We were discussing this in my prayer group last week, because several of us have teenage children. My daughter is going with a group of girls (and some mothers) to see the movie on Saturday. (Dang, movies are expensive these days, if you don’t go to the cheap show in the crummy part of town!)
I would rather, in books or movies for “young adults,” have violence than romance/sex. Why? For one thing, because fiction-type violence is not available to them in real life - no shooting arrows through anyone’s heart, no gladiatorial combat. If they want to practice archery or martial arts, it’s going to be under controlled conditions with highly-trained adult supervision. Secondly, they universally recognize that the violence is dangerous and harmful, not fun and pleasant.
Romance and sex, on the other hand, are ubiquitously available even for young preteens. It’s consistently presented in books, music, and tv/movies as enjoyable, pleasant, and without negative consequences. I like to amuse myself by “translating” the popular songs into plain English ... “I’m a loser who won’t commit, but have sex with me anyway, okay?” ... while my 14-year-old yells, “You’re ruining it!”
““I’m a loser who won’t commit, but have sex with me anyway, okay?” ... while my 14-year-old yells, “You’re ruining it!””
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“That’s my job, Sweetie!”
Nicely played, Mom! :-)