A Level Media Studies - American Pie Essay

To what extent is American Pie still relevant to modern teens?

American Pie, released in 1999 is a teen comedy/romance film that is directed by Paul and Chris Weitz. The plot involves a close group of friends who form a pact and make it their goal to lose their virginity before they graduate.

The film is relevant in a modern teen experience to an extent. In terms of it not being relevant, so much development has happened since the release: technology has improved which has had a drastic impact on how the everyday person goes about their life. It has become a fundamental part of life, and whilst elements of this are included in the film, it is not like the reality we live in today. Characters in the film visit the library and due to technology, there is no real need to visit a library any more, which shows how times have changed since 1999.

To contrast, American Pie can be seen as relevant as it looks at parts of teen life which still happen today. Looking at sex, alcohol and puberty—the film gives these subjects a funny side which allows for the audience to relate. Although emphasised for entertainment, the film does explore initial naivety and confusion surrounding the once taboo topics which all teens experience at one point or another.

In addition to this, the film portrays teenagers in all different lights. There are many typical characters that one would expect to see in a teen movie: cheerleaders, sportsmen, geeks and musicians. The use of these personalities gives the film some relevancy as teenagers today care about their individuality and brand themselves on their skills and appearance. Often labelled by their peers, American Pie's characters are very stereotypical. Admittedly, the portrayals are dated, but it still connects with the audience as most people fall into these categories.

However, it could be argued that American Pie is not relevant. The characters shown in the film are not very diverse which means that it may not be reflective of all experiences a teen has. The film only includes people who are white which only gives an insight into teen life, meaning that a large majority of people are left out because today, our world has diversified to include many different backgrounds: colours, religions, sexualities and cultures. American Pie does not show such a range of people, meaning that it could be seen as dated.

Overall, American Pie is still relevant in a modern teen experience to an extent. There are elements of the film which can be applied to a teenage lifestyle and education, but large parts show a polaroid of life before the millennium and so it cannot all be pertinent in 2016.