Collective identity refers to how people define themselves based on their group memberships. This document discusses media representations of young people and their influence on collective identity. It analyzes how historical films and TV shows often portrayed delinquent youth in a negative way that reinforced societal norms. Contemporary media still tends to represent youth negatively and in a way that increases the perception they need control. However, audiences can interpret media in different ways, and social media now allows young people more ability to construct their own representations and challenge dominant narratives. The future impact of media on collective identity likely depends on navigating the blurred lines between reality and hyperreality in a digital age.

1. Collective Identity
"our feeling of identity is closely connected with our membership various
groups" (Brown 1990: 420).
Where you only refer to one media area you will automatically lose about 75% of
the marks for this answer.
Where you fail to talk about historical and future projections you lose about 25%
of the potential masks
Structure
Introduction
Historical representation – Quadrophenia
Historical – Grange Hill
Contemporary – Ill Manors, Harry Brown, Sket, The InBetweeners,, The Selfish
Giant, Kidulthood, Anuvahood, ??
Contemporary – The Young Apprentice, Hollyoaks, Youngers, STi Documentary,
90210 London Riots Pick specific programmes
User generated content - Facebook, Twitter, Youtube
The future – Baudrillard
Conclusion
Introduction
Quote – paraphrase – establish focus of the essay.
Henry Giroux argues that in media representations youth becomes an empty
category reflecting the anxieties and concerns of adults. This suggests that media
representations of young people are not necessarily accurate, and may
contribute to the dominance of negative representations.
State Argument
These representations, constructed by adults, usually reinforce hegemonic
values by demonising the delinquent youth. The extent to which the collective
identity of young people is informed by these representations will be explored in
relation to films, and television.
Historical Representation
‘Quadrophenia” (1979)
Teenage delinquency– social concerns How are teenagers represented?
(Hebidge 1979) He argues that youth subcultures are a way fro young people to
express their opposition to society and to challenge hegemony. How they take
on the existing symbols ( scooter and suit) and make it theirs.

2. How does the film reinforce hegemonic values? (Acland) Acland argues that
representations of delinquent youth actually reinforces hegemony because it
constructs an idea of ‘normal ‘adult and ‘normal’ youth and then contrasts with
behaviour that is deemed to be unacceptable. He also claimed that media
representations of youth out of control allows the state to have more control
over them, as the idea that young people need constant surveillance and
monitoring, ‘ideology of protection’ Influence on collective identity – iconic
representation. This happens because youth is the time when young people
learn about social values and roles, and allows the state to make sure they
conform to hegemonic values.
Do the youth in Quadrophenia show young people as in need of control? If so
identify what society thinks if hegemonic. You may want to focus on the working
class youth needing surveillance reinforcing middle class hegemony.
Althusser – media as ideological state apparatus – creating consensus. And the
film industry is part of this apparatus that transmit dominant ideology. So what
part of this representation is reinforcing the dominant ideology?
Contemparory
Ill Manors (2012) How were young people represented? How do the
representations reinforce hegemony? (Acland, Althusser). Is there any
representation which could be read as Folk devils and moral panics? (Cohen)
Influence on collective identity – Gerber, cultivation theory. Hall – negotiated
view,
Popular culture is made by people. Institutions merely produce a repertoire of
texts, which the audience are empowered to interpret, use or reject. ‘The drive
for innovation and changes comes from the audience in the cultural economy’
(Fiske 1989) Fiske- audience more powerful than media text.
‘There is constant contradiction between ideology and the social experience of
the subordinate that makes this interface into an inevitable site of ideological
struggle’(Fiske 1992)
This film was part produced by the BBC and UK Lottery funded, Gramsci used the
term hegemony to denote the predominance of one social class over another, the
ability of the dominant class to project its own way of seeing the world so that
those are subordinated, but this consent must be constantly won and rewon, for
their material experience constantly reminds them of the results of
subordination and thus pose a threat to the dominant class.
We haven’t looked at this but it doesn’t take long
Hoodies or Altar Boys Study (2009) How were young people represented? How
do the representations reinforce hegemony? (Acland, Althusser, Cohen).
Influence on collective identity – Gerber, cultivation theory. Hall – negotiated
view, Fiske- audience more powerful than media text.

3. The InBetweeners /The Selfish Giant Use of negative stereotypes – but attempts
to make them sympathetic – challenge dominant representations Do the texts
just reaffirm these ideas? (Wearing) Media influence on collective identity – the
texts can be seen as a response to other negative media representations
(director of Selfish Giant have said as much) suggests filmmakers see the media
as having a powerful role in shaping ideas about identity. Gerbner/Althusser –
media is powerful Hall/Fiske – media not that powerful
‘Generation Citizen’ Demos Study 2014
http://www.demos.co.uk/files/Generation_Citizen_-_web.pdf?1392764120
Explored how young people are represented in the media and its effects. Found
most newspaper stories about teenagers negative – focused on crime, drinking,
pregnancy. 80% of young people say they are represented negatively, a large
proportion said it affected their willingness to contribute to community and
affected ability to get a job. Suggests the media does have effect on collective
identity. However Demos interviewed teachers – vast majority of teachers felt
media representations of young people were unfairly negative – Hall/Fiske
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialNMUSFCA
The power of social media, not just from the Arab Spring or London Riots but
also as a collective looking after each other, April 24 video
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192570047474496.51394.14318
1745746660
here is a campaign about the majority who did not riot and did a Not in My Name
selfie..
Prediction for the future –
Media representations of young people have largely been negative over time. It
seems unlikely…however in the future…. social media does allow young people
to construct…challenge… Jean Baudrillard the creation of signs that bear no
resemblance to anything real but reflect other signs and create a hyper reality. It
will increasingly need to be remembered that what we are watching are stories,
in the same way as fairy stories are stories, even though they might look real in
this hyperreality with blurred boundaries between the real and the fictional,
such as at DisneyWorld.
Conclusion
Sum up argument – Media representations of young people are predominantly
negative, as they are constructed by adults and usually seek to reinforce
hegemonic values through the demonisation of delinquent youths. Whilst these
representations do have some influence on how young people are perceived, the

4. individual viewpoints of the audience members are likely to influence the extent
to which they accept the ideological message of the media text. As Gauntlett
argues the media does influence our understanding of identity but not in a direct
or immediate way. It is my view that…
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