Contemporary Media Representations of Young People
1. Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
2. Choose three words to describe the young people in the
representations we have studied.
3. Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
4. Text
Representation How are young people represented?
of Youth
Key Points What is the significance of the representation? You may want to consider
the issue of social class.
Theory Which theorists can you discuss in relation to the representations
Additional Can you link your discussion to any articles we looked at.
References
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
5. ‘Eden Lake’ (2008)
Text ‘Eden Lake’ (2008)
Representation Extreme representation of young people as violent and sadistic. Young
of Youth people clearly represented as working class. Use of horror genre
conventions to represent young people as horror film ‘monster’.
Key Points Very negative representation of working class young people, plays on
middle class fears.
Theory Gramsci – hegemony; Giroux – empty category; Acland – deviant youths
reinforce hegemony; Philo – middle class anxiety; Wood – normality and
monsters.
Additional Hoodie Cinema article.
References
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
6. ‘Harry Brown’ (2009)
Text ‘Harry Brown’ (2009)
Representation Stereotypical and very negative representation of young people as violent
of Youth criminals who are a threat to social order and safety of ‘normal’ people.
Key Points Very negative representation of working class young people. Middle class
fantasy or punishing working class youth.
Theory Gramsci – hegemony; Giroux – empty category; Acland – deviant youths
reinforce hegemony; Philo – middle class anxiety.
Additional Hoodie Cinema article.
References
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
7. ‘Attack the Block’ (2011)
Text ‘Attack the Block’ (2011)
Representation Begins with stereotypical hoodie representations, young people as criminal.
of Youth Representation becomes more sympathetic as we get to know the youths.
Key Points Representation challenges the stereotypical representation of working class
youth. Resolves class tensions with middle class adult character.
Theory Gramsci – hegemony; Dyer- entertainment and utopia.
Additional Joe Cornish interview – challenging contemporary media representations of
References young people.
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
8. Text
Representation How are young people represented?
of Youth
Key Points What is the significance of the representation? You may want to consider
the issue of social class.
Theory Which theorists can you discuss in relation to the representations
Additional Can you link your discussion to any articles we looked at.
References
9. ‘Misfits’ (2009-)
Text ‘Misfits’ (2009-)
Representation Use negative stereotypes (ASBO, chavs) and subverts them. Use of
of Youth superhero trope to make the representation more positive. Young people
more sympathetic. Perspective of young characters.
Key Points Challenges negative representations. Shown on channel aimed at youth
audience.
Theory Gramsci – hegemony; Wearing – negative discourse about social class.
Additional Misfits article – part of a wider trend of media representations of the
References underclass.
10. ‘People Like Us’
(2013)
Text ‘People Like Us’ (2013)
Representation Use of negative stereotypes – benefits, single mothers, deprivation, but may
of Youth encourage viewers to sympathise with characters.
Key Points Focus on lower class youths from a middle class perspective. Reinforces
class prejudice.
Theory Gramsci – hegemony; Giroux – empty category.
Additional Guardian article – ‘People Like Us’ as ‘poverty porn’.
References
11. ‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’ Report (2009)
Text ‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’ Report (2009)
Representation How are young people represented?
of Youth
Key Points What is the significance of the representation? You may want to consider
the issue of social class.
Theory Which theorists can you discuss in relation to the representations
Additional Can you link your discussion to any articles we looked at.
References
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
12. ‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’ Report (2009)
Text ‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’ Report (2009)
Representation Found that most news stories about teenage boys were negative and
of Youth usually in relation to crime. Words used to describe teenage boys in
newspapers include yob, scum, feral, inhuman, monster.
Key Points Negative media representations are making people fearful of teenagers.
Theory Althusser; Acland; Gerbner – cultivation theory; Cohen – moral panic;
Hebdige – hegemony.
Additional
References
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
13. How might you answer this exam question?
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
14. • Refer to at least two types of media.
• Answer must be relevant to the
question.
• Make connections.
• Clear argument.
• Balance of theory and texts.
• Personal engagement.
• Discussion of past, present, and
future.
• Terminology.
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
17. Essay Structure
Introduction
Begin with a quote. State focus (social group, texts) and
argument.
Historical
‘Made in Britain’ (1982)/’The Wild One’ (1953)
Media Area 1 - Newspapers
Media Area 2 - Film
(Media Area 3) - Television
Conclusion
Sum up your argument, give your opinions, make a prediction
for the future.
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
18. Introduction
Henry A Giroux argues in media representations ‘youth
becomes an empty category’ reflecting the concerns of adults.
• media representations of youth serve the purpose of the
middle class adults who produce them
• media representation of youth reinforce hegemony
• identify texts
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
19. Historical Representations
Media representations of young people have always tended to
be negative, e.g. ‘The Wild One’ (1953) shows a motorcycle
gang terrorising a small town. ‘Made in Britain’ (1982) focused
on a delinquent, anti-social youth.
Both representations reflect anxieties of middle class adult
society, in relation to the threat to hegemony posed by young
people.
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
20. Newspapers
‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’ 2009 study
Giroux – constructed by adults.
Gramsci/Acland – negative representations reinforce
hegemony, ideology of protection.
Althusser – media as ideological state apparatus.
Cohen – moral panic – ‘clarify moral boundaries’.
Gerbner – cultivation theory.
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
21. Film
Hoodie Cinema article
Eden Lake/Harry Brown – negative, extreme, middle class fear
of working class youth.
Giroux – constructed by adults.
Gramsci/Acland – negative representations reinforce
hegemony, ideology of protection.
Wood – normality and monsters.
Attack the Block
Challenges stereotypes – Dyer (utopia).
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
22. Television
‘Misfits’/’People Like Us’
Uses negative stereotypes.
More sympathetic/less extreme – aimed at youth
audiences, shown on youth broadcasters.
Giroux – constructed by adults.
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
23. Conclusion
Sum up argument – As I have shown most media
representations of young people are negative. This is because
they reflect the concerns of their middle class producers, and
as a result usually reinforce hegemony…
More positive representations can be found on television
channels aimed at younger people.
The effect of media representations of young people is…
In the future I believe…(social media, young people can
construct their own representations – Student Fees protests,
power of mass media).
Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
24. Lesson Objectives: To be able to explain how young people are
represented in contemporary media, and apply relevant theory.
Choose one theory you can apply to the one of these representations.
