BBC Coverwork

What representations of young people can be found in E20?

There are many representations within the E20 clip that allow the younger audiences to self-identify with the characters (good or bad). The Bbc have reinforced traditional stereotypes within the E20, such as Donnie. Donnie’s character is a stereotypical Black Youth (Frantz Fernon) within todays society, He is represented as dressing in a hoodie and pants, colloquial slang as well as being connoted as being quite intimidating because of his facial expressions and stern direct mode of address faced at other characters. However, In a society where there are more of a majority of white then black, could then further connote that he is trying to put on his white mask. During the disruption of the narrative (Todorov- narrative equilibrium), BBC shoot a scene where Donnie is represented as having a knife in his hand and blood on his face. This could then distinctively reinforce the media stereotypes of black people being ‘decilized’ (Fanon), whilst also being Dangerous (Alvarado). However, his despair of what has happened and the way he tries to protect his friends, subverts the idea of youths being represented as selfish and irresponsible and conveyed more as a role model for young people. Its as if the Bbc are trying to represent the idea that youths do make mistake but that they still have a chance to change. Whilst, an oppositional reading could suggest that by his two very different personas being represented within the short clip (his ‘bad boy’ image vs. responsible young man) connotes that not all black youths are stereotypically going to harm or hurt anyone.

Other representations consist of Ava and her sister who are stereotyped as living in quite a bit of poverty and have had a hard start in life. Audiences will be able to self-identify with this, especially the lone-parent families or families on benefits. The differentiation between class (bourgeoise- lower class) allow both audiences to either appreciate what they are given or identify there own hard start in life. Bbc also represent the idea of family. These characters don’t have all the materialistic luxuaries that most kids desire, but theirs a sense of a moral bond, of looking out for one another. This then could subvert to the idea of negative representations of young people because of the loyalty, teamwork and love in between the strong friendships of todays youth.

Why might producers and audiences be more interested in negative stereotypes of young people?

• Negative representations could be used within BBC public broadcaster to reinforcing how the media and older generation are representing the youth. It allows the audiences to create a certain trust in the media, as if the media is honestly showing how truth of how youths are being represented.
• Injecting (hypodermic model – effects theory) the audience with negative representations of the youth. Allowing the audiences to believe theirs a certain truth to their fears of young people today.
• To give the audience a sense of explanation of the recent events that have caused chaos in todays society. The idea that blaming them, distangles the older generation from talking any responsibility for what has occurred in the past, whilst making the audience believe that justice has been done to humiliate and uncover the real notorious youths of today.
• Pure entertainment- Audiences are entertained about debatable issues that can be proven to be either right or wrong. Institutions use this to their own advantage by balancing stereotypes to what could entertain the audience. It would attract more audiences if the younger characters were murdering, then taking part in charity events. By reinforcing the representations of youths that have been conveyed by the media, allows them to use this to make money and create publicity.

What other examples of representations of young people can you find from British Television. Can you think of any positive or unexpected representations of young people?

Eastenders- Lucy vs. Lauren

Although most of the younger characters are represented as high school drop-outs, there’s a sense of repition within the characters flaws. Examples of this are Whitney and Lauren, both dropped out of school, Whitney fell in love with her mums boyfriend and then ran away and became a prostitute. Whilst, Lauren ran over her dad and let her mum take the blame for it and waste her life away with alcohol, eventhough she has the ability to make something with her life by her talent of drawing. Although this reinforces a stereotype of typically ‘white chavvy youths’, it also conveys the sheer vulnerability of their characters, subverting to the idea that they are stereotpyicaly loud-mouthed and ‘decilized’. This could then allow audiences to self-identify with their characters, whilst representing to the audiences that there not as irresponsible and useless as they appear to be, but vulnerable teenagers with a low self asteem. However, this representation can then be subverted by the use of Lucy’s character, as although she is a dropout, she ran two businesses and took care of her little brother whilst their father abandoned them. On a level, this represents her with a sense of maturity and responsibility of having to deal with that at such a young age, further subverting the negative stereotypes of youths today.

Some girls is also a Bbc series based on four teenage girls that have been brought up on estates and have been represented as less privileged as other teenagers. However, although the show breaches on some quite serious topics (e.g. teenage pregnacies, underage sex and std’s), the institutions seem to be represented as making a mockery out of it. This can be reinforced by the way all four girls are seemed to be represented as airheaded, pathetic, sex driven and immoral. Whilst an oppositional reading could also connote that female teenagers will be able to self-identify with them, relating to themselves and other people they know.

Young apprentice is one of the series that can be connoted as conveying a good representation of young people, due to the young, work driven individuals who strive on their thirst for knowledge and making something of their lives. These individuals can inject the idea that these intellectual young people hold the key to the future, allowing the audiences demographic to hold on to a sense of hope for our younger generation.