This document provides an overview and analysis of the British teen drama television series Skins. It summarizes the main characters across different seasons, conventional themes around relationships, mental health, partying and family issues. Each episode focuses on one character to give insight into their personal lives. Settings include house parties, bedrooms, raves and school. Technical aspects like camera work, mise-en-scene, editing and sound selection are discussed in relation to communicating genre and supporting theories like the Male Gaze.

1. Teen Drama
By Emma Jane Laffoley

2. Characters
Cassie – eating
disorder, relationship
issues, family issues
Tony – relationship
issues, gets hit by a bus &
becomes partially
disabled
Sid – relationship issues,
depressed, failing at
school
Rich – metal head, in love,
gets bullied for his
appearance
Emily – lesbian (who finds it
difficult to come out), family
issues & relationship issues
Effy – relationship issues
(heartbreaker), self-harm &
depressed
Season 1 & 2
Season 1 & 2
Season 1 & 2
Season 1,2,3 & 4
Season 3 & 4
Season 5 & 6

3. Conventional Themes &
Issues- Alcohol addictions
- Relationship issues -> cheating, love triangles
- Teen pregnancy
- School issues -> failing classes, skipping school, not getting any qualifications
- Drug addictions
- Mental health issues -> eating disorders, depression, anxiety
- Partying -> house parties & raves
- Family issues
- Sexuality problems -> parents not accepting their sexuality
- Fights -> physical fights & verbal fights
- Smoking addictions
- Sex

4. Narrative & Plot
There are different sets of characters in each season, on the character page I have
included at least 1 from each season. The narrative is based on the sets of characters that
are in that season, most people are familiar with the 1st & 2nd season where the main
characters are; Sid, Cassie, Tony, Jal, Chris, Maxxie, Michelle & Effy. All of the characters
have their own back story and the episodes are split into each character (as seen on the
image bellow). An example of one of the episodes is Cassie (series 1 episode 2) where we
get the bigger picture of what is going on in Cassie’s life away from
the group and with it. We get to see her personal hidden issues which
is that she has an eating disorder and how she’s in love with another
Character called Sid however he likes Michelle. We also get to see her
family life. Skins have structured their show really nicely as it gives
us a clear insight to what each individual character's life is like.

5. Settings
Conventional settings include:
- House parties
- Bedrooms
- Raves
- Concerts
- School building
- Backstreets of Bristol

6. Technical
aspects

7. Camera work
Here a long shot has been used. This is to
show Michelle walking towards the boys (Sid
and Tony) in the café. This shot has been used
to show Michelle’s whole body as the boys
turn around to see her walking there way. This
camera shot supports Laura Mulvey’s theory
‘The Male Gaze’ as Michelle’s character has
been placed in this TV Drama for male
pleasure as long shots have been used to show
her whole body and she has a boyfriend (Tony)
as well as Sid wanting to date her.

8. Mise en Scene
In this screenshot, mise en scene
has been used to communicate the
genre. This is because an abundance
of alcohol bottles are present,
denoting that the teens have been
drinking. The room is also trashed
which shows that they had a party
the night before. This represents the
genre as teenagers conventionally
go out partying and drinking, which
is shown in this image as there are
empty bottles on the table and
people passed out. This is a
conventional theme featured in a
teen drama such as Skins.

9. Editing
In this extract a reaction shot has been
used. This can be seen when Effy is looking
at the men from her car, it then cuts to
show Freddie gazing back at her in awe. This
represents women as being objects to men
as they’re only there for male pleasure. I
have come to this conclusion as throughout
the series as Effy is used to gain males
attention (typically sexually). This supports
Laura Mulvey’s theory on Male Gaze which
stated that women were only included in
media products for male’s viewing pleasure,
this supports my point about women being
objects for male viewing.

10. Sound
Skins uses a theme song which is conventional to
a teen drama. The song chosen is Fat Segal which
is an upbeat, electronic song. This fits the
intended use of being the theme song for a teen
drama as teenagers conventionally listen to
electronic (sometimes known as dubstep) music.
This also relates to the theme of the genre as
even though it has negative themes (such as drug
taking) it also has happy themes such as creating
memories with friends by attending parties and
having loving relationships.