Giroux (1997) argues that in media representations youth becomes ab 'empty category'. This is because media representations of young people are constructed by adults. Because of this they reflect adults concerns, anxieties and needs. As a result of this media representations of young people do not necessarily reflect the reality of youth identity. when applying Giroux to media texts you need to think about who constructed the representation, who it is aimed at, and does the representation reflect adult anxieties or serve the purposes of adult society (e.g. by reinforcing hegemonic values)
Acland (1995) argue that media representations of delinquent youths actually reinforce hegemony. they do this by constructing an idea of 'normal' adult and youth behaviour, and contrasting it with deviant youth behaviour which is shown to be unacceptable.
Acland also claims that media representations of young people out of control allows that state to have more control of them (e.g. media reports about delinquent youths led to ASBO's). This is something Acland calls the 'ideology of protection' - the idea that young people need constant surveillance and monitoring. This happens because youth is the time when young people learn about social roles and values, and allows the state to make sure they conform to hegemonic values
Hebdige (1979) studied British youth subcultures in the late 1970s. His work is more focused on the reality of youth culture, than Giroux or Acland who are concerned with media representations of youth. Hebdige argues that youth subcultures are a way for young people to express their opposition to society, and to challenge hegemony. This is primarily expressed through style. In this context you may consider how the working class youths' behaviour is a response to their position in society (e.g. the class envy of the characters in 'Eden Lake' who steal the signifiers of middle class wealth such ass the 4x4 and the Ray Bans).
Hebdige also argues that representations of young eople are quite limited showing them as either fun or trouble. Again this suggests media representations of young people do not really relate to reality.
Gramsci developed the concept of cultural hegemony. This is the idea that one social class (usually the middle class) is able to dominate a society by making their way of life and values appear normal, natural, and common sense. As a result other social classes accept these values as the normal way of life. Gramsci does see hegemony as a site of constant struggle - societies are constantly debating what is and isn't acceptable. You could relate this to the more positive representations of working class youth in 'Fish Tank' and 'Misfits' as representations which challenge the perception of working class as thugs.
Cohen (1972) studied the media response to the mods and rockers riots in the 1960s. He argued that from time to time 'folk devils' emerge in a society which reflect the anxieties of society at the time (e.g. mods and rockers reflect social anxiety about the emergence of youth culture, rock and roll, etc) A moral panic occurs when the media reports on these 'folk devils' in a sensationalised way which leads to intervention by politicians, and the police. The effect of a moral panic is to reassert hegemony by allowing a society to make clear what values it does not accept. The representation of working class youths suggest that they have become a contemporary 'folk devil', perhaps tapping into economic anxieties, concern about a benefits culture, and long term unemployment.
Althusser argues that one of the ways in which the state maintains control is through ideological state apparatus. This includes the media, education, religion, family. Ideological state apparatus are a range of different groups who transmit dominant ideology to the people, again maintaining hegemony. You could consider the extent to which the media representations we have looked at are reinforcing dominant values.
Gerbner (1986) studied the effect of television on people's perception of crime. He found that people who watched a lot of television tended to overestimate the levels of crime. He called this 'mean world syndrome'. Because news reports, TV dramas, films, contain lots of representations of crime over time this influenced people's perception of the world. This is called 'cultivation theory'. you could apply this to media representations of young people. The large numbers of representations of young people as delinquents could, over time, influence how they are perceived by society.
Greg Philo - argues that contemporary 'hoodie cinema' reflects middle class anxiety about the threat to their dominance posed by the working class.
Hebdige also argues that representations of young eople are quite limited showing them as either fun or trouble. Again this suggests media representations of young people do not really relate to reality.
Gramsci developed the concept of cultural hegemony. This is the idea that one social class (usually the middle class) is able to dominate a society by making their way of life and values appear normal, natural, and common sense. As a result other social classes accept these values as the normal way of life. Gramsci does see hegemony as a site of constant struggle - societies are constantly debating what is and isn't acceptable. You could relate this to the more positive representations of working class youth in 'Fish Tank' and 'Misfits' as representations which challenge the perception of working class as thugs.
Cohen (1972) studied the media response to the mods and rockers riots in the 1960s. He argued that from time to time 'folk devils' emerge in a society which reflect the anxieties of society at the time (e.g. mods and rockers reflect social anxiety about the emergence of youth culture, rock and roll, etc) A moral panic occurs when the media reports on these 'folk devils' in a sensationalised way which leads to intervention by politicians, and the police. The effect of a moral panic is to reassert hegemony by allowing a society to make clear what values it does not accept. The representation of working class youths suggest that they have become a contemporary 'folk devil', perhaps tapping into economic anxieties, concern about a benefits culture, and long term unemployment.
Althusser argues that one of the ways in which the state maintains control is through ideological state apparatus. This includes the media, education, religion, family. Ideological state apparatus are a range of different groups who transmit dominant ideology to the people, again maintaining hegemony. You could consider the extent to which the media representations we have looked at are reinforcing dominant values.
Gerbner (1986) studied the effect of television on people's perception of crime. He found that people who watched a lot of television tended to overestimate the levels of crime. He called this 'mean world syndrome'. Because news reports, TV dramas, films, contain lots of representations of crime over time this influenced people's perception of the world. This is called 'cultivation theory'. you could apply this to media representations of young people. The large numbers of representations of young people as delinquents could, over time, influence how they are perceived by society.
Greg Philo - argues that contemporary 'hoodie cinema' reflects middle class anxiety about the threat to their dominance posed by the working class.
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