Examine the reasons why some stereotypes within the media have changed over time? (January 2007)
Introduction:
Define stereotyping is...
Stereotyping is a social classification of a group of people by identifying common characteristics. It applies them in an oversimplified and generalised way, such that assumptions are made about the group concerned.
Paragraph 1:
In the past "women don't count for much, they are underrepresented and are 'symbolically annihilated'". (Tuchman)
Women were stereotyped "that marriage, parenthood and domesticity were..more important for women than men"(Gunter 1995) . Therefore women were only seen as 'housewives' and 'homemakers', in addition "women were left with little value in the T.V World" (Tuchman)
Eg: "Shake and Vac" advert or even Sound of music, where we see both the homemaker who is constantly thinking of the house duties or the maternal role where she is only seen as the carer of children
Paragraph 2:
On the other hand, women were also stereotyped in two categorise. Either they are 'pure, innocent and maternal' therefore seen as the "Madonna".However, they are also represented and stereotyped as 'sexually promiscuous, sinful and loose', therefore seen as the "whore", which then links to Laura Mulvey's "Male Gaze"theory (1975)"They are represented and portrayed as 'powerless' and 'ineffectual'". (Kathi Maio)
Paragraph 3:
Study carried out by McNeil(1975), concluded that women's movement was largely ignored by television, with married housewives being the main female role. However, 1970's second wave of feminism were women began to fight for their equal rights, which then lead to the mid 1980's were "television was increasingly taken women more seriously, types of programmes featured women in a more central manner (Dye 1987)
Paragraph 4:
However, during the 1990's, gender roles became increasingly equal and non-stereotyped on television
1995-1996 studies showed how women took 37% of the speaking roles, where as men took 63% of these speaking roles
1992-1993 only 3% of women were represented as housewives a major decrease from the 70's, furthermore only 8% of women were represented as homemakers
EG: Programmes like "Friends" gave television a refreshing feel to it rather than the traditional T.V programmes viewers were used to
1995-1996 43% of major roles and characters were females
Conclusion:
Women are rising in status throughout the media
"Friends" represented the female characters Rachel, Phoebe and Monica as 'intelligent' and 'non-housewifely'
Programmes such as "Alley McBeal" (1997) and "Sex in the City" (1998) represented women in a different light
Women were given the representation and stereotype as provocative and promiscuous, thus changing the stereotype of women, therefore reinforcing the fact that women are either stereotyped, represented and seen as "the whore" or "the Madonna", thus reflecting the zeitgeist.
Wednesday 20 May 2009
Tuesday 5 May 2009
FINAL FINAL DRAFT......
“Six and a half years and that’s what you want ... You think you’re a bad man Jay, I thought I was a bad man remember that, I thought I was a bad man and they put me in a big man Jail”[1]
Have the representations of teenagers in the British Media changed for the better or have they become worse? With particular reference to the film, “Adulthood”.
The modern teenage culture emerged during the 1950’s, however according to Maltby “Self-conscious Subculture”[2] actually developed between the 1920’s and 1930’s. Teenage representations within the media have progressed and developed over the years. It could be argued that the British media represent teenagers in a negative, unconstructive and degrading manner than any other media across the globe. “Adulthood” is one of the contemporary media texts that show how “the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way”[3] thus creating “moral panic within society”[4]. As “Adulthood” is the most relevant and recent film text on teenage representation and shows how teenagers are portrayed within the media, taking into account that it is a British made film, it is the most relevant film text to focus upon in this essay.
1950 films such as “Rebel without a Cause” (1955)[5], “Teenage Crime Wave” (1955) and “The Wild One” (1954), just to name a few, were about “juvenile delinquency”, “Juvenile wildness” and “Juvenile crime”[6] that went as far back as the 20’s and 30’s. These 1950’s films represented teens as rebellious and conniving. Thus, conveying what these directors thought the authenticities of teenagers are. Overall the above shows that the media’s negative and unconstructive representation of teenagers went further back than the 50’s. The media and films, named above, showed the “so called social problem”[7] that was wrong with the teenage generation. Stanley Cohen stated that “without moral panics, many forms of youth culture would never have taken off in the first place”, but does this really convey the truth about teenagers and really is this a way to introduce “youth culture” to the public?
“Adulthood” embodies negative as well as positive representations of teenagers today. For instance, characters such as Moony and Claire help to challenge stereotypes given to young teenage males and females. However teenagers are being labelled as “Promiscuous, unhealthy and violent”[8] also “drug abusers, aggressive and criminals”[9]. Studies show that “more than half thought stories about young people were negative”[10]. Moony has improved and changed a lot since “Kidulthood”, both mentally and physically. “Kidulthood” is a film showing the life of a group of 15 year old teenagers growing up in London. In “Adulthood” we come across familiar and new characters, such as Moony who is the law student holding a steady lifestyle. We also see Claire who is the working girl, Jay who is the drug dealer with no future.
Lexi who is the hairdressing drug addict “slut” and finally Sam who gets out of prison pursuing a new lifestyle. Moony challenges the teenage male stereotype given to them by the media as being “aggressive violent drug abusers and criminals”[11]. We observed how Moony was reinforcing this negative stereotype of teenage males in “Kidulthood”. For example, Moony, Jay and Trife picking a fight with two guys in the street. Although, in “Adulthood”, we noticed Moony challenge this stereotype given to male teens by taking a different lifestyle by furthering his education by going to university and studying Law, “I’m not on them things no more, we was all young, I’m just about my studies, money and my gal”. We also see him maintain to hold a stable and steady relationship with a female character within the film.
