The document discusses how different social groups are represented in media products for teenagers. It notes that there is often a prominent group of white teenage girls, usually with one popular leader. It shows this in its opening scene. However, it subverts some stereotypes by showing the girls working together and competing with boys rather than each other. The opening also supports the stereotype that girls can be manipulative and self-obsessed. While no boys are shown, they are still portrayed as the enemy to girls. Overall, teenagers are often shown split into cliques and rivalries, keeping in contact by phone, and spending much of their time at school.

1. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?

2. In most of the teen films we researched, there is a prominent group of white teenage girls, usually of 3 or 4. There is
a stereotype of one girl being the leader and the popular one in the school, and having a couple friends who always
go around with her. We replicated this in our opening, with Tiffany being the popular girl, and the other two
characters running to her after they receive a text, portraying them as being submissive. This goes against the normal
stereotype that women are not good at working together, because in our opening they are teaming up to take
revenge, similar to the film ‘John Tucker Must Die’. The stereotype of girls being competitive is slightly changed as
instead of being competitive with each other, they are competing with boys.
However our opening supports the stereotype that girls are manipulative as the voiceover explains how the girls are
planning to get payback on a boy.
In other chick flick type films girls can be represented as being self obsessed, for example there are often shots of
girls putting on makeup and getting ready, and even taking selfies like in this gif from Wild Child. We showed this
stereotype by having Brittany in the bath with a facemask on, showing she cares about her appearance.

3. Although no boys are shown in our opening,
they have still been represented as if they are
the enemy to girls. This has been shown when
Tiffany rips down the pictures of her ex
boyfriend to imply that she has more power
over him, going against the stereotype that
boys are stronger than girls; physically and
emotionally. This representation of ‘boys vs
girls’ is similar in other teen films such as ‘John
Tucker Must Die’.
Overall, in our opening teenagers have been represented
as being split into groups/ ‘cliques’ and the rivalry and
competitiveness between them have been highlighted. It
also shows that teenagers are sociable as they are always
keeping in contact through their phones. The establishing
shot of the school implies that this is where the teenagers
spend most of their time, and is an important place to
them and in the film. This is where most of the film and
other teen films are set because it is realistic and relatable
to teenagers.