“Whatever it takes, I know I can make it through.”
The message in Degrassi’s theme may be cheesy, but the show truly encompasses one basic idea: perseverance is key in the face of difficulty. After watching season after season of consecutive character misfortune, Degrassi seems to be the most unlucky school in the universe; students are never short an obstacle Beginning with Degrassi: Junior High in 1987, Degrassi and all of its spinoffs have all been tackling serious issues since 1987. The very first episode, “Kiss Me, Steph” confronts the issues of peer pressure and bullying. From the beginning, this set a precedent for the heavy complications that the show would later take on. For show about a teenagers and their daily lives, Degrassi has been remarkably cognizant. The show has taken on the responsibility to discuss difficulties that any normal teenager might encounter. The show’s relatability is the very reason that the show still remains today, and why it was revived by Netflix after getting cancelled by Teen Nick. I am often quick to label Degrassi as a guilty pleasure, but this diminishes the significance of what the show has done. So here’s to the all issues that Degrassi has tackled in its 30 years of being on the air!
Degrassi: The Next Generation and Next Class (which can be found on Netflix) emphasises that diversity is extraordinarily important. From the get-go, Degrassi has been ahead of its time, paving the way for an open discussion on progressive issues, often openly discussing and portraying controversy on television. For example, Degrassi’s first portrayal of a gay character, Marco Del Rossi, aired in 2002. While gay characters had appeared in pop culture before, there was little to no visibility of characters who broke the stereotypical and problematic portrayals in the nineties. Marco is a perfect example of why representation matters, and how Degrassi was able to display that it was okay to be who you are. He was a hispanic, gay young man, and the visibility of a character like him likely impacted kids around the world who did not know that being a gay person of color was possible. I am confident that because of characters like Marco, many kids who watched Degrassi may have had their general outlooks on sexuality broadened.
Degrassi’s prioritization of representation has not gone unnoticed. The GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Association Against Defamation) Media Awards has nominated Degrassi five times for most outstanding drama series, to commemorate its portrayals of LGBTQIA+ characters. The the show’s biggest accomplishment, however, was when it wona Peabody Award for the episode, “My Body is A Cage”. The two-part episode provided background and insight into the struggle a transgender character faced exploring their identity. Because transgender people have rarely been portrayed on television, let alone a transgender teenagers, the episode earned mass attention after it’s release in 2010.
For people who have not watched Degrassi before, I would highly recommend it. The discussed issues are so relevant, making the occasional pointless drama entirely worthwhile. I have learned countless lessons, and understood progressive issues on a deeper level, thanks to the show’s bold and forward approach, which include, but are not limited to:
- Race: the cast of characters are incredibly diverse, and the show addresses this frequently
- LGBTQ+ issues: there have been many gay and lesbian relationships throughout the history of the show--beginning in 2002
- Mental Health: many characters have had depression or suicidal thoughts, this is explored in the most recent season
- Eating Disorders: ex. Emma (in the Next Generation) had anorexia
- Cancer & other Life Threatening Diseases:
- Refugee Crisis: Degrassi is very aware of current events--this is a critical part of Next Class, they discuss the need to assimilate the new Muslim refugee students to the school (which is very relevant right now)
- Bullying: this is actually the reason that Drake's character ends up in a wheelchair
- Struggles of Having a Single Parent/Divorce: Typically the cha
- Teen Pregnancy/Abortion:
- Religion: the differences between culture and religion is explored in Degrassi: Next Class
I hope that you give Degrassi a bit more consideration. The show deserves more credit than it has received.