Moony’s physical appearance helps challenge this stereotype as through the use of costume we see Moony dress smartly and more maturely, connoting he has matured and grown into “Adulthood”. This shows that the director of the film wants to break these stereotypes and representations and show that teens are capable to do the best they can and change their lifestyles.
However, the character Jay reinforces this stereotype as in “Kidulthood” he is more aggressive, sexually active and violent than his friends. The character Jay seems to have got worse and fallen further into this stereotype than before. Jay helps to reinforce this stereotype of teenage males as he turns to the life of crime, by becoming a drug dealer and not pursuing or making something of himself. Although, the death of Trife could be the cause of his actions as he is not able to deal with the death of his friend very well.
Female teenagers are also stereotyped, as well as male teenagers. They are labelled as “Promiscuous, drug abusers and alcoholics”[12]. Characters such as newcomer Lexi help to reinforce and assist the media to continue stereotyping and representing them in negative ways. Lexi reinforces the stereotypical view of female teenagers as she is perceived as a drug abuser, promiscuous and seen as the “subject of the male gaze”[13]. Therefore, Lexi proves Mulvey’s theory of “the male gaze” as she wears provocative and revealing clothing to show off her figure, which pleases the male audience. Therefore, Lexi helps to support the stereotypes of teenage females as being “promiscuous, drug abusers and alcoholics”.
On the other hand, female characters such as Claire help to challenge and go against these stereotypes. In “Kidulthood” we acknowledged her fitting all these labels given to female teenagers, she changes and tends to challenge these stereotypes. In “Adulthood” as she maintains a steady relationship with Hayden, played by Danny Dyer, and changes her lifestyle by doing what she wants to pursue in her life. This shows that the director wants to prove and break these stereotypes given to young females. Overall, the characters in “Adulthood” have come a long way from their “Kidulthood” days as they are now breaking through these stereotypes and labels that are given to them by the media. We perceived this in characters like Claire and Moony. However, we still see some characters such as Lexi and Jay still do reinforce these stereotypes given to them by the media.
In “Kidulthood” we acknowledged the social issues that arise within the teenage generation. For instance, the use of drugs, sex and alcohol and how teenagers associated themselves with these things. The media make out that British teenagers are constantly “drug abusers and alcoholics”[14] and “that teenagers in Britain are more likely to have taken illegal drugs than youngsters anywhere else in Europe”[15]. In “Kidulthood”, we witnessed characters like Becky and Alisa performing promiscuous things in order to get some drugs, we also saw this in the provoking clothing that both characters wore.
This represents female teenagers in such a negative manner and presents them as “loose”, “Sexual” and “Immoral”[16] , representing them as “the Whore”[17]. This illustrates how women “prostitute” and “sell themselves” to get what they want to make them feel good about themselves. Studies show that “the media’s increasing tendency to portray very young girls in sexual ways”[18], this shows the media’s influence and on how female teenagers should act and undertake to these view, and the pressure and strain the media puts on female teens.
In “Adulthood”, the social issues are similar as these same views are put forward in similar characters such as Lexi however in a different way. Lexi provides Jay with information about Sam’s whereabouts with a deal of him giving her some drugs. This portrays how the same conventions are brought forward through the female characters, but in a totally different from. Although, throughout the film, we see some characters bringing out Lexi’s past with Becky, as they are cousins, making assumptions that they are both the same, placing them in the same “stereotypical category”.
We see Lexi having an argument with two girls from the salon, were the character Lisa says “go and find you’re fucking cousin and both of you get back to whoring yourselves”[19]. This shows how Lexi is out in the same category of her cousin, Becky, as performing sexual actions like “shiners for a fiver and fucking for a score”[20]. Overall it shows how the same conventions we saw in “Kidulthood” of the relationship of drugs and teens are reinforced in “Adulthood” showing how female teenagers are having sex to “score some drugs”, although we do see some difference in the actions they take on to score these drugs. Although, we cannot see that this is an accurate perception of how teenagers use drugs and how they get them in both “Kidulthood” and “Adulthood”, this as the narrative plot is in the space of 24 hours of what these teens do and what they get up to.
In addition, the audience can therefore chose to perceive and interpret these views and values how they choose to see teenagers and be an active audience. By choosing to go against the intended reading the text gives, or they could follow the views and values they are provided with and be “injected”[21] with these same views and values the media generates to them. Therefore, being a passive audience and believe that all inner urban teenagers act this specific way. This can then prove to show and allow the audience to make their own judgements on whether this is an accurate and fair view of teenagers.
The Uses and Gratifications theory acknowledges how audiences may use texts for their own personal use. The audience of “Adulthood” may use this text for surveillance purposes as they may have children of this age. For instance, parents may use the text to gain an overview of what their children go through. Thus, this allows them to sympathise with their children and understand the struggles and issues they make come across. Therefore allowing the parents to gain an insight view of these problems and allow them to communicate and help their child through them.
The result of all these representations given to teenagers is due to the labels and stereotypes given to them through the mass British Media, especially the fact that all these stereotypes and labels given to them are constantly negative ones. An article constructed by a teenage student from the Media guardian website illustrated “My generation never gets a positive thing said about them”. This then portrays how it puts a strain on young teens, especially the ones that are well behaved, that they are constantly being represented in the mass media as “yobs” and “hooligans”.
