Representation of the Youth

These following theories represent the youth today:

·      Giroux 1997

·      Acland 1995

·      Hebdige 1975

·      Cohen  1972

·      Gerbner Cultivation theory

·      Ann Gould

Giroux

Giroux's theory and views of 1997 show that youths are mistreated in the media, describing them as an empty category. It explains how adults do not understand what is it like to be a youth in this generation. 

The effect of this representation includes that adults do not want their generation does not look bad, therefore they use the youth as a scapegoat to place the blame on today's issues within society.

Through this theory, it is easily identifiable that the adults in society mold and create the youths representation which would cause moral panics from the youth. This has generally been created through hegemony.

Acland

Acland's theory of 1995 include that deli quant youths enhance hegemony. This therefore means that this representation of youth allows the state to control them, such as an ASBO. This is the ideology of protection which means that the youth is constantly watched.

The effects of these representations include that adults see youths as being reckless and that have to keep enforcing that these actions are bad. This is to enforce the hegemony of how they should not behave when it comes to adulthood. Thus there will be many negative stories in the media.

By looking at this theory we are able to see that adults believe that it is necessary to show youths in such a disastrous way. This is so they can tell youths how to act an how not to act so they can enforce middle class hegemony.

Hebdige

Hebdige's theory of 1979 focuses on the youths cultures and subcultures. This subculture means that youths express themselves and to challenge hegemony mostly through style.

The representation of youth in this theory argues that the representation of youth is very limited. They are either shown as trouble of fun with no in-between. Therefore the representation of youth is in no reality. 

The effect of this representation is that due to the youth being shown in only 2 different ways, the public never sees the hard working teens of society who just fade into the background since they are viewed as boring.

By analysing this theory, we are able to identify that the media in society tends to ignore the good and hard working and focuses on the fun and trouble. This therefore makes adults believe that all youths behave in this manner.

Cohen

Cohen's theory from 1972 is a response to the mods and rockers riots in the 60s. They emerged as 'Folk devils' which causes moral panic.

The effect of the moral panic is to reinforce hegemony by the media making it clear what values society do not accept. This shows that when youths try to express themselves in a way that adults have not seen before they try stop it by showing it as a negative aspect.

Therefore this would effect the representation of youths as it shows that they are not allowed to express themselves within a different way that society does not see as acceptable.  Therefore this places a more negative effect on the youths as everything they do out of the norms of society is seen as bad.

By looking at this theory we are able to see that the media places the blame onto the youths seeing them as an easy target. This causes the moral panic cycle to happen in order to stamp down hard onto anything that youths try to do that is out of the norms.

Mods and Rockers from the 60s.

Gramsci

Gramsci's theory is a developed concept of cultural hegemony. The middle class dominated society since they were considered as 'normal', therefore they were setting the usual trend which everyone would be obliged to follow.

Therefore other social groups/classed ACCEPT these values and class these as a normal way of life. This meaning that lower social classes will always be shown as negative as they are unable to have the same lifestyle as middle class people.

This would effect representations as all representations of youth will always be contrasted with middle class youths. Thus meaning that if the lower class youths are not living up to the standard of the middle class youths then they will always be looked down upon within society.

By looking at this theory we are able to see that the media always still with the hegemony of the higher classes as these are seen as more acceptable. Also that they do not take into consideration how other people live within society.

Greg Philo

The Greg Philo theory argues that the Contemporary ‘Hoodie cinema’ reflects middle class anxiety about the threat of the working class.

This shows that anyone under middle class is inserted into this ‘Hoodie cinema’ which is basically summing up that in all films that if you are not middle class then you are a thug in a hoodie.

Therefore this would effects working class youths as by everyone else they would be seen as thugs and upper class people would be more threatened of them. Also it would be harder for them to make something of their life if they believe that they will always be linked with the ‘hoodie cinema’ idea.

By looking at this theory we are able to tell that the media link social classes with strong stereotypes. With the middle class being the ideal person and anyone lower than this being a hooligan.

Gerbner - Cultivation theory

This theory is the study of the perception of crime and how often it is published within the media. I was found that watching the television regularly such as the news, dramas and films could lead to the individual overestimating crime, or otherwise known as 'mean world syndrome'. This altogether leads the worlds perception.

This shows that youth are always the victims of being involved within crime throughout many media platforms. This therefore would give people the perception that youths do all the crime thus making them being represented badly.

Therefore this would effect the representation of youths by automatically giving them a bad name no matter what they are like. This is because of all these programmes indoctrinating the public to place the blame onto teens automatically.

By looking at this theory we are able to tell that representation is closely linked to what we see on the television. These then cause peoples perceptions to change on representations depends on what has been shown on the television.

