10
High Life Wednesday, April 9, 2003
Features
Hollywood goes to prom:
Teen movies chronicle
high school landmark
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In the teen movie “She’s All That,” prom opens with students dancing choreographed
steps in time to the scratchy beat of a DJ. The film revolves around the popular event
Prom, a pivotal event in the lives
of many teens, provides
Hollywood directors with a
popular and relevant theme to
attract a teenage audience.
By Emma Williams
Staff Writer
On thisnight, ayoung lady or gentleman
receives a corsage or boutonniere, dines at
a classy restaurant, and dances in a setting
fit for royalty. Prom night, however, is not
only reserved for ordinary teenagers, but
also for Hollywood producers, directors,
and actors.
Studios release a teenage flick nearly
every year with prom as its central event.
As the culmination of many teens’ high
school experience, prom provides a subject
directors and producers can developinto a
relevant theme for young audiences.
"Prom is the highlight of your high school
career. It is a climax, and directors need a
“It is weird that they make
prom to be the focal point of
a high school. In the movies
prom is always this extrava
gant event.”
-Andy Rodenbough,
junior
climax,” said student art teacher Ms. Gavitt.
However, the depiction of prom in many
teenage films is often inaccurate. To
incorporate prom into films creatively,
directors often make unorthodox
modifications to certain prom traditions.
In the release of the teen flick “Whatever
It Takes,” the prom scene opens with
characters dancing in synchronized motion
to pre-choreographed steps.
One other uncomon aspect to some prom
films is that of prom attire. While most
proms tend to involve long, silky gowns
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ACROSS
1 A Canal
5 Border
9 Soft moist matter
13 Preview screenings
15 Visually apprehend
16 The other sense
17 Aquatically isolated
landmass
40 -friendly
42 Breath freshener
43 It's alive.
44 Scoring in football
45 Money machine
46 Gentlemen (2 wo.)
50 Affirmation
51 Expression of agreement
52 A prophet
18 Internet Service Provider^^ degrees
and tuxedos, in the film “Never Been
Kissed,” the characters went as Barbie Dolls
and baby dolls.
Also widely acknowledged and added to
many teen movies is the aspect of prom king
and queen. In “Never Been Kissed,” Drew
Barrymore receives the coveted title of prom
queen, helping her character to gain
popularity among some and tension among
others. In many movies, earning the title of
prom king or queen is crucial to the
characters. Willing teens will go to any
length to attain the crown or tiara.
“The question [in movies] is always ‘Who
is going to be prom queen?’ It is a cut throat
race,” said junior Samantha Stiles.
Though prom king and queen exist in
many adolescent films, many high schools
lack this seemingly popular aspect.
“We don’t even have a prom king or
queen,” junior Andy Rodenbough said.
Often in movies, the emphasis on prom
may seem overrated. The popularity and
significance of prom are augmented in such
flicks as “Never Been Kissed,” “She’s All
That,” and “Ten Things I Hate About You.”
Pi om is the central concern for the characters.
Some juniors and seniors do not consider
the festivity to be of paramount importance.
Teens would rather avoid expending the time
and energy primping and coiffing
themselves for the event.
“It is perceived [by Hollywood] as the
pinnacle of your high school career,”
said sophomore Andy Keimig.
While in film this opinion may seem true,
in the lives of many teenagers, it is quite
the contrary.
“It is weird that they make prom to be the
focal point of a high school. In the movies
prom is always this extravagant event,”
said Rodenbough.
Even though many movies tend to stress
the importance of prom, some students feel
the prom night is not always so momentous.
The plethora of prom films attracts many but
still some are weary of the hackneyed theme.
The theme will not always receive the
approbation of the students.
“There are other things in high school
besides prom,” said sophomore
Sophie Kranz.
19 Disdain for inanity
(inter).)
20 Angel dust
21 Lyric poem
22 Internet identity
23 Canadian salutation
24 Flightless bird
25 Must agree to this
before installing
26 Prefix
28 More uncommon
32 skin test
34 Without specification
35 Famous movie star
36 Singular footwear
38 Nocturnal avian
54 Mariner's compass
direction
56 Moralistic Greek stories
(2 wo.)
61 Large artery
62 Rung a large bell
64 A songbird with a colored
appendage
65 Version
DOWN
2 Not new
3 Follow
4 Gentle breezes
5 Heroic tale
6 With great urgency
(adverb)
7 A colloid
8 a living
10 National postal services
11 Period of instruction
12 William’s woods
14 Unpleasant consequence of
coitus
25 A mineral
26 Musically inclined professional
27 When the list goes on...
29 Moses’s brother
30 Health official
31 Talking horse
33 Italian painter of Florentine school
37 Chinese distance
39 Roe V. ___
41 Designer of Central Park
47 Foot bone
48 Let air in
49 A mentor
55 Waistband
57 A drunk
58 Openings
59 Telecommunications company
60 Brand of fragrance spray
63 Actively participate; carry out
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