Is Spring Awakening appropriate for a 14 yr old?- Page 3

[alliez92092]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:09pm

I'm 14, and I saw it. I think it's so important for people my age to see. Yet, it also depends on the maturity level of your daughter. I would encourage you to take her to see it.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:22pm

I wish the original poster would chime in! For those who say that she should not see it because it might give these good kids thoughts to go out and do what they see onstage, I ask, has this 14 year old girl gone out and started doing drugs, danced in a strip club or decided to be gay because she has seen RENT several times?

My best friend and I just had an argument over this and he feels that it should only be seen by people 16 and older. He says, "Why expose them this?" (Meaning the younger teens) We agreed that teens are exposed to a lot these days. But I feel the stuff in SA is not gratuitous. And this isn't a show to "educate" kids on how to have sex. And this show isn't just about the sex. It is about more than that. His feelings just bring back my thoughts that for the younger teens who may see this show, they need to be able to talk to their parents about it. And their parents need to talk to them. There was a teacher on here a while ago talking about the show and she said that she found that a lot of her students did not have a relationship with their parents where they could openly discuss the subject matters of this show. My best friend also feels that there is no such thing as a mature 14 year old and claims that he knows this because he taught kids. Well he taught kids back in the 80's. Things have changed. I mean God, look at Dakota Fanning!!! If that isn't mature for a young person, what is?!!! (Too mature for me though!)

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:29pm

Of course she is mature enough, but I'm just saying it's not like it has a good message or anything.

Neither does Sweeney Todd, but does that make it bad theatre?

I'm going to echo the crowd and say it all depends on her maturity level. If she can handle it, definitely go for it... although it might be a bit awkward sitting through it next to a parent. The show isn't just about sex and suicide, and the messages in it are really prevalent in teenage life nowadays.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:34pm

Agree with what a lot of people have said. I'm fourteen and I can handle it, and if she can then let her see it. And if not, then there are other shows (Hairspray, spelling Bee, etc.).

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:39pm

I definitely think you should take your daughter to see it. I'm 16, and I took my friends to see it yesterday with my mom and everyone loved it so much.

Kids/teens can relate to many of the themes of the show. And really, the sex scene wasn't that bad at all. I've seen worse things on television/in movies.

I disagree with parents who think they should shelter their kids from this show and seeing things like this because it will expose them to these kind of subjects and/or uncomfortable talks...but that's exactly the point of the show! - to not do what Wendla's mother did to her.

It's a beautiful show and it's done so well. It was one of the best things I've ever seen. You shouldn't let your daughter miss out on that!

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:40pm

Agreed VonTussel.

Not every 14 year old is going to come out of this show wanting to have their first sexual experience (If they haven't already) because of what they saw onstage.

And we haven't even discussed the child molestation in the show.

[snl89]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:51pm

I've established that the parts of the show that I think make it more difficult to handle do NOT include the sex scene. Honestly, I feel like if that was the only hard-to-swallow scene in the show, I'd recommend it to 12 and 13 year olds no problem. Because I feel like at that age kids know all that stuff anyway. Its not raunchy, its not dirty- most of the music videos you see on vh1 these days are way MORE raunchy, imo! They may not be as outright "sex", but they sure suggest it.

I think that the things in the show that make it not-so-great for younger teens are the emotionally disturbing scenes. I could handle them now, though it still wasnt easy, but I'm not so sure how I would have been able to handle them before. For me, these scenes were (*SPOILERS*) the scene before Dark I Know Well, the beating scene, the suicide scene, and the scenes leading up to Those You've Known. Those all haunted me sooo much more than the sex scene, and I think that when I was 13 or 14 I might have had a really hard time with them.

I just felt like I should mention that because people draw SO much attention that they have fake sex and there's a *little* bit of nudity, but thats NOT all there is to the show. There's other things that I think people should be warned about before taking there kids. Maybe its just me, but I can handle fake sex more than other things. Heck, even Wicked has suggested sex in it! Its obviously MUCH more metaphorical, but its still there!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:52pm

Seriously Lizzy, what land are living in? Yeah seeing Spring Awakening is sure going to make me got out and bang some random guys.

