Music

Music plays a large part in coming of age films in terms of culture and emotion. In many situations coming of age films can recognised by a particular song. For example John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club is recognisable by the song ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ by Simple Minds and is still, 30 years later a common cultural reference to the film. In Stephan Chbosky’s film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, music plays a large role in shaping the main protagonist, Charlie. Charlie's musical preferences in the film include David Bowie with The Smiths being “[his] favourite”. The whole film is quite centred around music and its effect that it has on the characters. In one particular scene Charlie watches his love interest, Sam, dance to music as if nothing else mattered in that moment. This moment planted the idea into Charlie's mind that music can act as an escape from reality. In the final sequence of the film Charlie is riding in a car with two of his closest friends and David Bowies ‘We Can Be Heroes’ begins to play, the three friends fully embrace the song and Charlie describes the experiences as feeling “infinite”. Another coming of age film that embraces music and its influences on youth is Lukas Moodysson’s We Are The Best!. The film focuses on two pubescent and very socially different girls and their attempts at keeping Punk ‘alive’. In this coming of age film Punk music and style offers the two main protagonists and outlet for their feelings of inadequacy and essentially a community to belong to. The two girls’ formation of a Punk band despite no prior musical skill and then their ultimate dedication to this band encompasses the impact of a musical community can have on youth. This is similar to the importance of music in The Perks of Being a Wallflower as it offers an escape as well as an affinity and a society for these characters. “Music is a crucial element in the film experience…it deepens emotional response" (Corrigan and White, 195). Music is so relevant to coming of age films because music is so relevant to every day lives. No matter who you are or where you're from, you grew up with music of one kind or another, whether it be influenced by the taste of those around you or your own. Music influences lives in a very personal way and different films with different music not only exposes us to new and alternative genres but also gives an insight to the more emotional and intimate side of a character and their experiences. 

We Are The Best!. Dir. Lukas Moodysson. Film i Väst. 2013. Film.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Dir. Stephen Chbosky. Summit Entertainment. 2012. Film.

The Breakfast Club. Dir. John Hughes. A&M Films. 1985. Film

Corrigan, Timothy and White, Patricia. T he Film Experience: An Introduction. 3 rd Ed. United States of America: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. Print. 

Image: PlayBuzz: http://www.playbuzz.com/chloebrown10/how-much-do-you-know-about-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower