Arguments Presented in the Documentary
The director's argument in "American Teen" is that many teenagers face difficulties during high school based on their social status. This argument is shown throughout the documentary as one learns about the lives of five teenagers who are struggling through their senior year of high school. The director shows the different points of view from each of the five students and one learns that high school is more than just marks - it is about popularity, the clique you hang out with, the sports you play, and your appearance. One is treated differently depending on where one falls in these categories. For example, Megan, the popular girl, is well-dressed, everyone knows who she is, and all the guys like her even though she's rude. Then there's the geek, Jake, who is greasy, anti-social, and nobody even knows he exists.