Therefore, goes to show teenagers are not given a fair chance and are constantly in the negative “spot light”. This then links to the fact that Social issues that teenagers face such as “Separation and Divorce, interrupt the stability and predictability children need”[22], this then indicates that issues such as the above can affect children as they would then feel emotions such as “anger and sadness”[23]. “Stereotypes are labels that categorize people largely in negative terms...and can be applied to whole social or cultural groups”[24]. The stereotyping of British teenagers and the labels applied to them are continuously always negative. With labels like “aggressive, drug abusers and criminals” given to them by the media and “injected” to them by the media, it’s hard for the public to make their own perception of teenagers as they are constantly being “demonised”[25] by the media on a regular basis, is this giving them a fair chance?
Teenagers stated in an article that “they feel that adults attached the label to them simply on the basis that they were young and met up in a group, assuming that crime was their main purpose for meeting”[26]. This portrayal of teenagers shows just how the media ”mediate” their texts to create “unconstructive”, “degrading” and negative image of teenagers, assuming that all young people meeting up as a group are represented and seen as a gang and presume that their only reason for “meeting up” is to commit crimes. By mediating their texts in such a way, the media creates “moral panic”[27] in society “injecting” the public with the idea that all inner urban teenagers act this way.
Theorist Stanley Cohen “argued that the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way”. Therefore the media text, “Adulthood”, supports and reinforces this quote as it continuously represents teenagers in a negative light. Thus supporting the biased opinion and view perceived and “injected” by the media to the audience that all inner urban teenagers behave this specific way.
Although we do see this representation being emphasized by some characters in “Adulthood”. Omen and his crew do some criminal activities and use drugs as we saw in the opening scene of the film as they were smoking marijuana and beating up the man in the car. This then tends to go on throughout the film, which then helps to reinforce the ideas given by the media.
“Boys tend to form gangs with a hierarchical structure in which some members dominate others...”[28]. This then illustrates how the dominant ideology also has an influence on gangs. Furthermore, it conveys how even gang members can be passive by believing and following others. This then conveys that others may be “influenced” and “pressured” by other peers to do things they may not agree with or may not even want to do. This theory is shown in “Adulthood” with Omen’s crew, as we see that each member of the crew has a higher position in the “gang” than every other group member.
When we’re talking about the media, it does not just mean referring to the news; it means referring to types of media texts. For instance, “Skins” which was first broadcasted on E4 on the 25th January, 2007. “Skins” portrays teenagers in a negative light as “they party, take illegal drugs and have lots of sex”[29]. Does this show really convey a true and fair depiction of teenagers and their lifestyles? Teenage portrayal in this programme is often exaggerated and takes the stereotype of teenagers to another degree. The teenage actions we see in “Skins” is how the media sees teenagers and perceives them of what they act like, but in “reality” is this how teenagers in today’s society really are?
The near beginning of these negative representations of teenagers as “juvenile delinquents”, committing “juvenile crimes” and “juvenile wildness”[30] was in the media text “Rebel without a Cause” 1955, where we saw the main protagonist Jim Stark, played by James Dean, performs continuous crimes and acting like a “juvenile delinquent”. As well as the male representation, we saw female teenagers to be of the same acting of the same values rebelling against all things, this is due to the fact that she feels discarded and unwanted by her parents. This then raises the reasons of why they act the way they do and it also shows that teenagers do not just rebel and act the way in which they do for no particular reason, they may be facing issues at home or even at school.
Representation of teenagers in “Adulthood” is also based upon the type of clothing these teens are seen wearing, as well as their actions. The male teenage characters Jay and Moony’s dress sense shows the difference between each character. We see Moony challenging the stereotype and representation labelled to male teenagers through his smart appearance connotes his mature attitude and how he has grown out of his childish ways.
Whereas we see Jay supporting and reinforcing the stereotype as he continues to wear the same clothing he wore when he was in “Kidulthood”, which then connotes that he still hasn’t matured and grown into “Adulthood”. In “Adulthood” we see dominant ideology’s being perceived and portrayed as females are represented to be the “weak and victimised”[31] gender which shows them to be below the male gender. Whereas males were recognised and presented as “active and victorious”[32] which shows that they were to be the more powerful and dominant gender.
However, these dominant ideologies of males being more superior were being challenged by Moony’s girlfriend within the film. She helps to do this as she fights back and defends herself against Jay’s patriarchal views. She clearly states to him “tell me what, listen this ain’t a dictatorship “blad” it’s a relationship, I’m a 22 year old women studying Law, he does not tell me nothing, we discuss things together yeah”[33]. She then goes on to explain and interrupts Moony before he defends her “Don’t speak for me, listen yeah on earth were I’m from men are supposed to treat women with respect”[34]. This shows how the representation of females has progressed over the years and how powerful and empowered they feel and become. This then shows them as being independent and also how they are “intelligent” and “non-housewifely”[35]. Linking to how society has changed from the 1950’s and how society is accepting women’s rights and equality to work and depending on themselves, thus highlighting the zeitgeist.
