Lesson Plan

First of all, the students will take part in a 5 minute activity where we will get them to brainstorm their own views on British teenagers and how they think they are portrayed by the media and then ask them to write them up as a list. They will then be asked to do the same thing but this time based on the views of the older generation on British teenagers.

There will then be an introduction where we will explain to the class the representation of teenagers and how it has changed throughout the years, from our own research. They are then able to compare what they thought the representation of teenagers was to what they have learnt from our brief desription.

We can then show the class our final cut clip which is based on questions 1 and 3 to explain to the class how the media represents collective groups (teenagers) in different ways and how they are misrepresented and stereotyped, through the use of our voices describing the matter and relating pictures.

At this point of the lesson, I think the theorists should be introduced and explained maybe through a powerpoint or throught the class doing their own research on specific theorists. After about 5 minutes of research the class will be given another task where they have to match together the theorists with their theorys on the representation of teenagers.

We can then show the class the xtranormal clip which will explain to them the comparison of todays representation of teenagers and how they used to be represented. We will end with a clip of Skins to show how television represent teenagers.

Initial Ideas for Our own lesson

We could do an activity where we get the class to write down their views on british teens and ask them to write a short list of what they think.

And then get them to write a seperate list of what the older generation think of teenagers.

This will be an introduction of different ages and their stereotypes.

Our Xtranormal Video

Today Chloe and I created our xtranormal video for questions Two and Four. We are very pleased with the video as it is fun at the same time as being informative.


Suitz Movie
by: q1collect

Question Four: To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated?

Question Four - To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated? 

In the media the people in which are portraying individuals identity is actually the people creating the sources of media. Such as 'The Press' 'Television' 'Music' and many other media areas. Instead of letting the individuals represent themselves how they think they should be shown, the people who are writing the articles and programmes are the people giving their own representation of the identities.
 

David Gauntlett is a media theorist. He stated that you can only get the truth of identities if the people themselves are allowed to creatively represent themselves. Where as in the media the truth of the human identities is being twisted (mediated).

The television industry have to continuously make sure the images of characters within series and TV dramas are appealing to the audience, fitting in with a certain theme relating to the show, or the present day fashion. Despite this not necessarily being a fair/truthful representation the television industry do this because they know the stereotypical thoughts of teenagers will entice more viewers. 

 For example ‘Skins': within this programme Teenagers are portrayed as self- asorbed, followers, rebellious, greedy people that fail to see the real importance in life. In the first episode of Skins we see the storylines plotted out before us, buying drugs for a party and attempting to lose their virginity. The first storyline line we are introduced to tells us how Tony, is trying to help his mate, Sid, lose his virginity. This displays teenagers as sex crazed loonitics.The second storyline in which we are made aware of is of Sid and Tony trying to buy some drugs for a party in order to have a wild and crazy night. This shows how teenagers feel the need to put 'crap' into their bodies in order to have a good time.


So as you can see Skins is an example of a programme in which feels the need to represent all teenagers as a group of identities which are addicted to drugs, drink, sex and partying. These stereotypes are becoming increasingly popular to use in television programmes in todays world despite these stereotypes  not being the case for the majority of teenagers. 


In addition to this Documentaries are clearly based on real footage ,which in some ways makes the images displayed of teenagers in the program more interesting for the audience because  they would see it as a reflection of their true human identity. However producers of Documentaries can manipulate the audience by only choosing negative footage of teenagers to display.

The press industry also creates a stereotypical human identity for teenagers of the present day. For example the riots in 2011. The press chose specific images they wanted to display to the reader and the type of language they use to manipulate the reader to how they receive the information. 

Question Two & Theory

Question Two:

Most teenagers of today have been misrepresented by the media and are stereotyped as troublemakers who have little value within society, creating a distance between younger people and other groups in the community.

David Buckingham is a media theorist in which believes that Childhood is a very modern concept in which hasn’t been around forever. He states that when the media changes then so will the types of childhoods. Childhood now ends several years earlier than previous time periods. And therefore because of this children are being exposed to things such as drugs,sex, crime and things which they aren’t mature enough to properly deal with. As children are becoming more familiar with these situations it may lead to them wanting to experience them. 

The media has the power to change this negative opinion of youths of today, reporting positively about them by outlining their achievements and goals rather than their criminal activities.

This can be shown back in the past before the 21^st century, especially with teenage females, where they were represented as smart, quiet and dutiful whereas in today’s culture they are portrayed to be just as aggressive and rebellious as males.

Even though there are plenty of positive, achievements made by today’s youths, the media chooses to focus on the negative actions and activities they get involved in such as the London Riots because they believe they are more ‘newsworthy’, which increases the violent and rebellious reputation of the younger people today.

Teenagers have also been given the same image within television of today. For example programmes like ‘Skins’ and ‘Misfits’ have created the image of a group of teenagers who ‘get high, get drunk, get laid and get up for their A-levels’ which was quoted from the Guardian back in 2007, doing no justice in changing this reputation that today’s youths have been branded with.

