The document analyzes representation in the British comedy television series "The Inbetweeners". It discusses how the show represents the following factors: age (focusing on 17-18 year olds), ethnicity (all main characters are white), gender (all main characters are male), historical era (set in the present), location and setting (suburban area outside London), physical ability (main characters have personal/mental disabilities), regional identity (defined by housing estates and community), significant events (each episode focuses on a particular event), sexuality (jokes made but no stereotypical representations), and social class (main characters are middle-class or higher). Overall, the document examines how the show represents and draws humor from various social and

1. Representation in The
Inbetweeners
By James Perkins

2. Representation
• Representation is a key concept which
allows us to deconstruct a range of topics,
bearing in mind the relationship between
the media producers, their target audience
and you the consumer.

3. Age
• Age is a factor because the show revolves around
4 17-18 year olds and highlights some of the
stereotypes which are often associated with
teenagers, however this group of boys are different
and strive to become stereotypes to fit in. Also,
since they are 17 they are nearly adults and still
trying new things which creates humour
throughout the series when they are posed with
adult situations.

4. Ethnicity
• All 4 of the main characters are white and
represents the stereotypical english town
where there are very few other races,
however race is played on throughout the
series and is used to create humour but
also to show how the boys are perceived
by other races when they venture out from
their home town.

5. Gender
• All of the 4 main characters are male and
this shows the male race as being very
diverse and dominant, throughout the
series we see how the boys see females as
sex objects and this is a main theme which
runs throughout the series which often
creates humour.

6. Historical Era
• The programme is set in the present which
engages the audience and shows how
different locations live in the same time
period as the viewer.

7. Location and Setting
• The programme is set in a suburb outside
London and is stereotypical of the middle-
class.This can create different stereo-types
such as cockneys and upper-class citizens
but the two are merged together as the
location is halfway in-between.

8. Physical Ability
• The 4 main characters are all physically able
but have their own personal/mental
disabilities which are revealed throughout
the series. Disability is used in the series to
show how modern society see’s disabled
people as more powerful if not equal.

9. Regional Identity
• The regional identity is defined by the mise-
en-scene of posh housing estates and the
community living very close together.This is
however juxtaposed by the diversity of the
characters.

10. Significant Events
• Every episode has a particular significant
event and is focused on throughout with it
often being resolved at the end, this is
where inbetweeners appeals most because
there is always something new but some
reoccurring events can create humour.

11. Sexuality
• Sexuality is played on throughout the series,
all of the 4 main characters are straight but
they often joke about Neil’s dad and his
sexuality, throughout the series there isn’t
the stereotypical gay person which makes a
difference from other shows.

12. Social Class and Status
• All of the characters are verging on middle-
class or higher, however will has come from
an upper-class school and his journey to fit
in with unfamiliar surroundings and people
creates humour and is just one of the
elements which creates humour.