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.