Collective identity refers to an individual's sense of belonging to a group and is an important part of personal identity. Film portrayals can help people gain a sense of belonging and identity beyond themselves by participating in watching films that depict certain social groups. Quadrophenia (1979) directed by Franc Roddam depicts British youth subcultures in the 1960s to both entertain audiences and represent these subcultures that redefined society.

1. ‘You’ve got to be somebody, aint ya? Otherwise you
might as well jump in the sea and drown’
-Jimmy
Quadrophenia, 1979.
Collective Identity is the individual’s sense of belonging
to a group (part of personal identity); the idea is that
through participating in social activities –, watching
films, television, listening to music - individuals can
gain a sense of belonging and in essence an identity
that transcends the individual.
- David Buckingham

2. How accurate do you think film portrayals of
events, social groups, etc are?
Who makes the film?
When are they made?
Why are they made?
In the west, the film industry is dominated with white, middle ages, males
Films are often retrospective accounts of historical events and time
periods.
In many cases, films are made to be sold for money and, therefore, have to
entertain.

3. Who made the film? Franc Roddam
When was it made? 1979 (15 years after the time period in which
it was set)
Why are they made? Predominantly, to entertain but also to
represent the youth subcultures that redefined British society
The name itself alludes to identity. The word Quadrophenia is a
term for split personality disorder

4. • Watch the following extract
• Fill in the second column of the table. Remember to use
key words for the technical areas (mise-en-scene,
editing, sound, camera)
‘You’ve got to be
somebody, aint ya?
Otherwise you might as
well jump in the sea and
drown’

5. What is the message?
Iconic image of scooters and motorbikes.
What would Stanley Cohen have said about
this image?
Therefore, what is the preferred reading? And what might be
an oppositional reading?

6. • In pairs or threes, fill in the second and third columns
‘You’ve got to be
somebody, aint ya?
Otherwise you might as
well jump in the sea and
drown’

7. The Who song ‘My Generation’ that is played in the background
is a historical anomaly.Why might this be significant?
Especially when considering the message that is being sent.

8. • Watch the following extract
• Fill in the second column of the table. Remember to use
key words for the technical areas (mise-en-scene,
editing, sound, camera)
‘You’ve got to be
somebody, aint ya?
Otherwise you might as
well jump in the sea and
drown’

9. Do you think violence is glamorised and
legitimized?

10. • In pairs or threes, fill in the second and third columns
‘You’ve got to be
somebody, aint ya?
Otherwise you might as
well jump in the sea and
drown’

11. • Watch the following extract
• Fill in the second column of the table. Remember to use
key words for the technical areas (mise-en-scene,
editing, sound, camera)
‘You’ve got to be
somebody, aint ya?
Otherwise you might as
well jump in the sea and
drown’

12. What are the similarities/ differences between the
opening and closing scenes?
What message is being sent?

13. • In pairs or threes, fill in the second and third columns
‘You’ve got to be
somebody, aint ya?
Otherwise you might as
well jump in the sea and
drown’

14. Write a tweet (130 characters) which
summarises representation in Quadrophenia.
You can also use hashtags
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