Flirting on Film: Boundaries and Consent, Visibility and Performance

Teen film presents a variety of intimacies between characters, sometimes in constructive ways, other times in ways that demonstrate a lack of care for the self or others. As a popular, accessible textual form, teen film can provide a space to explore ethical practices of relating through flirting. In order to appeal to the largest possible audience, flirting, innuendo, touching, glancing, and talking often replace the representation of sex in teen film, playing a part in testing the waters and learning how to relate to other people. In this way, film has the potential to provide an environment to discuss aspects of relationships and relating that sometimes fall to the wayside. This chapter considers how teen films present pedagogical moments which might be valuable for starting conversations or discussions regarding the negotiation of intimacy, rather than resorting to scandal.