1. Question 2
How does your media product represent
particular social groups?
GENDER SOCIAL CLASS MASCULINITY
ETHNICITY FEMININITY

2. Gender
• Both male and female characters were
introduced in our film opening.
• In most ‘Youth Culture’ films the main character
is male and is represented as being dominant,
well known and be involved in some sort of
crime.
• In our opening Ceaser shows all three of these
common charecteristics.
• Females are often shown to be the more behaved
but venerable gender.

3. Male youth
In our opening, males are represented as masculine, up to no good and money wasters. This is
shown by the facial hair and the drug dealing. They are also shown to live the ‘street life’ by the
clothes they are wearing. The tracksuits stereotype the males as troublemakers as they are
often associated with gang life/ attention seekers.
Female youth
Female youth is represented as composed and care free. This is shown by the open schedule Flo
has and the way that she walks. Her walk is very smooth with a slight bounce which shows she
has a positive attitude to life and is happy. They’re also shown to be hardworking and well
behaved (opposite to male youth). This is portrayed by the work Flo has on the table and the
fact she isn't out buying drugs or leading a bad lifestyle.

4. Working class Social class
The working class are shown as equal to each other with the use of reverse shots. They are also
shown to be popular with many friends or associates. However they don’t appear to have much
money or class as they are out roaming the streets up to no good. Also the fact we haven't seen
their home suggests it wouldn’t be very classy. However, Ceaser represents working class as
courageous as he is trying to do something good and move away from the gang lifestyle by
devoting some time to music even though it will be hard.
Middle class
Middle class is represented as well groomed, stable and looked after. This is portrayed by the
home, the area Flo lives in, the food on the table and the cleanliness of the surroundings.
Middle class is also represented as neat, affluent and elegant. This is made obvious to the
audience by the clothes and care free attitude. The lace dress Flo wears represents middle class
to be elegant and taken care of. However middle class are shown as neglected/ignored. This is
made apparent to the audience when Flo says bye to her dad she doesn’t get a reply.

5. Masculinity & Femininity
In our opening masculinity is represented as jobless, drug dealers, hostile, gangsters
and rebellious. The blurring at the very start of the opening shows uncertainty in their
lives. However, masculinity is also represented as loving, sensitive, dedicated, creative
and intelligent. We decided to show two contrasting types of characteristics as in most
youth culture films, males are mostly represented as one or the other. We didn’t
completely pay up to the stereotype so mixed it up a bit for originality and avoid the
constant stereotype.
In youth culture films, femininity is often shown as slutty, unintelligent, easily swayed
and violent or the complete opposite of unconfident, smart, lonely and hopeful. Again
to avoid picking one or the other stereotype we chose to create a character with a mix
of these. In our opening femininity is represented as sensible, intelligent, dedicated,
educated, talented, desired, kind, independent and confident. The confidence and
dedication is shown through her willingness to sing to Ceasers track without
hesitation. Intelligence and sensibility is shown by the work on the table and choice of
where to study. The audience are less likely to make a judgement about these
characters straight away because they are not stereotypical of youth culture films.

6. Ethnicity
For our opening we decided to represent a multi cultural society by the use of
characters from different ethnic backgrounds. Usually in youth culture films ‘young
black males’ are represented as ‘criminals’ ‘bad’ ‘dominant’ in comparison to ‘young
white males’ commonly shown as ‘followers’ ‘weaker’ ‘upper class’. This isn't an
accurate representation of modern day society. In our opening we created characters
which follow the same type of ‘crime’ or ‘educational’ lifestyle but all from different
ethnic backgrounds. There is also a contrast of people within the same ethnic group. A
young white male is shown to be dealing drugs whereas a young white female is
shown to be studying. Using this contrast shows the audience that not everyone in one
particular ethnic group are the same and there is a wider diversity than often shown in
youth culture films.