  with  drugs,  alcohol,  tobacco  or  any  combination  of  the  three.  

 

Rebel Without a Cause Ghost World Stand by Me C.R.A.Z.Y. Spirited Away E.T. The 400 Blows Most John Hughes Most Wes Anderson The Piano (?!) Beasts of the Southern Wild Whale Rider Clueless Girlhood Son of Rambow My Own Private Idaho The Perks of Being a Wallflower Scott Pilgrim vs the World Boyz N the Hood Pinocchio  

Call Me by Your Name Boyhood Welcome to the Dollhouse Room Juno Little Miss Sunshine (?) Mean Girls Superbad Submarine Dazed and Confused The Matrix Bend it Like Beckham Y Tu Mama Tambien Fish Tank Dead Poets Society Good Will Hunting Dirty Dancing The Virgin Suicides Groundhog Day The Lion King

The Last Picture Show The Graduate Blue is the Warmest Colour About a Boy High Fidelity The Life of Pi