Section B Analysing Representation (TV) A2 Media Studies

David Buckingham “A focus on identity requires us to pay closer attention to the ways in which media and technologies are used in everyday life and their consequences for social groups” Relates ideas of identity to media consumption

Main Concept Ideology and hegemony (MARXISM) Groups in power exercise their influence culturally rather than by force David Gauntlett (2002) “Identities are not ‘given’ but are constructed and negotiated” Links to the idea of STEREOTYPES

Martin Barker (1989) - Stereotypes Rejects the idea of stereotypes Stereotypes mis-represent the real world Stereotypes are condemned for being too close to the real world Stereotyping (like identity) is something of a paradox

Tessa Perkins (1979) - Stereotypes Stereotyping is not a simple process Stereotypes would not work if they were simplified They are fluid and changing

Recap 1.Buckingham relates identity to what...? 2.David Gauntlett says what about identity...? 3.Hegemony can be roughly described as what...? 4.Tessa Perkins says stereotypes are what....? 5.Martin Barker says what about stereotypes...?

Grange Hill Early example of youth television First broadcast 8 th Feb 1978 Controversial, gritty portrayal of school life Students throwing benches into a swimming pool prompted a number of complaints Use the pilot as a historical example in your essay

Grange Hill – Issues Highest profile period was mid-late 1980s Zammo McGuire – heroin addiction Accompanied by ‘Just say No’ campaign Future series dealt with: Knife crime (1998) Rape (2001) Attempted suicide (2005) Last episode shown in elevision.bbc elevision.bbc

BBC – No kids TV on BBC One arts arts Highlights pluralism within television Diversity of views and representations Specialist channels (CBBC) cater to a youth audience

John Ellis (2000) Development of TV Era of Scarcity (few channels) up to 1970s Era of Availability (more choice, VCR) 80s and early 90s Era of Plenty (satellite, cable, on demand) 90s onwards Age of uncertainty as television redefines itself Biggest audiences are 10m out of a possible 24m Threats posed by YouTube and VOD Television appears slow to respond to social change compared with film

Misfits “We're young. We’re supposed to drink too much. We're supposed to have bad attitudes and shag each other's brains out. We were designed to party. We owe it to ourselves to party hard. We owe it to each other. This is it. This is our time. So a few of us will overdose, or go mental. Charles Darwin said you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. That's what it's about - breaking eggs - by eggs, I mean, getting twatted on a cocktail of class As.”

Misfits Complicates the idea of stereotypes Good example of Barker’s views of stereotypes Highlights the absence of youth voices in contemporary media Challenges some traditional associations with the demonisation of youth (Cohen – Moral panics) Broadcast on a niche channel – era of plenty Provides an interesting counterpoint to the morally justified PSB content of BBC

Your Turn Choose two contemporary television programmes that focus on youth Choose two scenes from each that you feel reflect their relevance Analyse these scenes using technical language What do your programmes tell us about youth? How does this compare with representations in the news and your own impression of youth?

Helpful Resources You will find some great examples and some good info on theorists that you may want to integrate within your work Complete this task by Friday