The term “actant” was defined by Bruno Latour as something that acts or is an object of activity of others. It does not imply any individual or group motivation. However, an actant is a thing that triggers an action. This term is widely used in sociology.
In order to understand the role of teenage love depicted in the film “Sixteen Candles,” it is necessary to discuss the needs of the main characters. Sam and farmer Ted have to cope with their desires and find out what is really important for them. However, they have similar goals. Sam wants to gain confidence and become more optimistic. On the other hand, Ted needs to get some rest and relax. He reflects on his inner world and tries to understand who he really is. Therefore, both characters make great efforts to find themselves.
The movie presents many dialogues between teenagers. These are serious conversations in which they talk honestly about their feelings. Therefore, they are shown as adults who are driven not by their hormones but by emotions. Although the characters talk about a wide range of feelings, one of the main is love. For example, Ryan reveals that he is not satisfied with his beautiful girlfriend. Even though his peers are jealous, he wants to find a more sensitive girl. Ryan is shown as an insecure teenager despite being the most popular boy in a school. Another example is Ted, who says that he is very concerned about Sam. He wants to help her get a boy she likes. Another important scene is when Jim has an intimate conversation with Sam. He is sorry for forgetting about her birthday, but she suddenly tells him about her romantic feelings.
Such strong emotions are actants for the characters. They eventually make Ryan break up with his girlfriend and focus on soul-searching. However, they remain friends. Consequently, Ted is deflowered by Caroline, Ryan’s ex-girlfriend.
Therefore, the director shows the problems of white teenagers from affluent families. The film is focused on the difficulties of being a teenager. The story tells about a girl, Sam, who wants to celebrate her birthday and have sexual relations with her old crush, Ryan. She lives in a big fashionable house. Her father is a very successful professional, working in the finance sector. Sam does not know too much about his job as she is completely occupied with her teenage problems. It is a world of the elite.
These children do not have real difficulties and thus overestimate some trivial obstacles. However, they lead to big troubles. Therefore, these seemingly insignificant issues are worth attention. Sam is obsessed with Ryan. Her emotions are the main actant. Like other teenagers, she wants to be accepted by her peers. Sam has everything, and she does not get used to situations in which she cannot obtain a desirable object. However, as time goes by, she realizes that she does not deserve all these privileges.
Therefore, she lacks self-awareness and is insecure and confused. However, Sam’s romantic feelings make her act to attract the attention of her crush. Also, the emotional pain from which the main characters suffer pushes them towards alcohol. Love is interrelated with other emotions. It causes hopelessness and anguish. The main characters are very vulnerable. In the final scene, Ryan kisses Sam, and her perception drastically changes. The world is not a place for suffering anymore. She feels joyful. Hence, love causes not only excruciating feelings but also happiness.
Also, the movie is focused on boys’ problems. They struggle to show their masculinity to attract the attention of girls. Virginity is considered an attribute of an immature feminine person. Therefore, they are driven not simply by their hormones but by their emotions. For example, Ted bets his friends that he will have sex with Sam. However, eventually, he tells her the truth. He asks Sam to give him her underwear to keep his masculine reputation among his peers. Therefore, teenage boys associate manhood with sexual relationships.
The movie demonstrates that even affluent adolescences cannot avoid problems. Their emotional conditions are not stable. That is why they are driven by love and other feelings that relate to it. Both boys and girls learn how to deal with their desires and passions, and through this, they discover their weaknesses and strengths. The above-discussed examples show the impact that love has on affluent teenagers and how it determines their actions. Therefore, wealth and success cannot immune people from dealing with such problems.