Representation of Young People

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders; they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. The riot in the streets, inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" - Plato:4th Century

Shows that representations haven't changed at all.


Stereotypes are social constructs:
- They originate in and reflect the power relations in society because they are part of a cultures ideology
- They marginalise people, treating them as the "other"
- They categorise people into groups, whose member supposedly share inevitable characteristics, most typically, negative ones

Characteristics of stereotypes:
- They are inflexible or rigid. thus not easily corrected
- They are simplistic
- Can be conscious or unconscious

Hegemony in News Representation of Youth/teens
- Media industry operate within a structure that produces and reinforces the dominant ideology via a consensual 'world veiw'
- This world view is produced predominantly by white middle class, middle ages, heterosexual men.
- It is their ideas and values that infiltrate media texts and ensure that other voices do not get heard.

Properganda:
- Properganda is a form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position.

What words describe youth and youth culture in today's media?
- Yobs
- Scum
- Terrorifying
- Disrespectful
- Attitude
- Losers
- Chavs
- ASBO
- Dirt
- Rude
- Violent
- Hoodies
- Confrontational
- Aggressive
- Theives

Old people:
- Grumpy
- IGNORANT
- Sweet (SOME OF THEM)
- Friendly
- Talk a lot
- Uncompromising

- 45% of teens help