For an attempted, but failed, psychology project one of my friends and I put together and posted a survey onto Facebook, asking about the mental health of 14 - 19 year old's. We got over 50 responses in the first two days and the results were, sadly, not surprising. Our survey was mainly asking questions about school as our hypothesis was that school had a negative effect on mental heath - this was confirmed with the results of the survey.*


86% of the people who responded to the survey said that the pressure brought on by parents, teacher and themselves, was negatively effecting their mental health, making them stressed, anxious and even in some cases, depressed. In turn, it was effecting their ability to work at school, with 80% of the teenagers who answered saying that they had experienced symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack at school or because of their studies. We then asked if the stress effected any other aspects of their lives, here are some of the responses:

Female, 17: I barely sleep or eat any more which doesn't help with concentration in school, and makes me feel so tired constantly.

Female, 16: I often forget to eat, and then I binge. In terms of sleeping I rarely get more than 6 hours sleep a night.

Female, 18: I rarely sleep well and have developed depression and anxiety whilst at school.

These aren't even the saddest responses, many went into details about home lives and work hours and their lacking ability in balancing all aspects of being a healthy teenager. All of them seemed to be struggling, whether it was with a small mental health issue or something much bigger, it was effecting everyone. However, over 60% said that if and when they needed emotional/mental support, they feel they would not be able to talk to anyone at school.

 

Reading through the results and personal comments was heart-breaking, knowing that the people answering these questions were walking past me each day in the hall but I had no way of reaching out to them. The answers were anonymous, but sometimes I wished they weren't.

Mental health is a topic discussed regularly today, in most aspects of the media and in general conversations. But, this conversation needs to be made bigger. Teenagers need to feel like they have support, especially at school, where they should be being protected and cared for - not just pushed for the best results.

Of course grades are necessary, but good and stable mental health is much more important. It's just taking people not experiencing it along time to figure it out. 

*Only 14% of the responses were from males, this is also a huge issue that should be being addressed, but seems to be being missed: men's mental health. A huge and ever growing issue in the UK and all over the world. However, my survey did get the majority of it's responses from women so I will not be able to comment on how this issue presented itself in my results. 






Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer are American writers, actors and comedians, who star in the TV show Broad City, which they have also written and produced.



Before Broad City, Abbi and Ilana created an internet show of the same name which they independently produced from 2009 to 2011. This was nominated for an ECNY Award for Best Wed Series and was received well by audiences and critics alike. It was picked up by Amy Poehler, who is now a producer of the show and has also guess starred.


I love these girls, They don't take themselves to seriously, their writing is funny and their show is weird but so so great.






Summer has arrived early here in England!!

Well, sun for a few days and cold again for the next isn't exactly summer, but, this does means you need a good playlist to get you 'in the summer mood'. Something to listen to when you're driving in the heat or laying outside soaking in the sun. So, I've made a playlist of summer of some of my all time favourite summer songs.


Including songs by: Grimes, SWMRS, The Front Bottoms, Wolf Alice and many more.

https://play.spotify.com/user/eviebubbles/playlist/1l8ikdZIhus9vSm4WDdX9F




photo by Ada Hamza





Garfunkel and Oats are a two piece comedy/folk band, consisting of Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci.


After being a fan of musical comedy for a while it was nice to stumble across some women doing the thing I love and doing it really well. 

Riki and Kate have successful acting careers separately, Kate appearing in shows like Scrubs and The Big Bang Theory and Riki hosting a popular comedy podcast, together they are at their best, even having their own TV show - Garfunkel and Oats. 



If your a fan of musical comedy, Bo Burnham, Tim Minchin etc., you should definitely give these girls a try.

My favourite songs of theirs currently are: 29/31, Handjob, Bland Job, I Don't Understand Job and Gay Boyfriend.

(also they are both super cute)

The 80's was a great decade for movies, particularly teen movies. 

Being a teen right now, I can say some of the best movies to watch with friends or on a (Ferris Buellers) day off are films from the years of 1980 - 89. However, this opinion isn't common - a lot of people hate films from the 80's, Quentin Tarantino even said it was the worst decade for film. But, for once, I don't agree with him. I've spent a lot of my teenage years loving 80's films and I'm not stopping any time soon. 

Before I wrote this, I compiled a short list of my favourite 80's movies, it included obvious ones like The Breakfast Club or Heathers, but I felt like I was missing some, so I Googled it. During my Googling I realised just how many of my favourite films were made in the 80's and how many of my favourite actors and directors helped to create them. From Dirty Dancing to A Nightmare on Elm Street, the films that are most important to me are from this decade and most of them are teen movies.

Teen Wolf (1985)
Obviously, I am in this demographic, but I feel that these films would appeal to anyone. The 80's was filled with timeless classics, which will forever make it my favourite decade for teen films.

