by 
Popularity
When I wrote the film review of Divergent, I started thinking about young adult literature, dystopias, and superheroes. Right now, all three are popular, and yet some of Divergent’s critics fault it for following a popular formula and riding on The Hunger Games’ popularity. At first, I chuckled at the film reviewers because movies, with a few exceptions, are written using a standard script formula, and what’s hot and trendy goes in waves; the waves peak and fall.
When my musing turned to the popularity and nature of these genres, I came up with a simple but complex answer: these stories meet the psychological and subconscious needs of young adults and adults in our chaotic and unpredictable society. We need these stories because they help us make sense of our world, and they play out our fantasies of overcoming life’s injustices.
I realize that’s a sweeping and general statement, and I invite you to comment and give your opinion.
Soooo . . .
Young Adult Literature and Films
It’s easy to understand why teenagers like YA lit and movies: it’s written for them and addresses their lives, problems, and issues, but it’s less straightforward as to why so many adults like it. Some people suggest YA literature is popular among adults because the reading and comprehension level of the general public is low, and the plots are less complex. That’s a simplistic answer and doesn’t get to the heart of the phenomena. I like the genre; my reading level isn’t low, and I can grapple with complex plots. Some people think I read YA literature because I taught it at the university level, but I read it because I enjoy it. Some YA stories are bolder and gutsier than the many movies and books that written for adults.
So here’s the deal:
1) YA literature’s target audience is teens: 12 to 18, but you say, adults read it–I’ll get to that.
2) The protagonist is a teenager and usually falls into that age range.
3) YA stories encompass all genres, but in this blog, I’m interested in the speculative fiction genres.
4) Any halfway decent, and some pretty bad, YA lit books and films are about growing up.
5) The good stories deal with real problems: parent/child relationships, peer relationships, society, making choices, sex, drugs, alcohol, abuse, following the rules or not, choices, knowing yourself, right and wrong, etc.
Coming-of-age Stories
When I taught young adult literature, I always told my university students, “When you review a YA book, don’t tell me it’s a coming-of-age story. They are all are. Tell me what makes it good, or average, or bad; explore the theme; evaluate the characters: are they complex and multidimensional or flat and one dimensional?; consider the setting: is it key to the story? or little more than a backdrop?”
Teens are trying to figure out who they are, what they want, and how to grow into an adult. And, yes, some adults are still trying to figure these things out.
For example, Divergent is about teenagers coming of age in a highly structured society that tries to control human nature. Teenagers are discovering who they are, what kind of person they want to be, what kind of person they choose to be, what kind of person society demands that they be. Will they conform to society? Or will they rebel? In this book’s society, the choices are limited and conformity demanded.
We might think this is unrealistic. But often in real life, teens are presented limited choices by parents, school, churches, and others. Imagine a teen coming home and saying, “I want to become a mime.” Very few parents or school officials would jump up and cheer at this announcement. It’s pretty easy to imagine the discussion that would follow.
The Hunger Games is about controlling society through fear and force. Katniss is a reluctant hero. At the moment, she stands up for what is right, but fear for her family and society pushes her to submit. Divergent’s Tris is a rebel and a fighter. She’s concerned for her family but doesn’t back down from the fight.
What might our imaginary teen in the previous paragraph do if his parents got angry and threatened him when he told them he wanted to be a mime? “We are sending you to college to do what?” or “Exactly how are you going to support yourself?” Or “Not in this family, you aren’t. You’d be a disgrace. What would your grandma think?”
What choice might he make? Will he give into fear and conform? Or will he fight back for his right to be who he wants to be?
Both Divergent and The Hunger Games are driven by their respective societies, and the adult leaders are the enemy. In the teen world, they are trying to grow up and become an autonomous person, but often parents, other adults, and society confine them with rules and expectations. Sometimes it can seem as if the adults are the enemy; teens sometimes feel as if they don’t have control over their lives and their decisions.
More often than not, they don’t.
In a benign world, people are trying to help them mature; in a dangerous world, people want to control and manipulate them. Young adults are at the mercy of other people and society. It’s reasonable that rebellion is common. What teens don’t realize is that becoming an adult doesn’t really give them complete freedom and autonomy.
Good Stories Tell the Truth
Good stories tell us the truth about life: sometimes parents are abusive, sometimes people break each others’ hearts, bad things happen, good things happen, standing up for what’s right doesn’t mean the outcome will be good; using drugs, having sex, rebelling have consequences; people get sick; people change; people die. Stories can help us understand ourselves, others, and the nature of the world.
Why Do Adults Like YA Stories?
I’m not sure there is one right answer to this question. Here are some of my thoughts:
1) The stories are good, entertaining, and engaging.
2) They deal with real issues and problems, often in honest and realistic ways.
3) Although the adult reader isn’t the age of the protagonist, she probably went through similar struggles and had similar feelings.
4) The teen years, in spite of all the problems and angst, was simpler and easier than most adult lives; so perhaps there’s a sense of nostalgia.
5) The world is chaotic and out of control; adults don’t have complete control or answers, so it feels good to read a story where the little guy overcomes; let’s face it, in real life we, the little guys, rarely overcome.
Here are Parts 2 & 3
Why are YA Stories, Dystopias, and Superheroes Popular? Part 2
Why are YA Stories, Dystopias, and Superheroes Popular? Part 3
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