HOW DOES PERKS OF BEING A WALL

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

How Does It Reflect High School?

MAYA CLAY, staff writer

The coming-of-age genre has populated mainstream media for almost 30 years. Beginning in the 1980s with John Hughes’ wave of teen-centered films — “Breakfast Club”, “Pretty in Pink” “Sixteen Candles” — and slowing down into the early 2010s, the genre explored teenagers’ growth in expression, emotion and actions. The plot is a background character. The meat of the story is watching a relatable character go through familiar circumstances and learn to mature. It seemed to be a perfect reflection of the emotions of those who watched, yet by the mid to late 2010s, the genre had lost its footing, becoming a rarity in theaters. One of the films rounding out the era was “Perks of Being a Wallflower,” a quiet story about the introverted freshman taken under the wings of two upperclassmen; a familiar concept of mentorship and finding family. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” is one of those highly-revered movies, praised for its likeness to real high schoolers and their experiences. It replicated the quirks of relationships in adolescence, emanated mental struggles as teenagers and seamlessly illustrated the feelings of youth and freedom. The friendship between the main character Charlie and seniors Sam and Patrick is reminiscent of most unlikely pairings. High school is a mixing pot of personalities. No matter where a person’s interests may lie, they can find their niche in someone else. Charlie learns this as he finds his tribe and begins to build his own identity. He grows into a truer version of himself as he discovers new feelings of friendship and romance, essential parts of the high school experience. The renowned quote, “We accept the love we think we deserve” defined a generation of people resorting to a relationship that undervalued them. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” showed them that their actions do not warrant anything less than genuine admiration. The mental health aspect of the film is one of the more remarkable attributes. Charlie’s story is one for the survivors of sexual assault, for the people working through their depression and for the teenagers that had to sit by and couldn’t do anything when someone they knew took their own life. As the film progresses, it is revealed that Charlie’s aunt, who he idealized throughout the story, actually assaulted him in his former years. The movie centers on the reality of living with unresolved feelings and self-isolation as it pertains to childhood abuse. Far too many kids grow up unable to understand the sexual abuse and trauma they may have endured, but this film does not shy away from exploring its effects on teenagers as they develop.

Assault by a family member is rarely discussed in households whether it occurs or not, and therefore leaves the survivors confused as they experience new sexual relationships in high school. Charlie’s depression is also a staple aspect of the story. He enters high school dealing with the grief and weight of his only friend’s suicide fresh in his mind, leaving him emotionally stunted. Teen suicide is not new to films, but the movie pulled back the lens onto those affected by death and interconnected a web of young people that have experienced similar feelings. It helped them realize that their grief was seen, taking away the shame placed around mental health, grief and trauma. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” encapsulates the essence of teenage liberation. Throughout the themes of friendships and mental illnesses, the movie captures what it is like to be a young teen experiencing the sense of freedom that is navigating life. The scene of Charlie standing up in the back of the truck, flying through the highway tunnel, is recognized by the quote, “We are infinite,” epitomizing the feeling of being truly and unabashedly alive. Many high schoolers have had that moment, the climax of the life they’ve undergone in their teen years, where they’re floating on top of the world, entirely untouched by the stress, fear and pain of real life.