Trusting Your Audience: Turning Children’s Movies into Fiction for All Ages
Disciplines
Creative Writing | Fiction | Film and Media Studies | Psychology | Screenwriting
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Why do some films remain timeless classics, while others are dismissed as mere childhood remnants? In this presentation, I will examine the psychological and narrative factors behind this question and argue how they intertwine to turn children’s fiction into fiction for all ages. By treating an audience with respect and trusting children’s ability to comprehend and emotionally engage with complex concepts, writers not only solidify their grasp on their target audience, but also appeal to the emotional core of those far outside of it.
I will begin by defining children’s fiction and all ages fiction, then back up my thesis with psychological studies that examine the long-term effects of how we explain, speak to, and treat children and adolescents. Then, I will break down how works like The Muppet Movie (Frawley 1979) appeal to older audiences. I will end my presentation with a focus on how the most successful films focus on universal struggles and ever-present emotions that we feel during all stages of life.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anna Weinstein
Trusting Your Audience: Turning Children’s Movies into Fiction for All Ages
Why do some films remain timeless classics, while others are dismissed as mere childhood remnants? In this presentation, I will examine the psychological and narrative factors behind this question and argue how they intertwine to turn children’s fiction into fiction for all ages. By treating an audience with respect and trusting children’s ability to comprehend and emotionally engage with complex concepts, writers not only solidify their grasp on their target audience, but also appeal to the emotional core of those far outside of it.
I will begin by defining children’s fiction and all ages fiction, then back up my thesis with psychological studies that examine the long-term effects of how we explain, speak to, and treat children and adolescents. Then, I will break down how works like The Muppet Movie (Frawley 1979) appeal to older audiences. I will end my presentation with a focus on how the most successful films focus on universal struggles and ever-present emotions that we feel during all stages of life.