Some of the best teen heartthrobs also came from the 80's. Many of my tween crushes were boys from John Hughes' films and I'm not ashamed to say that most of them are still pretty attractive today. John Bender, played by Judd Nelson, is a character all girls will fall for. I mean, I preferred Brian, but Anthony Michael Hall was cute back then, okay? The Outsiders boys are all pretty perfect; Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon and C. Thomas Howell each with a ridiculously cute name. I mean - Sodapop?

The Outsiders. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola (1983)
Spader, Dillon, Lowe, Michael Hall, McCarthy, Nelson
John Hughes is a man that can't be ignored when talking about this decade. He is the king of the teen movie. Hughes created the most well known set of teen movies to this day. From The Breakfast Club to Pretty in Pink and Weird Science, these films are classics, still holding up today. And not just because everyone loves a good dance number. The films are funny, with interesting and hilarious characters - whilst still remaining truthful and unbelievable relatable.

The Breakfast Club (1985)
And obviously, you can't talk about John Hughes without mentioning the Brat Pack. A group of young actors in the 80's who frequently appeared together in coming-of-age films, a lot of the time directed by Hughes himself. Even though they may not have been friends in real life, they were idolised my many teens and the inspiration for every friendship group.

St Elmo's Fire (1985)
The Brat Pack
The 80's is filled with some of the best films ever made - E.T, Ghostbusters, Back To The Future, The Princess Bride and The Shining.

But, I have the most personal connection to the teen movies - which shaped and inspired my teenage years.

Thank you, John Hughes.


Kristen Schaal is an American actress, writer and comedian, whilst being a voice artist on one of the best animated shows of all time - Bob's Burgers.


Kristen Schaal is most well known for her roles as Mel in Flight of The Concords and Louise Beltcher in Bob's Burgers. And now she's the leading lady on the FOX show, Last Man on Earth. 

Louise Beltcher is one of my favourite characters from any TV show ever and has some of the best lines in the show, made complete by the voice of Kristen.


Aside from acting in a number of great and very funny shows, she does stand-up, once even appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe (my favourite place on Earth). She was on the show Funny as Hell, wearing a sparkiling jacket and talking about taint's for five minutes - the best five minutes of your life. 


When I'm ill or procrastinating I will always slip into watching Conan interviews, where I will eventually end up watching all of  Kristen's appearances for the 50th time. She's cute, funny and seems like a genuinely lovely gal. If you're are a fan of podcasts, check out her chatting with Pete Holmes on You Made It Weird where they talk about religion, pool parties and comedy:

 You Made it Weird with Kristen Schaal


Here are some of the best films to watch when you feel like being empowered a little bit. 


1. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
This film deserves a whole post of 
it's own, it covers racism, sexism, 
culture, stereotypes and love, all while
being based around a female friendship 
began by a love of football. 

Bend It Like Beckham stars Parminder
Nagra playing 18 year old Jess, an 
aspiring footballer being torn between
her passion and her strict parents. 

It was also directed, written and 
produced by women. The director 
and writer being Gurinder Chadha who
directed the film of my tweens: Angus, 
Thongs and Perfect Snogging.




2. Erin Brockovich (2000)

Based on a true story this film is stars
Emma Roberts as Erin Brockovich a 
single and  unemployed mother who 
becomes a legal assistant and almost 
single-handedly brings down a California
Power company accused of polluting a
city's water supply.

Being the daughter of a single mother
I love any films where a woman over-
comes the stereotypes that come with 
raising a child alone. 






3. Thelma and Louise (1991)

The classic. Thelma and Louise will
inspire and empower all women - 
especially those with a best friend. 

Following the story of two young 
women who leave their normal lives
to take a short road trip, when suddenly
their trip becomes a flight from the law.

Written by a woman this film is the 
perfect exploration of female friendship
and girl power.









4. Hick (2011)

Chloe Grace Moretz plays a 'pistol
packing teen' named Luli, escaping 
from her alcoholic parents she runs away 
from home and hitches a ride from Eddie,
who is not all he seems.

Even though Luli is younger than most 
female protagonists, she is simultaneous
stronger than most. Able to fight for
her life and win, Luli is a character 
all tweens should aspire to be. 

Hick was written by a woman, 
whom wrote the original
novel the film is based on.





 5. Legally Blonde (2001)

Again, written by women, this film
focuses on Elle Woods, the girl with it
all. But, the one thing she can't have she 
wants: Warner Huntington III. So,
she applies to Harvard, determined 
to win him back

This film is funny, clever and powerful.
It defies stereotypes, teaching young
girls that anything is achievable, whilst
being a fun and entertaining watch. 

(Also, Jennifer Coolidge is as amazing as 
always and I love her)






6. Calendar Girls (2003)

I first watched this film when I was
much too young to understand the 
importance of it, but after watching it again
I realise how great it is. 

Women from the WI pose as nude models
 for a calendar in-order to raise money for
 a memorial to one of the women's husbands. 