Furthermore, the teenage generation is stereotyped to be “hooligans” and a “threat to society” to the extent where politicians such as David Cameron come to their defence. David Cameron helps the public to understand why teenagers act out the way in which they do and asks them to understand teenagers a bit more. He clearly states that “Hoodies” are seen “as aggressive” and they are “the uniform of a rebel of young gangsters”[36]. He defends young teens and explains how “hoodies are defensive than offensive”[37]. He announced that hoodies have become “a symbol of social disorder”. He clearly states that people should look underneath the hoodies and ask ourselves what has caused these youngsters to commit such crimes and make them turn to drugs. In addition, the public should reach out to help them rather than continuously slam teens for their appearances and actions.
In addition, the contemporary society today will keep on conveying these negative stereotypes and representations of teenagers as “promiscuous, aggressive, violent drug abusers”. The representations of teenagers in the British media have become worse. Due to this, the media will continue to generate these negative values and ideologies of teenagers. Although, we do see how there are attempts to help challenge these representations that all inner urban teenagers act this way through some media texts such as “Adulthood”. Also, the aid from politicians such as “David Cameron” help to change these views and ideologies given to teenagers and attempt to help teens to change and reach a helping hand to them.
However, the stereotypical view of teenagers will never stop as teenage crime and violence is a recurring cycle in this modern society in which we inhabit. The media will continue to mediate teenagers in a degrading and negative light, thus won’t change their own biased opinions. This helps to portray that the media will keep generating “moral panic” of teenagers, and will remain “injecting” the audience with the view that teenagers are and will always be a “threat to society”[38] and are classed as “Folk Devil”[39].
It is really how the institution creates a media text that shows the influence of these representations, what we see in the media is not reality, it’s merely a “re-presentation”[40] of reality. In addition, the continuous media that is generated about teenagers in such an unconstructive way will always help to spoil and ravage these challenges. Therefore, in conclusion, these representations of teenagers in the British media are becoming worse. This is due to every storyline or media text about teens is always negative. Therefore, teenagers will constantly be generated in a negative light throughout the British Media and will also be perceived as a “threat to society”.
Word Count: 3,263
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
WORKS CITED:
BOOKS-
Bernink, M. (2000). The Cinema Book 2nd Edition. London: British Film Institute.
Cohen, S. (1987). Folk Devils and Moral Panics the Creation of the Mods and Rockers. Malden: Blackwell Pub.
Gauntlett, D. (2002). Media, Gender and Identity: An Introduction. New York: Routledge.
Gunter, B. (1995). Television and Gender Representation. London: John Libbey.
Probert, D., & Graham, A. (2008). Advanced media studies. London: Hodder Education.
Sardar, Z. (2006). Introducing Media Studies, 3rd Edition (Introducing). Thriplow, Cambridge, UK: Totem Books.
Stone, R. (1999). Gangs & Bullies (Life Files). New York: Evans Brothers.
WEBSITES:
BBC NEWS Politics Cameron defends 'hoodie' speech. (2006, October 7). Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5163798.stm.
Blake, J. (2008, September 6). Channel 4 - News - Britain's teenagers 'demonised' . Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/law_order/britains+teenagers+demonised/2278467.
British teenagers more likely to have taken illegal drugs - This Britain, UK - The Independent. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/british-teenagers-more-likely-to-have-taken-illegal-drugs-692692.html.
Carnwath, A., & Toms, K. (n.d.). Are today's teens really like this? Media The Observer . Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/17/television.tvandradioarts1.
Hine, J. (n.d.). ESRC Society Today - Young offenders are citizens too. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about/CI/CP/the_edge/issue26/young_offenders.aspx?ComponentId=24438&SourcePageId=24469.
Verkaik , R., & Akbar, A. (n.d.). Behind the stereotypes: The shocking truth about teenagers - This Britain, UK - The Independent. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/behind-the-stereotypes-the-shocking-truth-about-teenagers-421295.html.
Youth Media Youth Stereotypes. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.kqed.org/w/ymc/empowered/stereotypes.html.
FILMS:
· Adulthood (2008) Noel Clarke, UK
· Kidulthood (2005) Menhaj Huda, UK
· Rebel without a Cause (1955) Nicholas Ray, USA
· Skins (2007), Jamie Brittain, Bryan Elsley, UK
· Teenage Crimewave (1955) Fred F. Sears, USA
· The Wild One (1954) Laslo Benedek, USA
WORKS CONSULTED:
WEBSITES:
Moral Panic, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic
Adulthood Clip ,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOAf45yY-k4
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article4165968.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/jun/22/film.drama
http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=167026
BOOKS:
Bennett, P., Wall, P., & Slater, J. (2005). A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction. New York: Routledge.
Branston, G., & Stafford, R. (1999). The Media Student's Book (2nd Edition). New York: Routledge.
Davis, G., & Dickinson, K. (2004). Teen TV: Genre, Consumption and Identity. London: British Film Institute.
O'Sullivan, T., & Jewkes, Y. (1997). The Media Studies Reader. London: A Hodder Arnold Publication.
