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.

News Report

Reporter 1: On todays news ‘more men choosing surgery to improve their looks’. Tummy tuck is the fastest growing procedure as image conscious males ditch the gym in favour of the knife.

Reporter 2: Lets go over to Tony who has had surgery:

Tony: I went to David Lam who is a Sheffield surgeon for a tummy tuck operation which cost me £5,000. I always thought it was just for women, however he showed me pictures of the men who had the treatment and I realised it wasn't. I feel much happier and confident. I feel as if I can finally buy the clothes I want. 

Reporter 1: So did you feel pressured by the images throughout the media for example magazines?

Tony: Yes theres just pictures every where in magazines of perfect men, and so I felt  pressured to feel like the 'norm'. It restricted my day to day life. 

Reporter 2: And here we have Judith Butler who is a media theorist lets here from her

Judith Butler: Thankyou, my theory is about how peoples day to day life is a performance, and how identities aren't a fixed state as they are constantly changing. So it's not about who you are, it's about how you perform. So as you can see Tony it seems to me you are going to dramatic measures to display your performance to the rest of the society. 

Reporter 1: Thank you Judith, lets go to the weather. 

Question One

Scri

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 frequently focusing on the negatives, typically stereotyping all teens as ruthless thugs who lack in self-respect.

Many people complain about the view the media has on teens and state that ‘children are the future’ and that they are misrepresented. This is not entirely true in most cases as 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- they are performing to societies expectations.

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?

Stories in newspapers of human interest rarely feature young people and they are rarely approached by the mainstream media to give their opinions and views on issues. This leaves 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. 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 we’re introduced to the characters Tony and Sid. The first storyline we are introduced to tells us how Tony is trying to help his mate, Sid lose his virginity. This displays teenagers as sex crazed lunatics. 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.' The shots of them kissing and removing their clothing shows an image of teens as being promiscuous sex animals. Ten seconds into the trailer, a girl writes of one of the boys heads 'virgin', this shows how teens are concerned about being a virgin and when someone is they are usually ridiculed for it, showing how the teens are obsessed with sexual activities’. 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. 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.

Question 2- How does contemporary representation compare to previous time periods?

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.

However, the media does have 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 interpretaion of the lives of teenagers than the ones from many years ago, however, todays image if 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.

Question 3)

What are the social implications of different media representations of groups of people?


To be created with the found footage method:


There are many social implications because of the media representing groups of people. In this case we will be focusing on the implications on British Teenagers. 

‘Commit crimes, don’t care about anyone but themselves, always drunk/partying, unemployed’ Other terms often used included "hoodie", "louts", "heartless", "evil" "frightening", "scum", "monsters", "inhuman" and "threatening". The Independent.

The representation in the press means that it is particularly more likely for the elderly generation to fear teenagers and make them suspicious even though not all teenagers are acting in this way. 

A large majority of newspaper headlines show negative stories about british teens and therefore it makes the public judge the younger generation before even giving them a chance.

But do the media ever think of the teenagers and what it does to them? 

Because of the media representing them in such a negative way the teenagers will start to feel negative about themselves and therefore start to live up to the poor expectations of the public 

Judith Butler is a theorist and has a theory concept of ‘Performativity’ and how identities are a performance which includes day to day life, and how identity is anot afixed state in which is constantly changing, and flowing. So it's not about who you are its about what you do and how you perform.

So in simple terms: you act differently depending on what environment your in and who you are with: for example you act differently with your parents compared to your best friend; teachers act differently within class compared to when they are at home. So it’s that sense of not being just one person, but instead being one person who shows different sides of personalities and performs differently all the time depending on the surrounding and the identities around them. 

So in this case over the years the media has constructed this image of teenagers. Whether it be through television programmes such as skins, or through the newspapers we read this stereotypical image is surrounding us. So this relates to Butlers theory on performance. Because we can see that the teenagers in todays world are performing in this way because they believe this is just expected of them. So they’re just performing to todays societies expectations. So thinking of the riots: when you look at the shocking images of the teenagers in the riots and the destruction they caused it literally looks like they are performing a scene out of Kidulthood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebnWuJcf0Ts -Kidulthood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gex_ya4-Oo -Reality

The media representing teenagers in this way also makes teenagers wary of other teenagers 'nearly a third said they are always or often wary of teenage boys they don't know. And 51% of teenager boys said this was due to the media stories about boys. Compared to 40% which said it was from a bad experience of other teens'. 'Hoodies, louts, scum': how media demonises teenagers’  (The Independent). These statistics clearly shows us that the press representing teens in this negative way are actually have a large impact onto teenagers themselves.

