Evaluation of Representation of Teenagers in Our Sequence

Overview

• Our piece creates a very mixed representation of teenagers.
• The fact that our film is in the social realism and coming of age genres means the way in which this social group is represented has been affected.
• The teenagers in our piece have both positive and negative aspects which go against some of media’s standard representations (stereotypes), but reinforce others.

 

Representations and Genre

 

• Our genre of film aims at high verisimilitude and relies on convincing the audience of the authenticity of its characters and situations.
• Therefore this meant that the representations we focused on and created in our piece had to be taken from groups of representation that have become so common place that they automatically seem real, whether they actually are or not.
• This coincides with Perkins theory of stereotypes making someone and their situation appear easily recognisable, so the audience therefore believes them. 

Teen Representations

• This is what we focused on when creating the character Ruby. Her story needed to be something that people could identify with, not just through personal experience, but by putting her in a situation that is widely communicatedthe media, many could identify with it. 
• Teen suicide is something that is widely reported on the news and is something that now in the modern day, is continuously talked about and spread through social media. 
• Placing Ruby in a situation that many are aware of due to these factors, meant that without even needing to have the character appear on screen, due to death being informed by a news report, her representation as a troubled teen automatically is believable and seems very ‘real’.

Real Teen Suicide Reported on the News

Report of Ruby's Death

• Portraying Ruby as a supposed victim of teen suicide, works to back up Pickering.
• He says that having repeated stereotypes in media can create negative views of a social group, therefore affecting people’s perceptions of those groups in real life. 
• Shows how coming of age films often add to the debate around stereotyping can be seen as reinforcing this negative view of the teen social group. 
• However, We agree with Dyer that if stereotypes are not negative overall, they do no harm. Our teen representations seem initially negative but in fact are more mixed as the film progresses.

• The fact that she has had a possible overdose shows how Ruby has become involved with drugs etc.
• A negative view is therefore especially emphasised when Ruby is shown as a little girl in juxtaposition with being spoken about on the news, as getting involved with the wrong crowd has ultimately led to her death.  
• Showing the change in someone by looking at their childhood is also demonstrated in 'Stuart a Life Backwards'

Close up of photograph as Ruby a little Girl

Stuart from 'Stuart a life backwads' still as a child

• This kind of possible peer pressure storyline is something that has been written about in TV shows such as Skins, and has too led to the death of characters again representing teenagers negatively.

• This can also be compared to 'This Is England', as the lead becomes involved with the wrong crowd and in doing so alters the path of his life. 
• This kind of thing is suggested to have happened happened to Ruby, and is a negative stereotype for teenagers as it suggest that they have the ability to have their minds warped and are unable to make decisions for themselves without being peer pressured

Boy from 'This Is England' still 'innocent'

The beginnings of him becoming involved with wrong crowd

Being involved with a violent threatening act

• On the other hand, there is also enough positive representation of the character Ruby to ensure that a negative view of teenagers isn’t forced upon the social group. 
• For example in the flash back part of our piece Ruby is seen dressed in an innocent yet bright and colourful way (slightly altered due to weather) and is wearing  the beginnings expressive make up. 
• Suggests that she is beginning to create an individual identity for herself and it is something that appears positive and prosperous. 
• Represents teenagers positively as it shows how when ‘coming of age’, as our genre is, many teens are looking forward to the future and looking to establish themselves as ambitious people, ready for discovery. 
• This is similar to the representation of coming of age teenagers in ‘An Education’ through which the lead character, who is too a young girl goes off to experience new things as she develops her individual personality.

Ruby as a 'prosperous' character

Lead girl from 'An Education' 

• The way in which Ruby is represented even after her death at some points is also a positive representation as through dialogue she is described as an ‘idol’ who’s ‘voice and lyrics spoke to the world’.  
• This shows how those teenagers that take their ambition and turn it in to success can be role models for others and shows teens in a positive light. This can be compared to many bands around today who have come from humble backgrounds and gained success

News Reporter tells of her being an 'Idol'

 

• The film footage that is shows, taken in 1987, only a short time before her death, shows Ruby laughing and enjoying her time in the band showing how unlike some representations, those who commit suicide maybe aren't depressed and unstable all the time

A smiling Ruby

 

• These factors are something that contributes to a more complex representation as our opening sequence does not just portray Ruby as a character who took a disastrous downward turn, but instead demonstrates how she still made something of her life. 
• This shows how our media piece is different, as on the surface it appears we have used stereotypes as short hand like Adorno said but in fact, there seems to be nothing ‘stereotypical’ about Ruby at all.  Coming of age films often overturn stereotypes in this way.

In "The Perks of being as Wallflower", more and more sides revealed to all the characters as the film progresses

• This kind of thing is often present in films and TV shows of our genre as the teens in someway conform to stereotypes but in others do not, as their characters do outlandish and unexpected thing whilst still remaining likable. 
• An example of this is shows like Skins and Misfits. 



Misfits Cast

• ‘Misfits’ is a common culprit for avoiding stereotypes as their characters have very different and non-conformist personalities. 

• The way in which a fan weeps at the death of Ruby can be both interpreted both negatively and positively in regard to teen representations.
• The tears could just be seen as an outward sign of how much Ruby impacted their lives in an inspirational way. 
• However, it could be seen as showing someone, who is unable to control their emotions, a way in which teenagers are especially represented. 

This Twilight fan has become infamous for over-the-top reactions posted on YouTube

• In this case it is a young girl which without realising we have conformed to the sexist stereotype that women are more emotional and the victim of suicide is too a woman.

Crying Girl

• However we balance this out as Jimmy, a male, is seen to be deeply affected too, again showing how our piece does not completely fall in to serotyping our characters and therefore does not represent them in a 'typical' light.