Introduction- Define what collective identity is or mediation depending on the question. Also talk about the social group (Youth) and how the media impact this representation.
What is collective identity?
Collective Identity refers to the sense of belonging in a group, The identity of the group becomes a part of someones individual identity for example from participating in social activities.
What is mediation?
Mediation is the process in which every indivudal shot goes through to meet the final cut for example film. The three stages that shots go through to be mediated are selection, organisation and focus. Expand from these three stages using a brief example (London riots).
Paragraph 1- Begin with the examples from (Historical) and (Contemporary) explaining the way they are represented use examples from the films. Link these representations with the theorist Giroux - he argues that youth is an 'Empty category' this is because its the middle class adults who create the representation not youths therefore the creation made is from their perspective not the youths perspective. This is evidence through the examples written above for both historical and contemporary. The idea of the creation of an empty category reflects the anxieties and concerns of adults of youths.
Paragraph 2- Dominant ideology- the representations of youths being in a gang is a dominant ideology in all the sources I have looked at. This statement was said by the theorist Tajfel and Turner and this is known as the social identity theory. They suggested that social identity was established through categorisation from representing their social group through music and fashion. This is shown in: This is England, Ill manors, Qdadraphenia, London riots and Young apprentice. This is to create a sense of belonging linking back to definition of (collective identity).
This is England- Ben Sherman shirts and Doc Martins, Qdadraphenia- Rockers- leather jackets and motor bikes, Mods- Parker coats and the scooters, Ill manors and London riots- Hoodies and tracksuits, Young apprentice- Formal uniform.
Expand on this and say that this theory can lead to conflict- for example the Mods and the rockers.
Paragraph 3- The theorist Cohen (1972) studied the media response the mods and rockers. This example was used to show the moral panic that this representation of youths created. Explain all the representations in all the sources were sensationalised so much to make adults panic.
Paragraph 4- The stereotype of youths wearing 'Hoodies' and this causes society to be intimated making this a representation for youths. Explain how the London riots shows this negative representation and how the news report has been mediated. For example the shot from the police officers point of view was selected to put more impact on the representation of youths being out of control and makes them look disrespectful to higher status adults. Also the focus on the appearance of the youths in the interview where the producers directed them to cover their faces with hoodies and scarfs as the didn't want to be recognised. This enhanced the intimidating representation that the media have already portrayed.
Paragraph 5- Expanding on the point of youths being represented as the overpowering figures. This is reinforced by the theorist Gramsci. Gramsci developed the concept of cultural hegemony. The dominant group (middle aged men) are the ones who include their view point and embed it in the media.
This is shown in the News report London riots as the camera angles were shown to see the police officers trying to protect themselves from the crime showing this as 'Normal' and the youths from the perspective of attacking violently showing this as unacceptable to society.
Gramsic see's cultural hegemony as a struggle of debating whats not acceptable.
Paragraph 6- However in the contemporary documentary 'Young apprentice' it challenges the representation of youths being 'thugs' as they represent youths to be: intelligent, ambitious and polite. When they say 'yes Lord Sugar' and 'Good morning Lord Sugar' showing politeness features. Also the televised shots having titles for each youth exaggerating the experience they have to exgerrate their intelligence. However because the majority of the representations are negative this representation of youths gets dismissed.
Paragraph 7- Self representation - On the other hand, Chandler the music video exposing youth to succide and drugs. Representatating youths to be associated with this. Other youths were creating a parody representing it by sharing it on web 2.0 allowing this to be uploaded to youtube feeling part of something reinforcing the Jenkins theory of paticipartical. As well as the theorist Giddens who said that mediated experiences make them reflect their own self narrative in relation to others. This is shown as a lot of youths had re created the dance in this video to gain a sense of belonging in their experience. Self representation was used in the selfie where the youth female took a selfie smiling in front of the German Concentration camp. She represented herself smiling without taking into account that this photograph could be seen as disrespectful. However this selfie could be represented as youths being interested in the history and by the youth visiting shows her interest in it.
Conclusion - As a youth myself the experiences I have been through to an extent reflect the way media portray us and the identity I have formed is through having a sense of belonging in a friendship group. From all the analyse I have done I have learnt how important representation is and how sensationalised it is which affects the audience as they will react differently to youths because of the negative represents
they have been given especially.
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