"because if they are a good kid and don't do the stuff in the show,"

What the fu*k? Then about all of teenagers are "bad" kids.

"I recommend you forget this idea and see another great show like A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast, or Wicked. "

Yeah keep your kids sheltered until their 20 and then you can have them get a rude awakening in the real world.

"Your child will love those shows a lot more and those shows are a lot more enjoyable and not so depressing."

Not many teenagers want to see happy shows where magical nannies fly.

"And again, I am 14, so I know what I'm talking about."

You are a very immature 14 year old who knows nothing of the world.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 2:55pm

"I'd recommend it to 12 and 13 year olds no problem. Because I feel like at that age kids know all that stuff anyway. Its not raunchy, its not dirty- most of the music videos you see on vh1 these days are way MORE raunchy, imo! They may not be as outright "sex", but they sure suggest it. "

Yeah we're seeing raunchy, distasteful video's on VHI and MTV. Spring Awakenings' subject matter is handled tastefully and in a good way.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 3:10pm

Lizzya9, you have not SEEN the freaking show.

Your opinion is INVALID.

You're like that mother who started a campaign to ban Harry Potter from schools, and then when asked, fully admitted that she had never read the books!

Updated On: 1/21/07 at 03:10 PM

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 3:16pm

Well, I don't really approve of the stuff they show on MTV either - I'd much rather my future child listen to Totally F**ked than watch a minute of Next.

That said, to the OP, I wouldn't really trust the multitude of posts that say "Well, I'm 14, and I could handle it!" I'm sure they can, but I know that I was very impressionable at that age and took any romantic relationship in anything I saw as perfect and good, and I think that creates some issues for this show. The stuff I watched when I was that age had a huge impact on shaping my values and priorities, and it's stuff that you don't realize when it's happening.

But kids are incredibly underestimated in what they can handle and understand. Research the show and decide whether you think it's appropriate.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 3:20pm

So of course I have popped the OBCR in the cd player and am listening to it!

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 3:32pm

I don't think anyone under 18 should see it, because if they are a good kid and don't do the stuff in the show, if they see it they might think "wait, am I supposed to be going through this stuff?". Rosie was correct in saying it is not for adolescents, only for adults who want to think about and remember their adolescence or who have kids. I recommend you forget this idea and see another great show like A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast, or Wicked. Your child will love those shows a lot more and those shows are a lot more enjoyable and not so depressing. And again, I am 14, so I know what I'm talking about.

First of all, most 14 year olds are totally aware of all the scenarios deemed "inappropriate" in the show anyway. It's not like kids live in bubbles.

Second of all, regardless of the fact that I would not really label Spring Awakening as depressing, since when are parents only allowed to take their teenagers to see happy musicals? So what if Spring Awakening deals with things such as abuse, abortions, and suicide? At least the show is truthful. Let's not advocate parents to only take their children to see fluff.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 3:41pm

A Chorus Line contains swearing and talk of homosexuality. And Because Beauty & The Beast is lighter fare, does not make it good theatre (I am not a fan of the show at all). Along with the content, one also has to ask "Is it a good show"? No matter what the subject matter. And in my opinion, SA is a good show.

[snl89]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 3:56pm

I don't think anyone under 18 should see it, because if they are a good kid and don't do the stuff in the show, if they see it they might think "wait, am I supposed to be going through this stuff?".

