Although it is easy to speak derisively about pop music and claim that it is inherently populist and unambitious, it is undeniable that the genre has a unique ability to capture the cultural zeitgeist. The pop music that ends up standing the test of time is not just representative of a specific moment in culture, but the result of a highly calculated personality that embodies everything that music fans want out of a star. Even if being a pop star seems like a fantasy for those outside of the industry, the reality is that it is a challenging task that requires both artistic dedication and a performative edge. The musical drama Teen Spirit examined the complex process of a pop star’s rise to prominence and featured Elle Fanning in the best film performance of her career.
What Is ‘Teen Spirit’ About?
Fanning stars in Teen Spirit as the socially obtuse teenager Violet, who lives with her family on the Isle of Wight. Although Violet has had dreams of becoming a pop star, her community is relatively remote, and the closest thing she gets to being widely celebrated is when she performs in a near-empty bar. However, one of Violet’s performances is observed by the former Croatian pop star Vladimir Brajkovic (Zlatko Burić), who suggests to her that he could her help gain a larger audience. Although her parents expressly forbid her from singing outside of church, Violet agrees to participate in an audition that Vlad arranges for her to be a contestant on a reality competition series designed to identify the next major star. Although Violet begins to find great success and immediately becomes a fan favorite, she is forced to choose between conflicting loyalties as various parties try to assume ownership of her career.
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Teen Spirit was directed by the actor Max Minghella, the son of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Anthony Minghella, and the film shows a remarkable degree of specificity in exploring the struggles that come with being in the media spotlight. Much of Violet’s success is because she seems to epitomize the shy, innocent persona that media publications crave, as her authenticity differentiates her from those who have to be more performative in crafting their personalities. While Violet is interested in the competition based purely on her love of music, she learns that the only way to succeed in the industry is to conform to the standards that are placed upon young women. Fanning does a great job at showing how this complicates Violet’s relationship with her art; she is forced to acknowledge that her dream may be more nuanced than how she imagined it as a child, and that behind-the-scenes producers and influencers are just as integral to the viability of pop music as the actual performers are. Although Teen Spirit is a brilliant examination of how the music industry has changed, it is also a highly compelling coming-of-age film about a young woman finding her identity.
Elle Fanning Became a Star in ‘Teen Spirit’
Fanning is able to make Violet’s transformation in Teen Spirit convincing, as she is able to show the adjustments made as she begins to steadily rise to the top of the competition. While it is evident from her first performances that she has a natural ability, Fanning was able to show how Violet adjusted her voice in order to suit a television audience and how different styles of competition drew out different components of her personality. Even if she is surrounded by cynical onlookers that view her as a passing fad, Fanning’s joy in getting to share her gifts with an audience is well realized thanks to the very naturalistic performance that Fanning gives.
Fanning performs terrific renditions of many iconic pop songs, including “Dancing On My Own,” “Lights,” “Don’t Kill My Vibe,” and “I Was A Fool,” among others. While nailing these songs and giving her own interpretation was always going to be a challenge, Fanning is also able to show the evolution of Violet’s artistry as she gains self-confidence and copes with personal issues. Although she is clearly one of the best young actresses of her generation, Fanning indicated with Teen Spirit that she could probably be a great pop artist if she wanted to pursue a music career.
Teen Spirit
- Release Date
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April 12, 2019
- Runtime
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92 minutes
- Director
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Max Minghella
- Writers
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Max Minghella
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