Paris Demetriades
I finished watching the British mini-series "Adolescence" last night, a four-episode show that's been making waves worldwide, reaching the top spot on Netflix and creating an internet frenzy similar to the buzz caused by last year's British series "Baby Reindeer."
If there's one thing that needs to be said, probably for the thousandth time, it’s that while the UK may not have the best traditional food, they undeniably produce some of the finest television shows and music. "Adolescence" is a landmark moment in TV history, and the buzz surrounding it is absolutely justified. The show is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Without preachiness, moralizing, or even a subtle attempt at manipulation, the creators of this series hit the mark by raising the most crucial and pressing questions about the generational divide we face today. This gap, fueled by the rapid advance of technology, may be the largest humanity has ever seen. Teenagers have always been a sensitive group—introverted, self-absorbed, rebellious, and distant from their parents. But now, in a hybrid world dominated by a digital universe that has infiltrated every aspect of life, changing at lightning speeds and in ways that are beyond the grasp of average logic and perception, it’s a whole new ballgame.
Undoubtedly, the example of a 13-year-old boy from a good family, who one morning finds himself facing horrific charges for the brutal murder of a classmate, is extreme. It’s a scenario that could easily induce excessive anxiety and worry in parents everywhere, as if they didn't already have countless concerns on their plate, as rightly pointed out in analyses of "Adolescence." I don’t think it's a coincidence that many parents refuse or hesitate to watch the series.
But whether we like it or not, our current era is extreme in many of its aspects, and the fleeting awakening provided by shows like "Adolescence" could prove beneficial. The messages, and especially the questions raised by the show, are so powerful and so well communicated (the stunning single shot grabs you from the first second to the last) that I think they will be hard to ignore for anyone who watches it. These complex and labyrinthine questions, which we may not have the answers to, can only do us good if we attempt to answer them.
How much influence does home upbringing have on a teenage child, and how much does the school and society at large contribute? What is realistically possible for a parent or guardian to do, and how crucial is the social and economic background? Where do parental responsibilities end, and where do the state's duties begin, especially when it comes to digital and media literacy? Will this finally become a subject in schools? How damaging is the infamous incel male culture that worships scumbags like Andrew Tate? How should we raise boys and girls? Does it all begin and end with toxic masculinity?
*This article was translated from its Greek original
