Common stereotypes of different age groups are portrayed in TV dramas, such as a man in mid-life crisis, a rebellious teenager, or a senile old man. However, no single age group has just one stereotype, as representations can be both positive and negative. For example, teenagers are sometimes shown as hardworking but other times as troublesome. Often wisdom is associated with older age. Age stereotypes are sometimes challenged, like an older person acting youthful against conventions. Soap operas in particular play a large role in representing age since they have large older audiences, allowing standards stereotypes to be abandoned in favor of more humorous or vulnerable elderly portrayals that bring balance to television.

1. REPRESENTATION OF AGE
IN TV DRAMA
Tom Wichmann

2. COMMON STEREOTYPES
oMan in a mid-life crisis
oMiddle aged woman clinging to her youth
oRebellious teenager
oMother to all figure
oSenile old man

3. AGE
Thanks to the media we live in a world obsessed with age, quick to
judge people as too old or too young. Not one single age group has
one set stereotype/representation and they can be portrayed in many
different ways, both in a positive and a negative light. A good
example of this is how teenagers can be portrayed, some are shown
as hard working and good people where as there is also the complete
opposite of of this.
Often with age comes knowledge and this is a commonly shown in
many tv dramas

4. HOW IS AGE CHALLENGED?
Often age stereotypes are challenged. An example of this is an older
person not following the standard conventions set out and still follow
their youth and do thing that would not typically their age group. A
usual representation of this is a middle aged woman who is still
actively seeks out sexual experiences(mutton
Dressed as lamb)
The older generation demand their age group to be more fairly
represented in todays media

5. SOAP OPERAS
This type of TV Drama play a huge roll in the
representation of age since they have such a large
grey population . This can allow some of the standard
stereotypes to be left behind. In Soap operas old
people have a humorous role with some frightening
vulnerability. They bring a good balance to British
television