Some situations and issues need full-text explanations, scholarly treatment, and (hopefully) thoughtful commentary. Others can be illustrated and dealt with by relatively simple lists. Here I offer a collection of the latter -- lists of things relevant to various social issues and problems, or common themes (devices) or clichés in film and TV scripts or other media, with minimal discussion or opinion.
• Body Hair -- Portrayals of boys being obsessed with the signs of puberty
• Body Swap -- Stories in which children and adults "magically" change places
• Boys finding Alternatives -- Attachments between boys and aliens, animals, monsters, ogres, mentors
• Boys Only? -- Stories about boys that probably would not work as re-makes with girls
• Bullying -- A lighthearted look at an age-old method of building character
• Child in Control -- Youngsters take over when adults can't handle the situation
• Child Protection? -- Situations where children challenge actions of "Child Protective Services"
• Diversity -- Shows and films that promote individuality as a good thing
• Gay Gets Younger -- Gay (or "pre-gay") teen and preteen characters (virtually always boys)
• Girl Replacements -- In a series of films, after two or three featuring boys, girls take over
• Hair Ruffling -- Scenes where adults affectionately "ruffle" boys' hair
• Just Friends -- Not a boyfriend, just a friend who happens to be a boy (and vice versa, of course)
• Kids Beat the Corporations -- Young people fighting corporate or anti-environmental interests -- and winning, of course
• Kids Not Acting Their Age -- Young children dressing and/or acting provocatively like much older people
• Naked Not Nude -- Lack of clothing as joke or embarrassment (or both)
• New Blood -- TV series in which children are added to cast (probably) to boost ratings
• Revolution Nouveau? -- Signs there may be change a-brewin' among the Media Generation
• Shaving for Attention -- Boys becoming men (or seeking attention) through (face) shaving
• Sleeping, No More -- Unrelated people sharing beds in movies and television
• Sweet Smell of . . . -- Olfactory science and pop culture
• The Spark of Adolescence -- Wonder, Awe, Amazement in the world
• Switching and Dressing -- Sex Switches and Cross-Dressing
• Turkey Heads -- OK, I admit, it's just a bit of fun

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