Youth

Describe the representation of of youth in the two posters. What are the connotations of the two texts?






Both texts have youths leaning as a group with their backs on the wall. Both these posters are very similar is layout and purpose. We can see that 'this is england' has the tag line "Stand out from the crowd" Contrasting with the image with is a crowd/group of youths all looking very different and independant. This was a time when independance was a big issue so in both posters we can see even though they are in a group that every single one of the characters are trying to stand out of the group with their certain individuality in their mannar etc.












Choose a sub-culture from the 50's, 60's or 70's and research into them. Create a character profile about them including images to support (much like the ones you find for music magazines, such as NME). What were their ideologies, attitudes and beliefs? How were they identified? what brands were identified with them? What music did they listen to?

How does contemporary representation compare to previous time periods?

YOUTH SUB-CULTURE

A Group of individuals who are united through a common value system and tastes(clothes,music,politics etc).

A Group who are also positioned outside of the mainstream, and who unify as a response to the mainstream

Emo
Goths
Chavs
Preppy
Indie/hipsters
mental
punks
scene kids
skin heads
Teleboys
Skaters

INDIE:

They want to be an individual stand out from the trends and crowds.
They wear vintage clothes from charity shops and markets normally. Not fans of mainstream brands.



What are the values of a subculture?

Conformity and Rebellion.
Attitude to capitalism and consumerism.
'Tribal' Rivalry.
Traditional or 'neophile' (a person who loves novely, one who likes trends; person who accept the future enthusiastically and enjoys changes and evolution)
Ideology in 1950's and 1960's - peace, Rebellion against parents, Radicalism - reactions against the post war.



Many groups are involved in protest and resistance against the mainstream...

Teens will often move between subcultures, and older youths mix and match styles/values from a mix of subcultures.

In the 21st century the dominant meaning systems'(that define the mainstream) are crumbling.

"There is no mainstream. There are many streams."
Mainstream is in perpetual flux, rapaciously absorbing alternative culture at such a fast rate that the notion of a mainstream becomes obsolete.

So if there is no mainstream then there is nothing for the teens to react against - intstead they are driven by other motives; and these must be understood on their own terms, individual terms.

1950's TEDS/TEDDY BOYS.

Anti-establishment, some of the original juvenile delinquents.
uniform: drainpipe trousers, drape edwardian jackets with velvet collars, string ties or slim-jims and DA(ducks arse) haircuts and sideburns.
Music - introduction of Rock n'Roll(Bill hayley and the comets (film - rock around the clock) and Elvis Presley)

1960's MODS

Mod(Originally modernist to describe modern jazz musicians and fans) is a subculture that originated in London in the late 1950's and peaked in the early to mid 1960's.

As Psychedelic rock and the hippie subculture grew more popular in the UK, many people drifted away from the mod scene.

Uniform hard to describe as they were prone to continuous revitalistation.

1960's Skinheads

A Skinhead is a member of a subculture thyat originated among working class youths in the UK.

Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, The First Skinheads were greatly influenced by west indian (Specifically jamaican) rude boys and British mods in terms of fashion, music and lifestyle.

Early 1970's Punks

Emerged From USA, UK and Australia.

Based around Punk Rock.

Centered around listening to recordings or live concerts of a loud, aggressive genre of rock music called punk rock, usually shortened to punk.

Individual freedom and anti-establishment views.
viewpoints:
Anti-authoritarianism
a DIY ethic
non conformity
direct action
and not selling out.


THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION

Before 1950's the world war 2, Britain was entering a period of increased freedom and affluence.
Many of the old social cultural structures began to be challenged, especially by the young.

Rationing was coming to an end.
The american way of life started to become key to the aspirations of the british public. - Both culture and material goods.
(deregulation of broadcasting in 1954= introduction of commercial TV)
More cheaper coloured magazines, ment more advertisment. Most originated from America.
A World wide economic boom(postwar regeneration schemes)
Labour was defeated by the conservatives at the 1951 general election. - This change marked a shift from state control, for freedom 'set the people free'
Touth given more freedom from the deregulation and commercialisation of society.

Americas influence:

Where-ever you lived meant that you consumed almost anything that had 'made in america'
Viewed by some as a Symtom of cultural degeneration.

