Coming-of-age story

In genre studies, a coming-of-age story is a genre of literature and film that focuses on the growth of a protagonist from youth to adulthood ("coming of age"). Coming-of-age stories tend to emphasize dialogue or internal monologue over action, and are often set in the past. The subjects of coming-of-age stories are typically teenagers. The Bildungsroman is a specific subgenre of coming-of-age story.

In film, coming of age is a genre of teen films. Coming-of-age films focus on the psychological and moral growth or transition of a protagonist from youth to adulthood. Personal growth and change is an important characteristic of this genre, which relies on dialogue and emotional responses, rather than action. The main character is typically male, around mid-teen and the story is often told in the form of a flashback. Less common to novels, themes of developing sexual identity and political opinions are often featured in coming-of-age films; so, too, is philosophical development. These sexual themes are often presented in a comic or humorous manner.

Films in this subgenre include American Graffiti (1973), The Last American Virgin (1982), Mischief (1985), The Breakfast Club (1985), Mermaids (1990), Stand by Me (1986), Empire of the Sun (1987), Dazed and Confused (1993), Almost Famous (2000), Y Tu Mamá También (2001), The Motorcycle Diaries (2003), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Kings of Summer (2013), Boyhood (2014), which was filmed with the same cast over a period of twelve years, and Moonlight (2016). Films featuring protagonists in particular age groups, such as pre-teens, are The Sandlot (1993) and My Girl (1991), or high school graduates and college students, in films such as American Pie (1999), Can't Hardly Wait (1998), Superbad (2007), An Education (2009), and With Honors (1994), Boyhood (2014) and Moonlight (2016).

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