Ann Gould - Stereotypes

Ann Gould identified 6 key stereotypes of the youth. These stereotypes were rebellious, sexual, artificial tribe, self destructive, nihilistic and violent.

Youth representations are invariably portrayed in a negative manner. This therefore would give people the perception that youths do all the crime, are anti-social and act irresponsibly. Thus making them being represented badly.

Attack the Block

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zlAjdMbCII

Attack the Block represented the youth of the UK through the means of sound, mise en scene, editing and camera work. I will analyse sections of this film and explain how the youth was represented through these factors while also associating how they were represented with various media theorists such as Ann Gould. I will finally include a short paragraph on my final thoughts and opinions of the film and if the youth of this film was fairly represented.

The youth of this film is represented through the sounds included. For example, the diagetic dialogue in this film from the youths use a poorly spoken English including a lower class London slang such as the opening sequences of the film (2:26). This represents the youth as very uneducated and alternative to the 'normal' trend of youths. This is liked back to Gramsci's theory where the middle class of society were considered as normal and others were expected to follow their class. If lower class youths were not living up to the standard of these middle class people, they were looked down upon in society. In this case, the youths in this film do not live up to their standards since their dialect are much different in comparison to the middle class.

The youths are further represented in this film through the exchange of diagetic dialogue between the young woman and an older character (8:57). This dialogue describes the youth of this film as "fucking monsters" meaning that they are disliked and looked down on by society. This links back to Ann Gould's theory of youths being portrayed in a negative manner. In this case, they would be associated with rebellious since that was implied through the exchange of dialogue between the two characters. Therefore the sound through dialogue represents youths in a negative light.
The youth is portrayed through the non-diagetic sound (10:23) which associated the youth with London grime music, meaning that they are associated with the negatively looked upon artists by the dominating middle class. This is associated with Hebdige's theory from 1979 which is that the representation of youth is very limited. The youths are shows as either trouble or fun and with no in between from this theory. In this case they were represented as trouble since the music,which the middle class associated with disliked grime artists, played while the youths were in the camera shot.

The youth in this film is also represented through the mise en scene used in this film. For example the youths are all wearing hoodies (10:33). This represents the youth as a cause for concern since their clothing are viewed as devious from the middle class society. This links back to Greg Philo's theory of anybody under the middle class are inserted into the 'Hoodie cinema', meaning that anybody under the middle class are placed with the stereotype  of being a thug. Since the youths were wearing clothing that may not have associated with the middle class. Therefore they would be very quickly judged and placed into the stereotype of being a thug.
Mise en scene is further used to represent the youth. For example the place they stayed in to negotiate with where they should leave the alien (18:43) was a room filled with cannabis plants. This represents the youth being involved with drug dealing from a young age and would altogether have a negative output on society. This links back to Gerbner's cultivation theory since the people in today's society watch various forms of media and watching this could lead to 'mean world syndrome', meaning that if one member of the youth is involved with crime, the whole youth is involved with crime. This essentially means that the viewers are indoctrinated by the media to believe that the youths all associate with drugs and crime.

Editing is also used to represent the youth in this film. For example the slow phase of camera shots (15:48 and on wards) means that the youth are very inactive. Thus meaning that the viewer would believe that the youth are apart of the underclass society since they are not working, not getting an education. This also relates to Gramsci's theory in which if individuals do not match to the 'normal' middle class, they would be looked down upon in society. Therefore this means that the low rate of camera shots imply that the youth are inactive and then looked down upon.
In this same scene (15:48) there are visual effects included being that the room is filled with cannabis smoke. This means that the youths in this film are doing a high amount of drugs which is seen as unacceptable from the middle class point of view. This is also related to Gebner's cultivation theory in which the viewers develop 'mean world syndrome' since the youths are smoking cannabis. This implies to the viewer that all youths smoke cannabis. Therefore the visual effects used illustrated the smoke in the room, meaning that the youths smoke a high amount of cannabis, making the viewer judge all youths to act in this manner.

Finally, camerawork is used to represent the youth. For example, the low angle camera shots (13:40) demonstrate the youth as dominant since they are portrayed as larger people compared to other people. This means that the viewers are inclined to avoid confrontation with youths in public. This also links back to Gebner's cultivation theory in which the viewers develop 'mean world syndrome' since the youths are portrayed as dominant and sinister. Therefore the viewers believe that all youths are dominant and sinister.

Overall I believe that the youths in this film were displayed in which they were involved in crime and drugs, meaning that youths today of this age could also be involved in such actions. I altogether believe that they were unfairly portrayed since it was only a small section of the youth was selected to represent in today's society where there are many more youths that do not share the same actions or intentions.