Lizzya, have you ever seen the movie Thirteen? seriously, I think that it would do you some good to go rent it :) I havn't even seen it personally, but there was an Oprah episode about it when it first came out about 2 years ago (yes, I was 15 and watched Oprah. dontjudge. lol) and it just sounds like it would be a really good thing for you to see. It was written BY a thirteen year old girl, and it goes into all the things that parents would never want to believe their kids are doing but are. I really dont know enough about it to explain it well, but I just know that it will show you that kids, even as young as 13, are NOT clueless like you might think. In fact, it is VERY scary what people that young know how to do these days. And I can guarantee you that it is COMPLETELY true. I was, and still am, extremely sheltered and I'm a very very young 17 year old, but even I have seen and heard first hand the kinds of things people my age and younger get involved in. Heck, I live in Vermont, in what most people would probably consider the middle of no where, and even around HERE you should hear some of the things girls talk about, very openly, in CLASS. Not even in the halls or durring lunch, but in CLASS. It's become so common that they dont even feel they need to be discrete in discussing the things they do. So yeah, I'm just saying. I kind of fear for you if you honestly believe that everyone under the age of 18 is good and pure and can only handle shows like ACL, Beauty and the Beast, and Wicked. If thats really the case, you're in for a RUDE awakening, very soon It's great if you've been sheltered and have been able to hang on to your innocence for that long, but now its time for you to come into the real world and realize that most people grow up VERY fast these days!

Updated On: 1/21/07 at 03:56 PM

[picturetaker9211]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:43pm

I'll put in my 2 cents.

First off, I haven't seen Spring Awakening, but I really want to. I just turned 15 years old, just a little more than a week ago. As repeated by the other posters, I really think it depends on your daughter. I really got into Rent when I was 13 years old. When I first heard Contact, I couldn't even listen to the whole thing. I had to stop it. Once I read the lyrics, I got more comfortable w/ it. It's not like I didn't know about that kind of stuff, but I just wasn't used to hearing it in that way, in that kind of medium. I guess it's sorta of the same thing w/ Spring Awakening. I definitely am more mature listening to songs like B**** of Living, Totally F******, and The Word of Your Body than I was back then listening to Contact nearly 2 years ago. Watching some of those more subjective music videos on MTV, I don't automatically think, "I definitely wanna do that" or "wow, that makes me wanna bang people." I at least have some dignity & self-respect.
Seeing some of the scenes and hearing of some of the music, I definitely would not want to see Spring Awakening with my parents. I would much rather see it w/ my friends or my older sister, who is 7 years older than me. This is due to the partial fact that I don't/haven't talk(ed) about the topics that are talked about in Spring Awakening with my parents. That would be one of the most awkward moments of my life.
Knowing some of the story, listening to reviews/feedback from others, and listening to the music, I think Spring Awakening relates to teens like me, younger and/or older. I'm not gonna lie here, I have thought about topics like sex, pregnancy, suicide (not directly about me), abortion, stuff like that. A lot of the these topics are already in the media & news.
I would suggest that you should watch the show before you decide whether or not you wanna take your daughter. Or listen to the music. Or read the reviews. Whatever you decide should be what she's comfortable with.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:44pm

Lizzy you obviously haven't heard much of a A Chorus Line. It has homosexuality, as song about tits and ass, and a lot of swearing.

SNL I love Thirteen!I watched Thirteen when I was 11 and was fully aware of what was going on.

"and even around HERE you should hear some of the things girls talk about, very openly, in CLASS. Not even in the halls or durring lunch, but in CLASS."

I live in a nice neighborhood and go to what would be considered one of the nicer and richer schools and, that stuff happens at my school. When I saw thirteen I thought it wouldn't get that bad with some girls at that young of ages but I've seen it has. I find it strange that girls don't even try to hide these things at school. They talk so openly about them. Last Year, a girl sat by me who I barely knew and she would talk so openly about her life it surprised me because I barely knew her.

"and have been able to hang on to your innocence for that long, but now its time for you to come into the real world and realize that most people grow up VERY fast these days!"

People do grow up very fast. My mom says I went from 11 to 14(she's not joking). Lizzy you are in for an awakening about the world soon(no pun intended).

EDIT: Snl, the writer Nikki Reed(Evie), was about 15 when she wrote this.

