Above are images of the Cars used by the 90210 teens and my car. Predictably the cars on the top are the cars used by the rich, spoilt and stereotypically represented Beverly hills teens. The bottom picture shows my 1996 vauxhall corsa which wouldn't even make a background shot in 90210. Here lies the problem, the reason American teen dramas show these cars is becuase the cars carry connontations of flash and rich lifestyles, but because of the audience needs the producers fail to represent the more every day teen who owns a Vauxhall corsa. 90210 supports another popular myth of capitalism, the notion that buying things will make you happy, and you express yourself through the clothes you wear, things you buy, cars you drive, hence the fast expensive cars, and fashionable designer clothing. What products I see on the T.v. in these dramas I want to consume to make my lifestyle more like theirs. The idea that the more expensive gadgets and items carry connotations of being higher status than those who don't have these luxury goods, and the obvious need for these teens to be high status drives them to consumerism. The final cliche portrayed by American teen dramas is following the "American Dream" to become wealthy and live these idealized lifestyles.