A quote from an article ‘young resent negative images’ on the bbc webite from a teenager: Naushin Shariff, said: "I have made heads turn and had adults cross the road when I wear my hood up because I was feeling cold.”

"I am not an aggressive person, nor a 'feral youth', but am treated like one. It is only a minority that cause trouble, yet the media seem to label us all.”

These two quotes clearly show that it is having an effect on British teenagers themselves because they feel as if they are being labelled as violent etc, when really it’s just the minority. Is this really fair? 

Skins

Skins follows a group of British teenagers in their two years at college. It's 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.

To many people's dismay, Skins is a programme which displays what untamed teens get up when let off the leash. 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. The programme shows how the creation of youth has come hand in hand with conflict from older generations. Skins emphasises the hopeless struggle expressed by the characters family, who in trying to help their children, striving to solve their problems which are closely rooted in the relationships they have with their mates, hopelessly fail.

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.
In the scene of the teens in the park we see them as how the media often represents teens. They talk openly about drugs and having sex in a way that implies it's a common topic and something that they always naturally discuss with one another.

I analysed Skins series 1 trailer. The editing in the clip is very fast paced which creates a montage like theme, disorientating the viewer while displaying a hectic and confused mind frame felt by teens. The trailer contains over fifty clip changes containing different shots of the teenagers, throwing foam, dancing, drinking, frequently removing clothes and doing unsavoury things to one another. These shots all contribute in displaying a negative image of teenagers.

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.' The shots of them kissing and removing their clothing shows an image of teens as being promiscuous sex animals. Ten seconds into the trailer, a girl writes of one of the boys heads 'virgin', this shows how teens are concerned about being a virgin and when someone is they are usually ridiculed for it, showing how the teens are obsessed with sexual activites. 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'. This shot captures the girls happiness from taking the drugs, depicting a negative image of teens who frequently take drugs and think that it's a cool thing to do.

Half way through the video the characters begin to start throwing up and get into states where they don't know whats going on due to the alchohol and drugs. This balances out the video and shows the negative inflextions of drugs and alchohol 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.

Our chosen approach

From discussing the two approaches we have chosen to use both approaches and mix the two together.  This is so that we can easily type in the text we want so we can show the information that we need to know as well as using images of the press and our case studies through the 2nd approach.

We can make it more interactive and inticing as we can choose characters, setting, camera changes etc using the xtra normal software.

However we do need to be aware of the fact we have a limit of characters, so we will need to plan the script extremely well.

We will create this video by simply using the account we signed up for and then once we have planned a script, as a group we will choose characters and the setting and then use voice overs to explain our topic in more detail and to show images as examples.

Second approach to media revision video

The alternative to using the xtra normal website is to use final cut express and to use voice overs straight into the Mac to put across the knowledge we need to know within media and collective identity. As well as voice overs we will also use text transitions and various images to make it more appealing.

The advantage of this is that we can add as much facts and information as possible. However it will be more time consuming and we will have to take more time finding images etc.

Using Xtranormal video software

In todays lesson we tried out the xtranormal software to see if it would work to teach our students our topic of collective identity.

There is alot of advantages from using this software: for example you can choose the set, the characters, the sounds in the background and then you can make the characters use specific facial expressions or gestures.

However there are disadvantages from this, for example you have a limit to the amount of characters you can use so you would have to make the most of the text you can use.

Identity as an individual idea - David Gauntlett

"David Gauntlett", a professor of media and communications, explains his theory of identity as an individual idea by stating the fact that an identity itself is an abstract and complex concept that is often reduced to categories such as gender, ethnicity etc. Gauntlett argues that we should change this approach of categorising people to form their identities and that we should ask individuals themselves what identity means.