EDIT: Scratch the other edit. Nikki Reed was about 13 when she wrote this. Updated On: 1/21/07 at 04:44 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:51pm

THIRTEEN was a beautifully directed and acted film.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:52pm

Honestly, Thirteen was one of the most remarkably well written and well acted films I've ever seen.

[snl89]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 4:57pm

Last Year, a girl sat by me who I barely knew and she would talk so openly about her life it surprised me because I barely knew her.


yeah, seriously, I kid you not. I have heard girls talking in class (sometimes kidding I think, but other times definitely not- and please exuse the dirty language that is coming- I'm only repeating what I've heard) about giving guys blow jobs and being "f***** in the butt". I wasn't even part of the conversations! They were just talking about it so openly that I overheard them! And this is at a very nice, very good, relitavely upper-class private school in Vermont!!

aaand I want to rent Thirteen now!! I had actually kind of forgotten about it, but this whole conversation reminded me of that oprah episode and I remembered how good it looked!

Updated On: 1/21/07 at 04:57 PM

[Jellylorum]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:01pm

"SA will just poison her mind and make her think that she is supposed to be doing those kind of things (sex, masterbation, etc.) just because she's a teen. DEFINETELY NO!"

You're terribly sheltered. I think you need to take a biology class, get a dose of reality, and see Spring Awakening. It will do you good. You can't live in your little bubble forever. Let's face it: sex is a big part of life, and you can't deny it. That is why parents need to be more open to their kids when talking about sex. In fact, that's the message they are sending in SA. Wendla would have been much better off if her mom hadn't been so tight-lipped about sex; she wasn't aware of what she was doing because she was misinformed and didn't know the consequences. SA is not poisoning the minds of teens. I'd say it's the opposite. It's telling them to know more about the issues at hand before diving into them.

Updated On: 1/21/07 at 05:01 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:01pm

Who won the Best Actress Oscar that year? Evan Rachel Wood should have been at least been nominated.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:05pm

"Who won the Best Actress Oscar that year? Evan Rachel Wood should have been at least been nominated."

The only person that was nominated was Holly Hunter who played Tracy's mother(btw she won). She deserved a nomination in my opinion.
Updated On: 1/21/07 at 05:05 PM

[kgallo]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:37pm

"but I'm just saying it's not like it has a good message or anything"

I think there is a blatant message here, which this thread has been an outstanding example of! Adults need to trust the children in their lives more...trust that they can handle the truth, even about such hard topics (suicide, sex, abuse, masturbation, death, sexuality, etc.) that sometimes adults just don't want to deal with because it makes THEM uncomfortable. But that is not a good enough reason to hide the truth and facts from your children! Be honest with them and teach them to make the right decisions, not necessairly to do the "right" thing!

And...I think this is very important...
"SA will just poison her mind and make her think that she is supposed to be doing those kind of things (sex, masterbation, etc.) just because she's a teen."

I am in NO WAY promoting or condoning teen sex and/or masturbation, however these two things are NOT poison but a completely natural part of life.

[broadwaybaby77]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 5:52pm

I agree that SA definitely has a message. It shares something that needs to be said, and I'm glad it's out there.

In response to kgallo...

"I think there is a blatant message here, which this thread has been an outstanding example of! Adults need to trust the children in their lives more...trust that they can handle the truth, even about such hard topics (suicide, sex, abuse, masturbation, death, sexuality, etc.) that sometimes adults just don't want to deal with because it makes THEM uncomfortable. But that is not a good enough reason to hide the truth and facts from your children! Be honest with them and teach them to make the right decisions, not necessairly to do the "right" thing! "

I don't think that anyone has the right to tell someone else how to raise their child. Everyone experiences their own "awakenings" in their own due time, and maybe 14 was the right time for you, but it may not be the right time for this 14 year old. I disagree with you in the whole adults trusting kids thing. I would imagine that an adult or parent is allowed to be concerned about what their child learns at a certain time because some of these things can be dangerous and life-changing.