KIDS (1995) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

KIDS (1995) - Essay Example Most of these factors tend to be influenced by the environment within which these teenagers live, the latter being further influenced by people with whom the teenager lives, the people they associate with, the economic status of their families, and finally, the values of the society within which these teenagers live. The most common character throughout the movie is Telly, who is a sixteen year old addicted to sex and he says in a soliloquy that without it, he sees no other reason to live (Goldberg 55). The fact that he is HIV positive is revealed when one of his sexual partners, Jennie, finds out that she has been infected. Telly chooses to only have sex with girls who are virgins and he, perhaps unknowingly, ends up infecting a lot of girls through his encounters with them. Throughout the movie, the viewer comes to the realization that among the main factors which influence the behavior of the characters involved is people with whom they live. ... n is perhaps the reason why he indulges in so much sexual activity, most likely in an attempt to find some meaning to his life after the rejection that he feels from his mother. It is in this instance that the conflict theory can be applied because of the fact that since Telly’s mother does not give him the attention he deserves, and for this reason, Telly indulges in the activities which in one way or the other lead to conflict in the lives of the people that he influences. It is a fact that teenagers are highly observant people, and it is a normal thing for them to imitate the behavior of their older family members or their friends. If a parent, for example, is a drug user, then it is likely that their teenage children will also become drug users and this is because these teenagers will grow up with the belief that taking drugs is not wrong. A home is the biggest influence that a teenager can have, and what goes on in that home is displayed by the character of this teenager. If the parents are negligent of their child, as Telly’s mother is of him, then it is likely that they will not notice the changes that are occurring in the teenager (Steele 46). It can be assumed that when Telly and his friends who get involved in delinquent activities, they do so to compensate for the lack of attention from their parents as well as the society. All through the movie, one of the factors which increases the risk of teenage sexual encounters as well as the use of drugs is people with whom they associate. Peer pressure is one of the premier causes of the delinquent activities among the characters of the movie as seen when Casper and his friends attack and beat up a man perhaps to death. It is seen that they indulge in such activities so that they can gain the approval of their