Podcast Summary: "Inventing the Teenager with Harmony Colangelo"

Introduction

In the May 7, 2025 episode of You're Wrong About, host Sarah Marshall delves into the historical construction of the American teenager with special guest Harmony Colangelo. As Sarah introduces the episode, she sets the stage by highlighting the creation of the "teenager" as a distinct social category, questioning why this group has often been scapegoated for various societal issues.

The Birth of the American Teenager

Harmony Colangelo begins by tracing the emergence of the teenager category to the post-World War II era. She explains that while adolescence has always existed, the concept of "teens" as a separate demographic solidified around World War II.

Harmony Colangelo [06:03]: "So the teens of World War II...have never known peace. They've never known anything."

Sarah adds to this by illustrating the societal shifts during this period, where economic prosperity allowed families to move to the suburbs, granting teenagers newfound freedoms that were previously unattainable.

Classroom Films and Mental Hygiene

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the rise of educational classroom films in the late 1940s and 1950s. Harmony explains that these films, often termed "mental hygiene" films, aimed to guide teenagers through the complexities of adolescence by addressing issues like dating, drug use, and emotional well-being.

Harmony Colangelo [11:25]: "It's very alarming...it's like the stereotype of schools being like a conveyor belt to pump children along."

Sarah reflects on her personal experiences with such films, recalling how they often used stark, memorable scenarios to instill caution in teenagers.

Sarah Marshall [15:29]: "I've never forgotten that stupid thing because it's like one of those things where... please, God, don't let me do that."

Media Portrayals and the Teen Rebel

The conversation transitions to how teen culture was depicted in media during the 1950s and 1960s. Harmony highlights films like Rebel Without a Cause and Blackboard Jungle, which portrayed teenagers as rebellious and at odds with societal norms. This era also saw the rise of rock and roll, which was both celebrated and vilified as a corrupting influence on youth.

Harmony Colangelo [24:38]: "I Believe there was Blackboard Jungle... quite frankly, you get a lot of these early teen films..."

Sarah connects this to the broader narrative of teenagers being seen as a problematic youth, a theme that persisted into later decades.

The Decline of Mental Hygiene Films and Shifts in Educational Media

Harmony discusses the decline of mental hygiene films by the late 1950s and early 1960s, attributing it to the changing social landscape, including the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. These conflicts made it difficult for educational films to maintain a positive, sanitized portrayal of teen life.

Harmony Colangelo [57:48]: "Once we get to the 1960s...it's stuck in this kind of Pleasantville bubble."

Sarah muses on the sustainability of such portrayals, noting how the complexities of real-world events made the simplistic messages of classroom films obsolete.

Modern Reflections and Comparisons

Drawing parallels to contemporary times, Harmony reflects on how educational media has evolved from classroom films to after-school specials and now to digital content, yet the underlying intent to guide and educate remains consistent.

Harmony Colangelo [51:19]: "Things have never gone away. They've just gotten kind of updated with the times."

Sarah and Harmony discuss the effectiveness of modern educational tools compared to the direct, albeit simplistic, approach of past classroom films. They touch on the challenges of balancing entertainment with informative content in today's fast-paced media environment.

Conclusion: The Legacy of Mental Hygiene Films

In wrapping up the discussion, Harmony underscores the lasting impact of early educational films on the perception of teenagers. While these films aimed to mold "model citizens," they also inadvertently fostered insecurities and a fear-based approach to youth guidance.

Harmony Colangelo [61:16]: "So, yeah, I mean, the act of creating something is creating a product... even if you have good intentions."

Sarah concludes by reflecting on the cyclical nature of educational media and its ongoing role in shaping teenage identity. She emphasizes the importance of meaningful dialogue and critical engagement with media to foster healthier adolescent development.

Sarah Marshall [56:12]: "Kids have always had a right to have a real reason and a good reason for why they're learning the things that they're learning."

Notable Quotes

• Harmony Colangelo [02:45]: "Where did they come from? And why do we blame them for everything?"

• Sarah Marshall [07:26]: "What is juvenile delinquency?"

• Harmony Colangelo [25:37]: "Rock and roll... Elvis got shipped off to war."

• Sarah Marshall [36:22]: "The nuclear family... upholding a certain standard of suburban white America."

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Mental Hygiene Classroom Films 1945-1970 by Ken Smith.
• Dissertation: Hot Rods, Shy Guys and Sex Kittens. Social Guidance Films in the American High School 1947-1957 by Michelle Ann Boolean.
• Podcast: The Sense of Prom by Harmony Colangelo and her wife.

Final Thoughts

This episode of You're Wrong About offers a comprehensive exploration of how the American teenager was culturally and socially constructed in the mid-20th century. Through insightful dialogue and historical analysis, Sarah Marshall and Harmony Colangelo shed light on the interplay between media, education, and societal expectations in shaping teenage identity.