Growing Up Degrassi

I was, and still am, a huge fan of Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. I grew up rolling my eyes at the antics of Joey Jeremiah, secretly crushing on Wheels and wishing I was Caitlin. So when I discovered the book Growing up Degassi, I jumped at the chance to read it. And I'm glad I did. Part academia and part reminiscence, this book has something for everyone.

A series of articles on Degrassi and its influences on youth culture, this book was like learning something new about a very old friend. I found myself nodding my head in agreement a lot of the time, but the book also allowed me to look at the series in a new light.

Some of the articles were a comparison between Degrassi Classic (Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High) and Degrassi the Next Generation, while others were a comparison of Degrassi Classic and other teen shows of the era, such as Beverly Hills 90210. The book tackles such topics as the representation of femininity, AIDS, and drugs. There is also much discussion on how Degrassi: The Next Generation differs from Degrassi Classic in tone, topic and look. Almost 100% of the time, Degrassi Classic came out on top (And I don't mind admitting I cheered a little).

What was great about this book was that the tone of the articles differed. Some were very academic, like "The Next Generation Goes Digital: Technology, the Medium and the Message" by Laura Tropp, while others, such as "True to My School: An American Love Affair with Degrassi" written by Brian C. Jones were memories from viewers. My favorite was the article "That White Girl from That Show: Race and Ethnicity within Canadian Youth Culture" written by Rebecca J. Haines, who played Kathleen on Degrassi Classic. This article combined both the academic and the reminiscence and I found it interesting that someone who had a role in such an important youth show as Degrassi is now a top researcher in Youth Culture.

I really enjoyed reading this book, although I will admit I found myself struggling not to skim over some of the more academic pieces. It was great to revisit some of my favorite moments of Degrassi and also to be presented with a new way of thinking about the series.

...a welcome addition to the sparse media studies repertoire focused on Canadian-produced television content. Indeed, from reading Mary Jane Miller's introduction alone, an overview of Canadian television's history of teen-based programming and Degrassi's place within it, one feels the gap narrowing. The essays collected by editor Michele Byers reflect a variety of writing styles and approaches to the subject and are organized into chapters on youth culture, identity and miscellaneous reminiscences and tales of Degrassi fandom... .[the] gap in time between series allows several essayists to explore representations of national identity and youth culture along racial, ethnic, gender and class lines as they have changed over nearly twenty years... .

... Hopefully this book will inspire more outsiders to revisit the halls of Degrassi in their writing, thereby furthering the discussion that has been started here in what is, taking zits and all, an interesting read for Degrassi fans and a welcome addition to youth culture and Canadian media studies.

One of the academic studies about Degrassi that will prove useful to teachers and aficionados of television's best side is Growing Up Degrassi: Television, Identity and Youth Cultures, a series of 16 essays written by academics from across Canada and the US.

Mike Grange teaches media studies in Fredericton.

Growing Up Degrassi is a remarkable effort. Containing a variety of voices, its aim is to show the role that the series has played in shaping the identity of Canadian youth. It achieves this aim, and goes beyond.

The introduction, 'Creating a Classic in Television History,' zooms in on the impact that Degrassi has had on the teenage demographic, as author Mary Jane Miller reminisces on the long way that the series has come. From The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1979, to Degrassi Junior High in the 80s, followed by Degrassi High and now Degrassi: The Next Generation, the series has earned the title 'revolutionary' for being the first ever aired to specifically target the teenage demographic in Canada.

Though there were creative differences between the producers Kit Hood and Linda Shuyuler, writer Yan Moore and CTV's American funding partners Teenage Trrths' voice that was authentically their own. Byers then takes a closer look at the subject of national identity and explores the factors that distinguish the series as being 'Canadian' rather than 'American.'

Drugs, sex and money in Degrassi are all confronted in Bettina Spencer's essay, 'Everybody Wants Something.' Spencer critiques US counterpart shows, such as Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210, for lacking a realistic approach to teenage issues. Degrassi, on the other hand, is so realistic it almost seems unscripted.

At first glance the book appears bland with a lack of photographs throughout the publication. Nonetheless, the contents prove that the old adage is true about not rushing to judgement. Growing Up Degrassi consists of powerful and edifying compositions, touching on topics that can only be understood by true Degrassi devotees.