To assess how effectively age is represented in the media Age Representation To assess how effectively age is represented in the media

Where do the following activities and behaviours belong? Active  Antiques Roadshow  BBC News  Dependent  Despicable Me  Dora the Explorer  Freedom  Gullible  Image is important  Independent  Knitting  Listening to Radio  Moody  Playing video games/apps  Reading books  Responsible  Self-centered  Slow  Twilight  Unable to use technology Children Teenagers Adults The Elderly 1 2 3 4 5 G+T – are these attitudes specific to Western societies? Were there any activities or behaviours that applied across a number of age groups? Why do you think this is?

Can also include… Children Teenagers Adults The Elderly 1 Dependent Moody Independent Knitting 2 Active Self-centred Responsible Slow 3 Gullible Twilight Freedom Unable to use technology 4 Dora the Explorer Image is important BBC News Antiques Roadshow 5 Despicable Me Playing video games/apps Reading books Listening to the radio Can also include… * Encourage the idea that some behaviours/activities will be applicable to a number of age groups. It is difficult to pigeonhole one behaviour/activity to one age group

What do these images tell about society’s expectations of children and adults? G+T students can explore ideas about Western culture

Industrialisation The concept of children is a recent phenomenon. Children from poor families would be expected to work and contribute to the family’s income. Hence a couple would have a large number of children. Industrialisation which took place in Great Britain during mid-18th to the 19th century changed societies from an agricultural one to an industrial one. Children were used to work in factories, mines and as chimney sweeps Trappers as young as four years old sat all day in the dark, opening the doors for the coal trucks to pass through. Young putters pushed tubs and children as young as six carried coal Wages were so low that there were stories of pregnant women giving birth down the pit one day and being back at work the next. Accidents such as roof falls, explosions, shaft accidents and drowning were frequent. For further information use http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/shp/britishsociety/livingworkingconditionsrev1.shtml

Working Conditions Long working hours: normal shifts were usually 12-14 hours a day, with extra time required during busy periods. Low wages: a typical wage for male workers was about 15 shillings (75p) a week, women earned seven shillings (35p) and children three shillings (15p). For this reason, employers preferred to employ women and children. Cruel discipline: there was frequent "strapping" (hitting with a leather strap). Other punishments included hanging iron weights around children's necks, hanging them from the roof in baskets, nailing children's ears to the table, and dowsing them in water butts to keep them awake. Fierce systems of fines: these were imposed for talking or whistling, leaving the room without permission, or having a little dirt on a machine. Accidents: forcing children to crawl into dangerous, unguarded machinery led to many accidents. Up to 40 per cent of accident cases at Manchester Infirmary in 1833 were factory accidents. Health: cotton thread had to be spun in damp, warm conditions. Going straight out into the cold night air led to many cases of pneumonia. The air was full of dust, which led to chest and lung diseases and loud noise made by machines damaged workers' hearing. Parish apprentices: orphans from workhouses in southern England were "apprenticed" to factory owners, supposedly to learn the textiles trade. They worked 12-hour shifts, and slept in barracks attached to the factory in beds just vacated by children about to start the next shift. A child crawls on his hands and knees under a moving machine, sweeping up cotton. A child sweeps inside a moving machine in a cotton mill

Children at Work List 5 forms of punishment used by factory workers What percentage of accidents were factory related? What kind of accidents could occur in the factory? Why did factory owners favour child labourers? What health issues did child labourers face? What were the working hours for every worker? In a paragraph, summarise what life was like for ‘children’ during industrialisation

Concept of Children During industrialisation, people noticed that children were not being treated well and in many cases were not receiving an education. Reformers were people who tried to change the way children were treated. 1830’s - reformers were encouraged by the descriptions of London street life in Charles Dickens’ work and attacked child labour. 19th century - reforms made education compulsory for children. As a result, children were seen as a new target market with products aimed at them. Therefore, modern ideas of childhood were brought on by literature aimed at children – for example, 1865’s Alice in Wonderland. At this time, there was an emergence of dolls as presents which created an image of childhood as only of happiness. This concept continues today.

How are children presented in the trailer? Children in the Media How are children presented in the trailer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4qLXp2kX3k

The Elderly In comparison, the concept of the elderly is beginning to change. After World War II, there was a sharp rise in the number of births. People born between 1946-64 are known as Baby Boomers. They are now an important part of the economy with a lot of disposable income. There are an increasing number of products aimed at this age group.

The Elderly in the Media How are the elderly presented in this clip? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47T0HORY9gs

Do you agree? We live in a youth obsessed-media that insists on worshipping beauty (associated with youth) and devaluing wisdom and experience (associated with age).

Carrie Fisher, 1980 – Age 24 Carrie Fisher, 2015 – Age 59 http://www.upworthy.com/carrie-fisher-takes-down-body-shamers-in-just-2-tweets “Please stop debating about whether or not I aged well. Unfortunately, it hurts all three of my feelings. My body hasn’t aged as well as I have. Blow us.” “Youth and beauty are not accomplishments, they’re the temporary happy by-products of time and/or DNA.”