[1] Adulthood, (2008), Noel Clarke, UK
[2] Maltby, (1988), “The Cinema Book, 2nd edition”, Page 213
[3] Cohen, Stanley (1972) “Folk Devils and Moral Panics”
[4] Ibid
[5] Cook, Pam& Bernink, Mieke.(1999)” The Cinema Book,2nd Edition”, Page 213
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid
[8] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/behind-the-stereotypes-the-shocking-truth-about-teenagers-421295.html
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
[13] Mulvey, Laura. (1975), “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”
[14] Ibid
[15] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/british-teenagers-more-likely-to-have-taken-illegal-drugs-692692.html
[16]Sardar, Ziauddin & Van Loon, Borin, (2000) “Introducing Media Studies”, Page 84
[17] Ibid
[18] http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_girls.cfm
[19] Adulthood, (2008), Noel Clarke, England
[20] Adulthood, (2008), Noel Clarke, England
[21]Ibid
[22] http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec23/ch287/ch287d.html
[23] http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec23/ch287/ch287d.html
[24] Ibid
[25] http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/law_order/britains+teenagers+demonised/2278467
[26] Probert, David & Graham, Andrew, (2008) “Advanced Media Studies”, Page 270
[27] Ibid
[28] Stones, Rosemary, (1998), “Gangs and Bullies”, Page 39
[29] http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/17/television.tvandradioarts1
[30] Ibid
[31] Gunter, Barrie (1995) “Television and Gender Representation “
[32] Ibid
[33] Adulthood, (2008)
[34] Adulthood, (2008)
[35] Gauntlett, David (2007) “Media, Gender and Identity” Page 59
[36] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5163798.stm
[37] Ibid
[38]http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about/CI/CP/the_edge/issue26/young_offenders.aspx?ComponentId=24438&SourcePageId=24469
[39]Ibid
[40] Dyer, Richard (1985) “Taking Popular Television Seriously” Page 73
Have the representations of teenagers in the British Media changed for the better or have they become worse? With particular reference to the film, “Adulthood”.
The modern teenage culture emerged during the 1950’s, however according to Maltby “Self-conscious Subculture”[2] actually developed between the 1920’s and 1930’s. Teenage representations within the media have progressed and developed over the years. It could be argued that the British media represent teenagers in a negative, unconstructive and degrading manner than any other media across the globe. “Adulthood” is one of the contemporary media texts that show how “the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way”[3] thus creating “moral panic within society”[4]. As “Adulthood” is the most relevant and recent film text on teenage representation and shows how teenagers are portrayed within the media, taking into account that it is a British made film, it is the most relevant film text to focus upon in this essay.
1950 films such as “Rebel without a Cause” (1955)[5], “Teenage Crime Wave” (1955) and “The Wild One” (1954), just to name a few, were about “juvenile delinquency”, “Juvenile wildness” and “Juvenile crime”[6] that went as far back as the 20’s and 30’s. These 1950’s films represented teens as rebellious and conniving. Thus, conveying what these directors thought the authenticities of teenagers are. Overall the above shows that the media’s negative and unconstructive representation of teenagers went further back than the 50’s. The media and films, named above, showed the “so called social problem”[7] that was wrong with the teenage generation. Stanley Cohen stated that “without moral panics, many forms of youth culture would never have taken off in the first place”, but does this really convey the truth about teenagers and really is this a way to introduce “youth culture” to the public?
“Adulthood” embodies negative as well as positive representations of teenagers today. For instance, characters such as Moony and Claire help to challenge stereotypes given to young teenage males and females. However teenagers are being labelled as “Promiscuous, unhealthy and violent”[8] also “drug abusers, aggressive and criminals”[9]. Studies show that “more than half thought stories about young people were negative”[10]. Moony has improved and changed a lot since “Kidulthood”, both mentally and physically. “Kidulthood” is a film showing the life of a group of 15 year old teenagers growing up in London. In “Adulthood” we come across familiar and new characters, such as Moony who is the law student holding a steady lifestyle. We also see Claire who is the working girl, Jay who is the drug dealer with no future.
Lexi who is the hairdressing drug addict “slut” and finally Sam who gets out of prison pursuing a new lifestyle. Moony challenges the teenage male stereotype given to them by the media as being “aggressive violent drug abusers and criminals”[11]. We observed how Moony was reinforcing this negative stereotype of teenage males in “Kidulthood”. For example, Moony, Jay and Trife picking a fight with two guys in the street. Although, in “Adulthood”, we noticed Moony challenge this stereotype given to male teens by taking a different lifestyle by furthering his education by going to university and studying Law, “I’m not on them things no more, we was all young, I’m just about my studies, money and my gal”. We also see him maintain to hold a stable and steady relationship with a female character within the film.
Moony’s physical appearance helps challenge this stereotype as through the use of costume we see Moony dress smartly and more maturely, connoting he has matured and grown into “Adulthood”. This shows that the director of the film wants to break these stereotypes and representations and show that teens are capable to do the best they can and change their lifestyles.
However, the character Jay reinforces this stereotype as in “Kidulthood” he is more aggressive, sexually active and violent than his friends. The character Jay seems to have got worse and fallen further into this stereotype than before. Jay helps to reinforce this stereotype of teenage males as he turns to the life of crime, by becoming a drug dealer and not pursuing or making something of himself. Although, the death of Trife could be the cause of his actions as he is not able to deal with the death of his friend very well.
Female teenagers are also stereotyped, as well as male teenagers. They are labelled as “Promiscuous, drug abusers and alcoholics”[12]. Characters such as newcomer Lexi help to reinforce and assist the media to continue stereotyping and representing them in negative ways. Lexi reinforces the stereotypical view of female teenagers as she is perceived as a drug abuser, promiscuous and seen as the “subject of the male gaze”[13]. Therefore, Lexi proves Mulvey’s theory of “the male gaze” as she wears provocative and revealing clothing to show off her figure, which pleases the male audience. Therefore, Lexi helps to support the stereotypes of teenage females as being “promiscuous, drug abusers and alcoholics”.
