Perks of Being a Wallflower Context Analysis
The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Context Analysis Paper ! Stephen Chbosky, a 29 year-old film director and screenwriter published his first semi-autobiographical novel in 1991, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He later directed the movie in 2011 and released it in October 2012. The central theme of the story revolves around the struggle to understand the terrible things that inevitably happen to those we love and to ourselves. It unfolds through a series of letters written by the main character, Charlie, addressed to us, the reader, that detail his painful yet joyous freshman year of high school. Chbosky frames the film only loosely in this way, preferring showing over telling — we never see Charlie talking to the camera. The novel has been a “backlist staple for the publisher, consistently selling between 70,000 and 100,000 copies in paper each year through the outlets recorded by Nielsen BookScan” (C.J., 2012). According to Anthony Ziccardi, v-p and deputy publisher of Simon & Schuster, “it has always been a big seller in the college market.” The movie tie-in edition, with the lead actors on the front cover, sells just as frequently as the original. It’s do doubt that the rhetor of Perks of Being a Wallflower hit success with his novel, but the movie proves to do the same. ! This striking theme and complex plot of a typical, teen “problem” story doesn’t
dwell on a divorce or accidental pregnancy. This story has “developed a cult following it” as a teen reader responds how it does more, “it reminded me of me and my friends, totally and completely” (Spitz, 1999). The film functions similarly. It’s unique yet edgy, which makes it different and relatable at the same time. Even though Chbosky studied film specifically, his first novel was a huge success. This single literary work in erotic fiction transforms marvelously onto the big screen. I think that his film background is
largely to thank for this. Not many writers can direct their own movies. Chbosky’s young age and
dwell on a divorce or accidental pregnancy. This story has “developed a cult following it” as a teen reader responds how it does more, “it reminded me of me and my friends, totally and completely” (Spitz, 1999). The film functions similarly. It’s unique yet edgy, which makes it different and relatable at the same time. Even though Chbosky studied film specifically, his first novel was a huge success. This single literary work in erotic fiction transforms marvelously onto the big screen. I think that his film background is
largely to thank for this. Not many writers can direct their own movies. Chbosky’s young age and