A key finding of the work by David Gauntlett is that people don't generally place much emphasis on the media as forming their sense of self/identity. However, when considering the use of social networking sites, its shows how individuals and their personal identity can reformed and reinvented to anything they desire, by the individual themselves through the use of new media, where their identity or identities can therefore be fragmented scross different platforms/sites. Gauntlett then suggests that this could be a truer reflection of identity itself being fluid, in a constant state of flux and being different depending on who you are representing to.

A theory by Durkheim we can include in our debate!!

Durkheim is a theorist that has done research into how people within society manage to belong to and form a social structure which operates well without too much conflict. He claims that the social structure which is formed through people having shared norms and values is called a 'unifying force'. He suggests that institutions such as education and the media teach people to have what he calls a 'collective conscience', this is when people expect the same behaviour from each other because they have been taught that certain values and expectations are the 'norm'.

However it depends on different societies that people are a part of or surrounded by as to what norms and values are expected of them. Durkheim claims that a member of a collective conscience will have a shared understanding of its institutions,formal and informal rules, collective symbolism including values, ideals,opinions, mythologies and religions.

 The extent to which someone is socially intergrated to a level similar to someone else or not can have an effect on their achievement within society. We could use this point to relate to our collective (young british) by claiming that certain values that are projected to them through institutions influence them to act a certain way.

 Society is becoming increasingly individualistic with people's identities and actions throughout recent decades. Durkheim would claim this is a negative thing as he is a functionalist and believes that everything is set out because it performs a certain function and if things become too diverse people will start to loose their collective conscience. He suggests this means remedy is needed and an example of this is the encouragement of moral links with other members of society.

Young people's lives today

After reading the source "Young people and British Identity" from a research study conducted for the Camelot foundation, I have discovered another theory for the identity of young people that suggests that the different facets of a teenagers personal identity such as taste, preference to music, sport and fashion, go together to create their individual identity. It also suggests that the process that defines these attributes is a decisive pre-occupation for young people and determines their social standing, group status and personal trajectory.

The source then goes on to describe research that uncovers a lack of emotional resonance amongst young people towards Britishness and the spontaneous associations that are connected with it, such as the Queen, tea and crumpets and Big Ben, which are more connected with an "old world Britain" and do not reflect today's Britain and society. In the opinion of Young people Britain is an old, hierarchical, traditional, political discourse that doesn't fit in with the fresh, inventive, messy and often chaotic world of a British teenager.

However, even though Britishness does not connect well with young people in terms of their everyday life, they still recognise a number of advantages that come with living in Britain like it's strong economy and good public services like the NHS. They also value British institutions like the BBC, good education and coveted universities, basic law and order and social rules and the knowledge that social freedoms and human rights will be protected.

Being British also becomes relevant to younger people when they are abroad on holiday as when surrounded by other nationalities it creates a form of "othering" where ones national identity becomes stronger in the face of a culture that is not your own. However, despite all of this, being British doesn't really add anything to the daily narrative or social reality that young people are faced with which is reflected in the negative attitudes younger people express about career prospects and equality of opportunities in British society which poses a number of challenges if Britishness is to resonate with young people.

Theorist: Judith Butler

Judith Butler is a Professor of Comparative Literature and Rhetoric at the University of California. She is a well known theorist who talks about power, gender, sexuality and identity. 


I am going to study the theory concept she has of 'Performativity' and how identities are a performance which includes day to day life, and how identity is a fixed state in which is constantly changing, and flowing. So it's not about who you are its about what you do and how you perform.


For example every day is a performance - you act differently with your parents compared to your best friend: teachers act differently within class compared to what they would at home. So its that sense of not being just one person, but instead being one person who shows different sides of personalities and performs differently all the time depending on the surrounding and the identities around them. 


 The media over the years has constructed a stereotypical image of teenagers through the television we watch, in the newspapers we read, in the music we listen to, these stereotypical images are surrounding us. Relating to Butler's theory on performance, we can see that the majority of teenagers in this modern world are performing in a way they believe is expected of them; they are performing to societies expectations. 

So from this study it makes me think specifically to our case study of the Riots in 2011 and it makes me question is it all just a performance and are they just acting up to the expectations which the public have of British Teenagers? 
In a majority of the newspapers covering the riot stories, they featured shocking images entailing teenagers during the riots and the destruction in which they caused. They looked as if there were acting out scenes from 'Kidulthood'.