On the other hand, female characters such as Claire help to challenge and go against these stereotypes. In “Kidulthood” we acknowledged her fitting all these labels given to female teenagers, she changes and tends to challenge these stereotypes. In “Adulthood” as she maintains a steady relationship with Hayden, played by Danny Dyer, and changes her lifestyle by doing what she wants to pursue in her life. This shows that the director wants to prove and break these stereotypes given to young females. Overall, the characters in “Adulthood” have come a long way from their “Kidulthood” days as they are now breaking through these stereotypes and labels that are given to them by the media. We perceived this in characters like Claire and Moony. However, we still see some characters such as Lexi and Jay still do reinforce these stereotypes given to them by the media.
In “Kidulthood” we acknowledged the social issues that arise within the teenage generation. For instance, the use of drugs, sex and alcohol and how teenagers associated themselves with these things. The media make out that British teenagers are constantly “drug abusers and alcoholics”[14] and “that teenagers in Britain are more likely to have taken illegal drugs than youngsters anywhere else in Europe”[15]. In “Kidulthood”, we witnessed characters like Becky and Alisa performing promiscuous things in order to get some drugs, we also saw this in the provoking clothing that both characters wore.
This represents female teenagers in such a negative manner and presents them as “loose”, “Sexual” and “Immoral”[16] , representing them as “the Whore”[17]. This illustrates how women “prostitute” and “sell themselves” to get what they want to make them feel good about themselves. Studies show that “the media’s increasing tendency to portray very young girls in sexual ways”[18], this shows the media’s influence and on how female teenagers should act and undertake to these view, and the pressure and strain the media puts on female teens.
In “Adulthood”, the social issues are similar as these same views are put forward in similar characters such as Lexi however in a different way. Lexi provides Jay with information about Sam’s whereabouts with a deal of him giving her some drugs. This portrays how the same conventions are brought forward through the female characters, but in a totally different from. Although, throughout the film, we see some characters bringing out Lexi’s past with Becky, as they are cousins, making assumptions that they are both the same, placing them in the same “stereotypical category”.
We see Lexi having an argument with two girls from the salon, were the character Lisa says “go and find you’re fucking cousin and both of you get back to whoring yourselves”[19]. This shows how Lexi is out in the same category of her cousin, Becky, as performing sexual actions like “shiners for a fiver and fucking for a score”[20]. Overall it shows how the same conventions we saw in “Kidulthood” of the relationship of drugs and teens are reinforced in “Adulthood” showing how female teenagers are having sex to “score some drugs”, although we do see some difference in the actions they take on to score these drugs. Although, we cannot see that this is an accurate perception of how teenagers use drugs and how they get them in both “Kidulthood” and “Adulthood”, this as the narrative plot is in the space of 24 hours of what these teens do and what they get up to.
In addition, the audience can therefore chose to perceive and interpret these views and values how they choose to see teenagers and be an active audience. By choosing to go against the intended reading the text gives, or they could follow the views and values they are provided with and be “injected”[21] with these same views and values the media generates to them. Therefore, being a passive audience and believe that all inner urban teenagers act this specific way. This can then prove to show and allow the audience to make their own judgements on whether this is an accurate and fair view of teenagers.
The Uses and Gratifications theory acknowledges how audiences may use texts for their own personal use. The audience of “Adulthood” may use this text for surveillance purposes as they may have children of this age. For instance, parents may use the text to gain an overview of what their children go through. Thus, this allows them to sympathise with their children and understand the struggles and issues they make come across. Therefore allowing the parents to gain an insight view of these problems and allow them to communicate and help their child through them.
The result of all these representations given to teenagers is due to the labels and stereotypes given to them through the mass British Media, especially the fact that all these stereotypes and labels given to them are constantly negative ones. An article constructed by a teenage student from the Media guardian website illustrated “My generation never gets a positive thing said about them”. This then portrays how it puts a strain on young teens, especially the ones that are well behaved, that they are constantly being represented in the mass media as “yobs” and “hooligans”.
Therefore, goes to show teenagers are not given a fair chance and are constantly in the negative “spot light”. This then links to the fact that Social issues that teenagers face such as “Separation and Divorce, interrupt the stability and predictability children need”[22], this then indicates that issues such as the above can affect children as they would then feel emotions such as “anger and sadness”[23]. “Stereotypes are labels that categorize people largely in negative terms...and can be applied to whole social or cultural groups”[24]. The stereotyping of British teenagers and the labels applied to them are continuously always negative. With labels like “aggressive, drug abusers and criminals” given to them by the media and “injected” to them by the media, it’s hard for the public to make their own perception of teenagers as they are constantly being “demonised”[25] by the media on a regular basis, is this giving them a fair chance?
Teenagers stated in an article that “they feel that adults attached the label to them simply on the basis that they were young and met up in a group, assuming that crime was their main purpose for meeting”[26]. This portrayal of teenagers shows just how the media ”mediate” their texts to create “unconstructive”, “degrading” and negative image of teenagers, assuming that all young people meeting up as a group are represented and seen as a gang and presume that their only reason for “meeting up” is to commit crimes. By mediating their texts in such a way, the media creates “moral panic”[27] in society “injecting” the public with the idea that all inner urban teenagers act this way.
