This summer, I have been obsessed with dystopia. From books to movies, I have devoured any media set in the future, particularly those with an implicit message about the greater good of society. Diving deeper into literary dystopia, I devoured “I Who Have Never Known Men” and “The Memory Police.” These books are fascinating and contemplative, but I didn’t feel obsessed. I needed something that could balance the weight of impending futuristic doom with the immersion a good obsession provides. This is when I decided to circle back to the media that ignited my fascination for these futuristic tales. Better yet, the films that single-handedly carried me through the tumultuous journey of my teenage years: young adult dystopian films.
There is nothing quite like the developmental period between ages 14 and 17. Hormones are racing and moods are swinging. It is during this period that one comes to realize that, not only are they changing, but likely, so is everything in their life. It truly is the peak time of instability, which is why teenagers crave media hyperfixations. These obsessions soothe the inner turmoil that often defines adolescence. Amid the realm of dystopian films, there are a few series that especially set the stage for teenage obsession. I like to call these “the big three”: The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Maze Runner series. Part of the allure of a film is how it relates to and represents our lives. And whether or not we realize it at the time, being a teenager inherently means thinking the world revolves around us and our big, new emotions. So, throughout the 2010s, angsty teenagers everywhere concocted fanfictions, forums and fanbases to connect their own experiences to those within these dystopian realms. Looking back on this era, I began to think, what is it about these movies that made them the subject of so many teenage obsessions?
As far as films go, the big three have cracked the case on captivation. All adaptations from books and arriving in series of three to four films, they each have striking similarities not just in their genre, but their formula. This formula guarantees the perfect balance of tension and action with emotion and hope. Beginning the same way, the setting is always a futuristic world where society has changed in some extreme way. There is always a life-determining game or test, often to twist the tilt of power in one direction. This immediately brings a totalitarianism undertone to the narratives of each film. Sometimes this imbalance of power is shoved right in the audience’s faces (“The Hunger Games”), and sometimes it comes to light over time (“The Maze Runner”). But either way, the characters have been put in a box, either literally or figuratively. How much the characters know about this box at the beginning of the story is more or less irrelevant, because illuminating twists will certainly be revealed along the way. This sentiment resonates with audiences because even though the setting is different, the message is universal. We look at societies under oppression, forced into totalitarian regimes, and we recognize a familiar pattern that haunts the world we live in. The goal is to control individuals, mandating perimeters to keep them suppressed and restrained. Restraining people from speaking up and acting out, as we see in these films, never succeeds.
For every robust power structure these films present, there is always a character who threatens to bring it down. This is the character who rebels against the status quo and seeks some greater change in the world they live in. Amid the chaos and conflict of each of their dystopian worlds, these characters are (seemingly) the only ones who can save the day — or, at least, begin to try. They reveal these films’ ultimate message: Our differences are what make us heroes, and ultimately, the only ones who can save us all. While it seems cliche, each film does take a unique twist to drive this message home. And maybe it is the grandiose action or detailed worldbuilding, but teen fanbases never seem bothered by these thematic similarities. In fact, it seems to only make their loyalties grow stronger.
So, why does a message like this resonate so well with fans, particularly the teenage population? The teenage stage of life is anything but easy. It forces us to grow while shining a light on our imperfections and insecurities, the parts of us deemed insufficient and different. In this time, films like these make us believe that our differences could be what paves the way for a better future. In a world that is growing so rapidly and can at times feel reminiscent of these films, embracing the very differences many often scrutinize could allow us to make a greater change — whether it is a better future for Panem, Chicago (the most unbelievable part of “Divergent”) or simply a better future for ourselves.
In short, watching YA dystopias feels good. The stakes are high and the characters are badass. These films immerse you, throwing you into complex plots and leaving you to decide whether to stay in these dystopian worlds or seek out another outlet for your teenage angst. We grew up with these worlds, and we can relive our obsessions by rewatching these films now.
Daily Arts Writer Abigail Weinberg can be reached at weinab@umich.edu.
