Thursday, 16 February 2012

Representation of Age - Skins

The following headlines appeared over the last year in a popular newspaper:

  • Gang loyalty has replaced family ties for 'almost feral' youths, claims female chief constable
  • People SHOULD confront youths who misbehave despite fear of knife crime, says police chief
  • Youths who kicked father to death in drink-fuelled attack given leave to appeal
  • Home Secretary admits majority of 13-year-olds drink as she threatens £1,000 fine for parents of binge-drinking children
  • Police chief calls for late pubs to 'pay for detox' as teens 'drink themselves into oblivion'
  • More underage girls - some as young as 12 - are having abortions
  • School improves exam results after introducing 8-minute lessons for all GCSE subjects
How do these headlines represent young people and their lifestyle?

This is a promotional picture for Skins:



How does it use visual language to represent the characters?
  
Task

How does this impression develop during an extract from the show?

You should think about:

  • Who we are encouraged to empathise with (and how)
  • Who we are encouraged to admire or dislike (and how)
  • How sound and mise-en-scene create an impression of fashion and style
  • The behaviour that is rewarded and / or punished