Introduction

To what extent and why have some of the conventions of the teen musical drama changed?

Defining a genre can be problematic, the musical for instance, as described by Collins is a 'multifaced, hybrid and complex'[1] genre. Indeed, as Wales notes genre itself is 'an intertextual concept'[2]. In order to clarify the characteristics of the musical genre, one must first examine the various transitions the musical has undergone throughout its history as genres “are subject to the constant process of change and adaptation”[3] (Maltby). Such changes have been marked by various sub-generic categories of the musical form such as ‘Opereta', 'revue', 'musical comedy’,’ the integrated musical' and musical drama'.

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[1] Collins, Jim (1988):'The Musical' in Wes D. Gehring, Handbook of American Film Genres, New York, Greenswood Press.
[2] Wales, Katie (1989): A Dictionary of Stylistics. London: Longman.
[3] Altman, R (1999)Film/Genre, London: BFI