Aryn Week 2: Who is Euphoria Catered Too?
HBO’s smashing hit Euphoria has teens mesmerized by the life of recovering drug addict Rue Bennet, her fellow high school classmates, and drug dealer, Fezco. The show follows the group as they learn to navigate toxic relationships with drugs, drinking, and their significant others. Interestingly, while the show is meant to depict everyday high school life, it is actually rated TV-MA and is not suitable for those under 17.
The show’s rating, TV-MA, and mature content beg the question as to whom the show was created, adults or high school teens. Euphoria’s “vulgar characterization of such risqué themes” demonstrates false narratives about teenagers today “glorify[ing] high school student drug use, addiction, anonymous sex, and other destructive behaviors” as common teenage hobbies, almost encouraging experimentation. Moreover, the inclusion of “overly graphic sex scenes, extreme drug use, and paralyzing mental struggles” and the show's “constant choice of ultra-harsh lighting creat[ing] a constant sense of darkness in the young characters’ lives” makes it difficult for the show to be suitable for those in high school.
However, according to Sam Levinson, Euphoria’s creator, the show is not supposed to demonstrate ‘the ultimate high school experience.’ Instead, it is supposed to ‘shine light’ on the problems that some high schoolers face. The audience “know[s] the high schoolers in Euphoria are out there,” says Levinson, “whether they’re friends, family, or people they know through the internet.” According to Zendaya who plays the main character, Rue, the purpose of Euphoria is to show people “that their experiences are valid, and what they’re going through is real, and that they’re not the only person in the world that’s living with what they’re living with.” The show achieves this purpose, explains Zendaya, through “it’s a raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today.”
While Euphoria’s content and target audience remain controversial, the success of the show is not. So now, I am asking you guys to answer, who do you think Euphoria is meant for?
Works Cited:
https://www.distractify.com/p/what-euphoria-gets-wrong-about-teenagers
I found this article very interesting as I too have questioned who the target audience of Euphoria is. I personally think the show was rated TV-MA for a reason; it is not to completely restrict you or stop you from watching the show if you are underage, it is only to warn you of the level of maturity required to watch the series. Furthermore, I think that many adults can relate to the show even if they aren't high schoolers because the situations and struggles emulated throughout the show have been prominent in high schoolers life for the past few centuries, not only now.
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