Portrayal of Teens and Teen Issues

                I believe that the more realistic issue for teens is the problem of being responsible, organized and knowing when to control your wants versus your needs. This was presented through the first sitcom, “A Different World”.  It did an excellent portrayal of the problems teens face, responsibility. She overused her credit card and her cheque to pay for the residence house bounced back. Not only did she put herself in the risk of losing the house, but also her friends, who she had to pay for, too. This sitcom clearly shows the issues teens have to face today and it also gives us an example of how to come to the solution of a big problem.  The lead female is too scared to ask for money from her parents, again, and despite the trouble she is in, she’s determined to figure out a way to come out of this herself. We see her trying her best to solve her own problem, and she proves herself.

                                     

                This sitcom encourages teens to be responsible and organized. When asked where the copies are of the other cheques she has written, she says that she had too many responsibilities to worry about the history on where she spends her money. The irony is clearly evident as keeping a record of how and where you spend your money is itself a great big responsibility. Teens, including myself, need to understand the value of money and how beneficial the skill of being organized is for us and for our own future. All In all, according to me, this sitcom showed a better understanding of how teens need to step up their game and understand that life is not all about fun and doing as you wish. We have to take it seriously and understand the consequences that can come along with not being responsible. Although the second sitcom showed us the problems that occur once sexual activity has been done, it does not explain how irresponsible she was in the first place to agree to something like that being ONLY 15 years-old in the first place. This sitcom explains the negative effects of not being responsible. If we think about it, the first sitcom is about not being responsible too, but the problem of responsibility is clearly evident in the first sitcom.