Theorist Stanley Cohen “argued that the media labelled youth culture in a stereotyped and negative way”. Therefore the media text, “Adulthood”, supports and reinforces this quote as it continuously represents teenagers in a negative light. Thus supporting the biased opinion and view perceived and “injected” by the media to the audience that all inner urban teenagers behave this specific way.
Although we do see this representation being emphasized by some characters in “Adulthood”. Omen and his crew do some criminal activities and use drugs as we saw in the opening scene of the film as they were smoking marijuana and beating up the man in the car. This then tends to go on throughout the film, which then helps to reinforce the ideas given by the media.
“Boys tend to form gangs with a hierarchical structure in which some members dominate others...”[28]. This then illustrates how the dominant ideology also has an influence on gangs. Furthermore, it conveys how even gang members can be passive by believing and following others. This then conveys that others may be “influenced” and “pressured” by other peers to do things they may not agree with or may not even want to do. This theory is shown in “Adulthood” with Omen’s crew, as we see that each member of the crew has a higher position in the “gang” than every other group member.
When we’re talking about the media, it does not just mean referring to the news; it means referring to types of media texts. For instance, “Skins” which was first broadcasted on E4 on the 25th January, 2007. “Skins” portrays teenagers in a negative light as “they party, take illegal drugs and have lots of sex”[29]. Does this show really convey a true and fair depiction of teenagers and their lifestyles? Teenage portrayal in this programme is often exaggerated and takes the stereotype of teenagers to another degree. The teenage actions we see in “Skins” is how the media sees teenagers and perceives them of what they act like, but in “reality” is this how teenagers in today’s society really are?
The near beginning of these negative representations of teenagers as “juvenile delinquents”, committing “juvenile crimes” and “juvenile wildness”[30] was in the media text “Rebel without a Cause” 1955, where we saw the main protagonist Jim Stark, played by James Dean, performs continuous crimes and acting like a “juvenile delinquent”. As well as the male representation, we saw female teenagers to be of the same acting of the same values rebelling against all things, this is due to the fact that she feels discarded and unwanted by her parents. This then raises the reasons of why they act the way they do and it also shows that teenagers do not just rebel and act the way in which they do for no particular reason, they may be facing issues at home or even at school.
Representation of teenagers in “Adulthood” is also based upon the type of clothing these teens are seen wearing, as well as their actions. The male teenage characters Jay and Moony’s dress sense shows the difference between each character. We see Moony challenging the stereotype and representation labelled to male teenagers through his smart appearance connotes his mature attitude and how he has grown out of his childish ways.
Whereas we see Jay supporting and reinforcing the stereotype as he continues to wear the same clothing he wore when he was in “Kidulthood”, which then connotes that he still hasn’t matured and grown into “Adulthood”. In “Adulthood” we see dominant ideology’s being perceived and portrayed as females are represented to be the “weak and victimised”[31] gender which shows them to be below the male gender. Whereas males were recognised and presented as “active and victorious”[32] which shows that they were to be the more powerful and dominant gender.
However, these dominant ideologies of males being more superior were being challenged by Moony’s girlfriend within the film. She helps to do this as she fights back and defends herself against Jay’s patriarchal views. She clearly states to him “tell me what, listen this ain’t a dictatorship “blad” it’s a relationship, I’m a 22 year old women studying Law, he does not tell me nothing, we discuss things together yeah”[33]. She then goes on to explain and interrupts Moony before he defends her “Don’t speak for me, listen yeah on earth were I’m from men are supposed to treat women with respect”[34]. This shows how the representation of females has progressed over the years and how powerful and empowered they feel and become. This then shows them as being independent and also how they are “intelligent” and “non-housewifely”[35]. Linking to how society has changed from the 1950’s and how society is accepting women’s rights and equality to work and depending on themselves, thus highlighting the zeitgeist.
Furthermore, the teenage generation is stereotyped to be “hooligans” and a “threat to society” to the extent where politicians such as David Cameron come to their defence. David Cameron helps the public to understand why teenagers act out the way in which they do and asks them to understand teenagers a bit more. He clearly states that “Hoodies” are seen “as aggressive” and they are “the uniform of a rebel of young gangsters”[36]. He defends young teens and explains how “hoodies are defensive than offensive”[37]. He announced that hoodies have become “a symbol of social disorder”. He clearly states that people should look underneath the hoodies and ask ourselves what has caused these youngsters to commit such crimes and make them turn to drugs. In addition, the public should reach out to help them rather than continuously slam teens for their appearances and actions.
In addition, the contemporary society today will keep on conveying these negative stereotypes and representations of teenagers as “promiscuous, aggressive, violent drug abusers”. The representations of teenagers in the British media have become worse. Due to this, the media will continue to generate these negative values and ideologies of teenagers. Although, we do see how there are attempts to help challenge these representations that all inner urban teenagers act this way through some media texts such as “Adulthood”. Also, the aid from politicians such as “David Cameron” help to change these views and ideologies given to teenagers and attempt to help teens to change and reach a helping hand to them.
However, the stereotypical view of teenagers will never stop as teenage crime and violence is a recurring cycle in this modern society in which we inhabit. The media will continue to mediate teenagers in a degrading and negative light, thus won’t change their own biased opinions. This helps to portray that the media will keep generating “moral panic” of teenagers, and will remain “injecting” the audience with the view that teenagers are and will always be a “threat to society”[38] and are classed as “Folk Devil”[39].
