Why Do American Movies Portray Children As Rude, Arrogant, and Obnoxious?

In many American movies, children are routinely shown as rude, arrogant, and obnoxious. But if this isn't always true in real life, why do filmmakers continue to depict children in this manner? This article explores the reasons behind these portrayals and their impact on our understanding of real children and American culture.

The Role of Exaggeration for Humor

The portrayal of children as misbehaving and disrespectful in movies often serves a comedic purpose. Many comedies rely on exaggeration to create humor, and the notion of a child behaving inappropriately can lead to comical situations, especially when their behavior clashes with adult expectations or norms. For instance, a scene where a child refuses to listen to an authority figure or attempts to control a situation can be both amusing and relatable.

Character Contrast and Cultural Commentary

Depicting children negatively can also be used to contrast and highlight the qualities of their surrounding adults. The behavior of a child who misbehaves might serve to emphasize the civility and order that adults strive to maintain, creating a strong sense of tension and comic relief. Additionally, these portrayals serve as a form of cultural commentary, allowing filmmakers to touch on issues such as the challenges of parenting, generational differences, and the perceived decline of manners.

Relatability and Story Development

Moreover, these exaggerated portrayals can offer relatable content for audiences. Many viewers may recognize themselves or their own children in these fictional representations, even if the behaviors are exaggerated for comedic effect. This relatability can make these portrayals resonate with a broad audience, creating a deeper emotional connection. In storytelling, these flawed characters can undergo development or redemption arcs, which can be a powerful narrative device to convey important lessons about maturity, empathy, and understanding.

The Exaggeration in Movies

It is important to note that these depictions in American movies do not always reflect reality. In the United States, there are approximately 73 million children under the age of 18, a diverse population with varying cultural backgrounds, upbringings, and personal histories. These children range from polite, humble, and demure to rude, arrogant, and obnoxious, making it unfair to generalize the behavior of all American children.

However, this diversity is not always adequately represented in the media. Filmmakers, aiming to create more dramatic and intense stories, often exaggerate many aspects of life and culture. Movies, as entertainment, require dramatic elements to maintain viewer interest. Conflict is necessary for movies, and villains are often unpleasant characters to drive the plot forward. The focus on specific aspects of life, rather than a general representation, can lead to the exaggeration of certain behaviors, making the truth more complex.

A common misconception is that teenage behavior in movies is representative of real teenagers. This is far from the truth. Characters in movies often undergo extensive character development, which means they may appear more mature, eloquent, and independent than real teenagers. Social dynamics in movies are often intensified for dramatic effect, and bullies and villains tend to be portrayed as more malicious than they typically are in real life.

The bottom line is that while American movies are influenced by American cultural assumptions, they should not be taken as a fully accurate or representative portrayal of life in America. The portrayal and depiction of children as rude, arrogant, and obnoxious in movies can be entertaining and relatable, but they often serve specific narrative and thematic roles rather than being a faithful reflection of reality.

In conclusion, the portrayal of children in American movies, while not always an accurate reflection of reality, serves various narrative and thematic purposes. Understanding these serves as a reminder that fiction, no matter its intentions, is not a mirror that perfectly reflects the world around us.