The storylines of these programmes that follow the lives of a teenager, have a main focus of crime, drugs, sex, drink and gangs which along with the medias opinion of younger people, expands this ‘thug’ theory that has been created. For example, after watching a number of trailers for the series of 'skins', like this one for season 3, it proves that the image the whole series is creating for teenagers is based on violence, drink, drugs and sex. This is shown by a group of younger people entering a pub full of older people and violently destroying the place along with fighting with one another, sexual suggestions and complete disrespect for the older generation. This is a very different interpretation of the lives of teenagers than the ones from many years ago, however, todays image of youths through television may be a lot more realistic than what it once was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdsqkWiZx84

However, it never used to be like this. The image that is now created for teenagers through television programmes such as ‘skins’ has dramatically changed compared to programmes from the 1930’s such as ‘Good manners’, a popular programme of this time based on the lives of teenagers. Back in this time era, teenagers were portrayed as well mannered, well spoken and very polite when addressing each other.

It is clear that the representation of teenagers has evolved throughout the years, from the image of the innocent, obedient young people who were un-sexualised and completely unaware of the negative world around them from the early nineties, which has now changed and possibly became more realistic as teenagers became more loud, expressive and sexually aware. It may also be because as David Buckingham said 'childhood' 

Still To Do For Our Video

The things we still need to do are the following:

- we need to create our xtranormal section by typing questions 2+4.
- we have filmed all the voice overs so we just need to put this all in order
- add images to the voice overs.

We think this will take two lessons to complete.

Q1 Edited Script

Q1 How does the media represent collective groups of people (teenagers) in different ways?

Teenagers are often portrayed in the media as anti-social thugs that all drink, smoke, partake in pointless acts of crime that have sexual intercourse on a daily basis transmitting thousands of STI’s. "Almost all of the publicity that the media gives to young people is negative"- David Seymour, the Political Editor of the Mirror group. 
‘Images of teens smoking, drinking, condoms etc’

These factors are true to some extent but the media magnifies these situations, there are
many teens that act in exactly the way the media portrays them. This relates to Judith Butlers theory of ‘performativity.’

‘Image of Judith Butler’

She argues that identities are a performance of day-to-day life. It’s not about who you are, it’s about what you do and how you ‘perform’. It can be said that the majority of teenagers are performing in a way they believe is expected of them.

The riots in 2011 ‘Images of riots’ are an example of this. The images found in the newspapers look as though the teens are acting out scenes from Kidulthood. ‘Images of riots from newspapers’. Were they just performing, just acting up to the expectations the public have of them?

Teens destined to be represented only in stories about gang crime, other criminal activities and more. By featuring stories about anti-social behavior, gang crime, drug and alcohol abuse and other criminal activities the press generate strong feelings of often moral outrage from society.

 ‘Images from newspapers’

This is why they love to feature stories about failing teens. "Some newspapers aren't interested in young people having a voice, because either it doesn't fit in with what they're generally writing or saying, or because they don't even think it's an issue." - David Seymour, the Political Editor of the Mirror group.

'Our 15 year-old girls lead the world in boozing, obesity and taking drugs.'

In a few paragraphs the media can convince the newspapers reader's that all teenage girls were overweight slobs, who spend hours slumped in front of the television drinking alcohol and smoking drugs. Many stereotypical views, similar to this one are seen across the media.

Another media institution, which represents teenagers in a negative light, is television. ‘Image of TV’s’ There are many TV programmes which stereotype the younger generation showing the bad side of teens.

‘Images of television programmes- Skins, Misfits, Top Dog’

Skins follows a group of British teenagers in their two years at college. Its controversial storylines have explored a vast amount of issues such as disfunctional families, mental illness, adolescent sexuality, drug and alcohol abuse and death. Teenagers in the programme are portrayed as self-absorbed, followers, rebellious, greedy people that fail to see the real importance in life.

‘Image of Skins cast’

On one hand, Skins shows a true representation of what most teenagers 'get up to', but on the other hand it displays a negative view on teens in our society today, stereotyping them. In the first episode the first storyline we are introduced to tells us how Tony is trying to help his mate, Sid lose his virginity. ‘Images of Tony and Sid’ This displays teenagers a sex crazed creatures only concerned on losing their V plates.

The second storyline in which we are made aware of is of Sid and Tony trying to buy some drugs for a party in order to have a wild and crazy night. This shows how teenagers feel the need to put 'crap' into their bodies in order to have a good time.

‘Images of drugs at the party’

‘Trailer of Skins series 1’

The trailer contains over fifty clip changes containing different shots of the teenagers, throwing foam, dancing, drinking, frequently removing clothes and doing unsavory things to one another. These shots all contribute in displaying a negative image of teens. In the first half of the clip the teens are all seen as energetic and seem to be having fun, dancing, drinking and 'getting off with each other.' ‘Montage of images from trailer’ The shots of them kissing and removing their clothing shows an image of teens as being promiscuous sex animals. Up until 17 seconds into the trailer, things take a turn for the worst. The teenagers begin to take drugs; nos, pills, cannabis and they begin the come up on a 'high'. The pace of the trailer remains the same but begins to slow down to capture one of the girls faces as she 'comes up'. ‘Image of girl’ This shot captures the girl’s happiness from taking the drugs, depicting a negative image of teens that frequently take drugs and think that it's cool.

Half way through the video the characters begin to start throwing up and get into states where they don't know what’s going on due to the alcohol and drugs. ‘Images from trailer’ This balances out the video and shows the negative inflections of drugs and alcohol and how a typical teenage house party usually ends horrendously with everyone making a mess of themselves. This shows how teens are not aware of limits and how they are just interested in getting absolutely wrecked not thinking of the consequences.