Great and empowering for any age, this film is
sweet, funny and has an amazing cast including
Julie Walters, Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie. 
                                          






7. Winter's Bone (2010)

Winter's Bone was one of Jennifer Lawrence's 
first feature films and in my opinion much 
more empowering than the one everyone raves 
about. 

Ree is a teenager, caring for her unresponsive 
mother and two younger siblings - whilst having to hunt, cook and clean. When she is informed that her father put their house up for bond and left them, Ree sets out to find him, risking her life with the family's fate in her hands









8. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

When you think of 'girl power' this film isn't one that instantly comes to mind, however this is a film that all young girls should be made to watch - teaching the importance of family and self love.

A dysfunctional family, including Paul Dano and Steve Carell, head to California in a VW Camper to support a young Abigal Breslin in her bid to win the Little Miss Sunshine Contest.

The dancing scene is amazing, never failing to make me cry. 











9. The To Do List (2013)

Maybe not for a younger audience, this film is the perfect representation of young women taking control of their sexuality and their bodies, whilst still being hilarious. 

Written and directed by Maggie Carey, the film follows Brandy Klark a high school senior who decides she needs to loose her uptight image before heading to college. She makes a list of all the (sexual) activities she has yet to experience, determined to tick them off before the summer is up. 












10. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Alice in Wonderland, a film that could easily go overlooked, but I think is a great display of female strength. 

Alice is expected to marry a man she is not in love with, she is expected to live the life her family wants for her, however this is not what she wants. Alice tumbles down a rabbit hole, to a land she has been before but is warmly welcomed back.

Alice fights, in many ways, for her right to live her own life and escape the evils of 'Wonderland'.  










Honourable mentions include basically all of Quentin Tarantion's films with female protagonists. 

Why people need to forget about 50 Shades of Grey and start remembering Secretary.

50 Shades of Grey is a worldwide phenomenon, the 2002 film Secretary is not; however it does hold some strange similarities to the E.L James novel.  
Secretary (2002) & 50 Shades of Grey (2015)
(In this I will be discussing the films rather than the novels)

When I watched the trailer for Secretary I was shocked at how similar to 50 Shades of Grey it seemed, and when researching it, I was even more shocked to see that not many people have picked up on the similarities. There is a Buzzfeed article (including gif's) debating which film is better but there is a Buzzfeed article for just about everything and other than that, there has not been a lot of discussion around this topic.

There are many glaringly obvious similarities within these films, shown clearly in just a short synopsis of each:


 Lee Holloway, a young woman with a history of severe emotional problems, is released into the care of her parents following a stay at a mental institution. She finds work as a secretary for a rigid and demanding attorney, E. Edward Grey. Lee soon realizes she's turned on by Grey's stern demeanour, and they begin a sadomasochistic relationship.

Lee Holloway & Anastasia Steele
When college senior Anastasia Steele steps in for her sick room-mate to interview prominent businessman Christian Grey for their campus paper, little does she realize the path her life will take. Christian, finds himself strangely drawn to Ana, and she to him. Though sexually inexperienced, Ana plunges headlong into an affair and soon learns that Christian's true sexual proclivities push the boundaries.

It seems that 50 Shades of Grey is just a more popular and successful rip off of Secretary, but with a little more sex.

The fact that the two male protagonists share the name, Mr. Grey, seems more than just a coincidence. You think someone writing a novel about BDSM (a controversial topic) would look into material of a similar nature and refrain from using the same name for their male lead, but maybe not.


Other similarities, among many, include the young, naive (and brunette) girl being draw in to a relationship with a powerful business man. Both of the girls are clearly inexperienced whereas this is not the case for the men, who are dom's in both cases.
Secretary (2002) 50 Shades of Grey (2015)
However, the BDSM aspect of Steele and Grey's relationship is much more glamorised, with Red Room's etc., opposed to Holloway and Grey's relationship where the nearest they get to the Red Room is with a saddle and carrot.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader
In Secretary the characters grow, Lee overcomes self-harm, gains confidence, both Edward and she are able to challenge each other. Whereas, in 50 Shades of Grey there is no character development, making the only vaguely interesting aspect of the film the sexual parts - but they can in no way hold up a whole 2 hrs and 9 mins.

Luckily though, Secretary was able to promote itself using 50 Shades of Grey themed posters - whoo!


'The Original Mr. Grey'
Secretary is, overall, a better film. It's funny, sad and touching all while being based around a controversial topic. The directing, the writing and the acting is so much more impressive than 50 Shades of Grey. It won Special Jury Prize for Originality at Sundance in 2002, so clearly it's a good film, even if it's not the best portray of a BSDM relationship - an article on this topic can be read here:


Before you decided to watch 50 Shades again try Secretary, you won't be disappointed.


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I'm Eve, a seventeen year old girl living in a tiny village on the butt of England, spending my time exploring the internet and writing about what I find.

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