It is really how the institution creates a media text that shows the influence of these representations, what we see in the media is not reality, it’s merely a “re-presentation”[40] of reality. In addition, the continuous media that is generated about teenagers in such an unconstructive way will always help to spoil and ravage these challenges. Therefore, in conclusion, these representations of teenagers in the British media are becoming worse. This is due to every storyline or media text about teens is always negative. Therefore, teenagers will constantly be generated in a negative light throughout the British Media and will also be perceived as a “threat to society”.
Word Count: 3,263
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
WORKS CITED:
BOOKS-
Bernink, M. (2000). The Cinema Book 2nd Edition. London: British Film Institute.
Cohen, S. (1987). Folk Devils and Moral Panics the Creation of the Mods and Rockers. Malden: Blackwell Pub.
Gauntlett, D. (2002). Media, Gender and Identity: An Introduction. New York: Routledge.
Gunter, B. (1995). Television and Gender Representation. London: John Libbey.
Probert, D., & Graham, A. (2008). Advanced media studies. London: Hodder Education.
Sardar, Z. (2006). Introducing Media Studies, 3rd Edition (Introducing). Thriplow, Cambridge, UK: Totem Books.
Stone, R. (1999). Gangs & Bullies (Life Files). New York: Evans Brothers.
WEBSITES:
BBC NEWS Politics Cameron defends 'hoodie' speech. (2006, October 7). Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5163798.stm.
Blake, J. (2008, September 6). Channel 4 - News - Britain's teenagers 'demonised' . Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/law_order/britains+teenagers+demonised/2278467.
British teenagers more likely to have taken illegal drugs - This Britain, UK - The Independent. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/british-teenagers-more-likely-to-have-taken-illegal-drugs-692692.html.
Carnwath, A., & Toms, K. (n.d.). Are today's teens really like this? Media The Observer . Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/17/television.tvandradioarts1.
Hine, J. (n.d.). ESRC Society Today - Young offenders are citizens too. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about/CI/CP/the_edge/issue26/young_offenders.aspx?ComponentId=24438&SourcePageId=24469.
Verkaik , R., & Akbar, A. (n.d.). Behind the stereotypes: The shocking truth about teenagers - This Britain, UK - The Independent. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/behind-the-stereotypes-the-shocking-truth-about-teenagers-421295.html.
Youth Media Youth Stereotypes. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.kqed.org/w/ymc/empowered/stereotypes.html.
FILMS:
· Adulthood (2008) Noel Clarke, UK
· Kidulthood (2005) Menhaj Huda, UK
· Rebel without a Cause (1955) Nicholas Ray, USA
· Skins (2007), Jamie Brittain, Bryan Elsley, UK
· Teenage Crimewave (1955) Fred F. Sears, USA
· The Wild One (1954) Laslo Benedek, USA
WORKS CONSULTED:
WEBSITES:
Moral Panic, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic
Adulthood Clip ,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOAf45yY-k4
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article4165968.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/jun/22/film.drama
http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=167026
BOOKS:
Bennett, P., Wall, P., & Slater, J. (2005). A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction. New York: Routledge.
Branston, G., & Stafford, R. (1999). The Media Student's Book (2nd Edition). New York: Routledge.
Davis, G., & Dickinson, K. (2004). Teen TV: Genre, Consumption and Identity. London: British Film Institute.
O'Sullivan, T., & Jewkes, Y. (1997). The Media Studies Reader. London: A Hodder Arnold Publication.
[1] Adulthood, (2008), Noel Clarke, UK
[2] Maltby, (1988), “The Cinema Book, 2nd edition”, Page 213
[3] Cohen, Stanley (1972) “Folk Devils and Moral Panics”
[4] Ibid
[5] Cook, Pam& Bernink, Mieke.(1999)” The Cinema Book,2nd Edition”, Page 213
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid
[8] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/behind-the-stereotypes-the-shocking-truth-about-teenagers-421295.html
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
[13] Mulvey, Laura. (1975), “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”
[14] Ibid
[15] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/british-teenagers-more-likely-to-have-taken-illegal-drugs-692692.html
[16]Sardar, Ziauddin & Van Loon, Borin, (2000) “Introducing Media Studies”, Page 84
[17] Ibid
[18] http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_girls.cfm
[19] Adulthood, (2008), Noel Clarke, England
[20] Adulthood, (2008), Noel Clarke, England
[21]Ibid
[22] http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec23/ch287/ch287d.html
[23] http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec23/ch287/ch287d.html
[24] Ibid
[25] http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/law_order/britains+teenagers+demonised/2278467
[26] Probert, David & Graham, Andrew, (2008) “Advanced Media Studies”, Page 270
[27] Ibid
[28] Stones, Rosemary, (1998), “Gangs and Bullies”, Page 39
[29] http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/17/television.tvandradioarts1
[30] Ibid
[31] Gunter, Barrie (1995) “Television and Gender Representation “
[32] Ibid
[33] Adulthood, (2008)
[34] Adulthood, (2008)
[35] Gauntlett, David (2007) “Media, Gender and Identity” Page 59
[36] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5163798.stm
[37] Ibid
[38]http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about/CI/CP/the_edge/issue26/young_offenders.aspx?ComponentId=24438&SourcePageId=24469
[39]Ibid
[40] Dyer, Richard (1985) “Taking Popular Television Seriously” Page 73
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