Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #188793 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-01
• Released on: 2007-10-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Photographer and Emmy-winning director Franzini explores the lives of the "instant access generation" by profiling 100 teenage Americans in this dynamic, brilliantly colored volume. Consulting census data and conducting research to find the "top 50 niches in youth culture," Franzini selects a group of teenagers that effectively represents the diversity of American youth, encompassing "cheerleaders, jocks, student body presidents, prom queens, nerds, band geeks, gamers, skaters, stoners, goths, punks, druggies and kids who defy all labels." Each teen is photographed in the setting and pose of his or her choice, often to revealing effect, while the text provides information on subjects' lives, struggles and dreams: 18-year-old Kammie is an anime-loving college freshman who lost a cat to Hurricane Katrina; 15-year-old Josh from South Dakota describes the difficulties of being openly gay in high school; April Luv, the youngest prostitute at the World Famous Bunny Ranch, wants to start her own business someday; 16-year-old Joel "says his mother wants him to spend more time with girls and less time with robots." Other profiles reveal tales of foster home hopscotch and meth addiction as well as unimpeachable high school popularity and Beverly Hills designer living. Funny, heartbreaking, inspirational and illuminating, this countrywide cross-section provides one of most complete, accesible and stereotype-defying looks at American youth yet produced.
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About the Author

Michael Franzini is a photographer based in Los Angeles and New York City. Also a writer and Emmy-winning director, he has created countless on-air campaigns for MTV and other networks. His photographs appear in magazines and ad campaigns targeting Americans young and old. His current and past clients include Wal-Mart, T-Mobile, Panasonic, Pacific Sunwear, Google, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Rock The Vote and the Partnership for a Drug Free America.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
I don't know about the other 99 young Americans in this book, but I know that some information about the one from Utah isn't true. How do I know this? Because I know Trapper. He told me that Michael Franzini misquoted him about some moral issues and this has been very embarrassing for him. Trapper also told me that there is some information in this book about his dad, which he told Michael in confidence and asked him specifically not to include it in his book. Trapper (a minor at the time) nor his parents were asked to review the information to be included in the book before it was printed. Very wrong and very disappointing. I would not buy this book.

Too much like an adult looking in
The photographs are interesting to look at, but the stories that accompany them are awful! They're poorly written. Also, the intro to the book over-stresses the fact that this is the "instant access generation." That's not really news, and I think it pigeonholes teenagers too much. It's the completely obvious way to look at teenagers right now. And though Franzini stresses in the intro that he identified himself to the teens as a peer, he definitely comes across as someone with an agenda, looking at teenager as specimen. I also don't like the way they used a low-angle shot on the overweight girl, making her look even huger. I bought this at the same time as "It's Complicated," another photo book of teenagers, and "It's Complicated" is MUCH Better, more honest and less other-izing of teenagers.

Refreshing view of "real" Reality. A must have
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1CXY6H5MKQ650 I love this book. It documents America's youth today in a stunning and sometimes shocking way bringing back memories of teenage anxiety and joy. I lool forward to other works from this brillant documentarian and photographer, Michael Franzini.