'Dead Poets Society' hits a nerve with Gen Z — have we been teaching the wrong lessons all along?

Time of India

24-07-2025

Dead Poets Society
A generational divide has been stirred by a classic film once hailed as inspiring.
Dead Poets Society
, the 1989 drama that helped shape a generation of idealistic English teachers, has recently come under scrutiny from a new audience — Gen Z.
As reported by
Upworthy
, a Gen X parent shared their experience of showing the film to their Gen Z children, expecting admiration and nostalgia, but was instead met with frustration, criticism, and unexpected emotional reactions. This divergence in response has raised questions about how educational values and storytelling are evolving across generations.
Gen Z sees system failure, not heroic triumph
While the film continues to be praised for Robin Williams' performance as the passionate English teacher John Keating, Gen Z viewers fixated on what they perceived as a lack of meaningful change. According to
Upworthy
, the viewer's 20-year-old child remarked, "Nothing changed! He got fired and the school is still run by a bunch of stodgy old white men forcing everyone to conform!" This comment highlighted a key generational difference: Gen Z's emphasis on systemic reform rather than individual rebellion.
The Gen X perspective, shaped by an appreciation for personal expression against authority, found Keating's influence on his students uplifting. However, for Gen Z, the absence of structural change at the elite prep school undermined the film's inspirational message.
Plot twists without warnings leave younger viewers reeling
The abrupt emotional shift in the latter part of the film also contributed to Gen Z's strong reactions. As stated by
Upworthy
, one daughter responded with, "Why would you traumatise me like that?" The term "traumatise" was used colloquially, with Upworthy clarifying that Gen Z frequently employs it as an exaggeration to describe being emotionally caught off guard.
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Gen Z audiences, accustomed to trigger warnings and trauma-informed storytelling, found the film's tragic ending jarring. The film includes a major character's suicide and the subsequent fallout, elements that were considered intense by today's viewing standards, particularly without prior contextual warning.
Romantic persistence or problematic pursuit? Gen Z calls out character conduct
Character behaviour once brushed off as awkward romantic pursuit is now being reassessed. Knox Overstreet's attempts to win over a cheerleader — who is already in a relationship — drew sharp criticism from the Gen Z viewers. According to
Upworthy
, while the Gen X parent recalled Knox as "a bit much," their daughters referred to him as "a total creepo," noting his behaviour was more invasive than endearing.
This difference reflects Gen Z's heightened awareness of consent, boundaries, and emotional nuance, especially in media portrayals of teenage romance.
Classic film or cautionary tale?
Despite the criticism, the Gen Z viewers did not dismiss the film entirely. As
Upworthy
reported, after expressing their dismay, they admitted, "But it was so gooood!" Their response underscores a complex engagement with the film — one where emotional impact and narrative discomfort coexist.
The rewatch has led the parent to reconsider other 80s and 90s classics through a modern lens. The generational gap in interpreting inspiration, tragedy, and heroism suggests that educational values, much like curricula, are always evolving — sometimes one desk stand at a time.
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