Cultural imperialism: is the practice of promoting, distinguishing, separating or artificially injecting the culture of one society into another (America influence on Britain Post War).

-

Car ownership rose by 250% between 1951 and 1961, and between 1955 and 1960 average weekly earnings rose by 34% while the cost of most technological consumer items fell in real terms. In the 1950's consumers had more money to spend on goods, and more goods from which to choose.

People expected to have goods such as televisions, refrigerators etc. Before the war these had been luxury items available only to the most privileged seletions of society.



Rebal with a cause
The wild ones

Theories

Theorist	Year	Concepts	Your explanation
Giroux	1997	Youth as empty category	In this theorist, it is described that It is the adult generation that is reflecting the ideas of how all youth act today. This is not entirely on the true identities of the youths. This is more the representation of how the adult generation see them in an unlightening way. How these youths are potrayed and seen as is how the adults want them to be looked upon as.
Acland	1995	Ideology of protection; deviant youth and reproduction of social order	Acland uses the examples of how adults and youths who are potrayed as 'normal' contrasting with the youths we could describe as 'delinquents'and 'ASBOS' so it shows us a clear break in the differences and how the 'ASBOS' that are potrayed are acting in an unexceptable way. The media plays a big part in youths as this theorist describes that the 'ideology of protection' is aided when we are watching and monitering the youths every move as they need constant survallience. As at this time of a persons life at youth you are coming into your own person with your own attitudes and thoughts and this is the time to be learning the values and social rules of how we should all be acting. To make sure these youths confrom to the rules and do not stray.
Gramsci	1971 (1929-1935)	Cultural hegemony	This theorist idea is that the middle/working class are able to dominate a society by making their way of life seem normal and and a natural way of living. The implied meaning of dominance and power is always constantly seen as a struggle with societies constantly debating what is and isn't acceptable nowadays.
Cohen	1972	Moral panic	In the 1960's this theorist looked at the media responses to the mods and rocker riots in these times. He argued that certain topics arised from societies during the time when the topics were the anxieties of the societies of the time. For instance the rocker riots came from the youths rebel to the rock and roll life style they had taken acustomed to. A moral panic occurs when The media highlights and widens the seriousness of youths. The idea of moral panic is that it allows the society to deside what values it does not accept. The example of working class youths potrayed today have become this 'horror' and 'scary' image that have become a contempory scare for us today. Maybe perhaps tapping into the economic anxieties. concerns about benifit cultures and the long list of people unemployed.
McRobbie	2004	Symbolic Violence
Gerbner	1986	Cultivation Theory	This is the study of television effecting peoples perceptions on crime. He found that people who watched more television tended to overestimate the levels of crime. He called this 'mean word syndrome' this is because the media eg. newspapers, tv, films etc. all contain representations of crime and over time this has influcened peoples thoughts on the crime today. this is called 'cultivation theory' this is that the society and media representations of young people that are shown as delinquents and ignorant to the rules could change how they are perceived by society.

How do contemporary media represent British Youth and Youth culture in different ways?

Horror and the representation of Youth


- Film theorist Robin Wood argues that the basic formula of the horror film is 'normality is threatened by the monster. I use 'normality' here...to mean simple 'conformity to the dominant social norms'.


What is the significance of the emergence of a cycle of British films in which the 'monster' is young people?

More realistic
People are frightened of these youth groups today 'hoodies' especially at nights down your typical ally ways. So the media will highlight this and protray them in a more frightening way.


How do they threaten normality?

Ignorant to the rules
distrupt with volience.
itimidation
actual way of living is regardless to the 'norm'

What term could we use instead of normality?

(reality)



ATTACK THE BLOCK - Youth, Stereotypes, Social Class (2011) Director Joe Cornish.


How are the main characters introduced?

Intimidating
Negative
camera positioned down looking up
dark lighting
hoodies, knifes, baseball bats.
Images you relate to.
dark - fear.


How does this representation change?

Opening sequence stereotypical hoodie representation, As the film progresses the representation becomes more positive. Develops a more sympathetic representation.
The film initially represents the young people as 'monsters', then replaces them with actual monsters.
Contrast to other 'hoodie horror films'