Representation of Youth

The word Teenager has been established since WW2 It has aquired many negative conotations over the years.
Conotations include:

• Troubled 
• Rebelious
• Searching
• Unsatisfied 
• Un-greatful
• Agressive 

DR Gardeners view on how the media only focuses on stories relevent to Western and current interest can be applied to the representation of the youth in a number of ways. Due to cases of certain members of the youth causing problems in the country the media has played upon these events and extended the repesentation to try an establish a hegemony. This has been done in order to keep people interested in current affairs as they feel threatened by this representation and want to know more. The use of the fear factor keeps society hooked on repetative news stories which keep re-enforcing the same representation.

Letter to Daily Mail

The article shown on the Daily Mail website is flawed in a number of ways. The use of an expert from a relevant field does increase the credibility of the article however his experience within this field has shifted his level of bias in line with the ideology of the Daily Mail. To add to this, the paper itself has the vested interest to satisfy a notoriously right wing readership. Therefore the representation, and Dr Daniels’s intentions to create a hegemonic ideological stance towards youth culture, cannot be taken seriously. The perception of British youths from institutions and experts like this has become warped. Without the ability to see the events in the London riots unfold seriously undermines this argument. The representation on youth culture within the media has therefore become rather negative. Youth culture doesn’t have the ability to create a strong opposition and representation within the media and can therefore be targeted easily. However the concept of creating a negative representation of a social group that can’t fight back, to an already right wing audience, is a good way to make a profit. Without this element our capitalist society would not be able to function efficiently. Keep up the good work, Eric

Example of subculture: Rah's

Well connected and well schooled, Rahs may have a penchant for heritage brands and society events – but stereotypes may drive their identity more than reality… 25,000 people liked the Facebook group ‘Jack Wills brings all the Rahs to the yard, and they’re like put it on daddy’s card’ – highlighting the two core markers of Rahs, their wealth and love of Jack Wills. Defended and critiqued in equal measure, Rahs are up with the Hipsters and Chavs as one of the most talked about Tribes in the UK. Rather than anti-social behaviour or being try-hard, Rahs take a bullet for their wealth more now more than ever before. Defined by a solid private education, a ‘proper’ accent, exclusive social life and love of specific designer brands, Rahs are ridiculed for bringing the boarding school look to the mainstream (think pyjamas, all year round flip flops and messy hair). Made In Chelsea has made the Rahs an easy Tribe to dislike – their lux lifestyle is epitomised by enviable sun kissed skin, jet-setting and very expensive hangovers! While a minority may live life like Millie Macintosh, the reality is most Rahs are kids from the Home Counties whose parents may have a boat/summer house – not a multi-million pound empire. The real Rah lifestyle is aspirational but not half as unusual – it’s about pub lunches in the country, rugby and skiing, drinking games, chart music and cheesy pop, gap yahs and chilling out in Ugg boots and Jack Wills tracksuit bottoms. Rahs may stick with their tight-knit friends throughout uni and flash some cash on the heritage brands they love, but their wealth doesn’t make them innately elitist – they are in fact more likely to get a knocking from other Tribes than be ‘haters’ themselves.

Collective Identity

The presentation of a group through physical appearance and the way people act., constructed through personal and external influences.