Age Representation Theory

Representation Theories

Youth

Stanley Hall-1904-

 “Adolescence is inherently a time of storm & stress when all young people go through some degree of emotional and behavioural upheaval, before establishing a more stable equilibrium at adulthood."

Hall also argued that:

1. The common mood of teenagers is a state of depression.

2. Criminal activity increases between the ages of 12 & 24.

3. Young people are extreme and need excitement; “Youth must have excitement and if this is not at hand in the form of moral intellectual enthusiasms it is more prone to be sought in; sex, drink or drugs.”

Osgerby-1998-

“The portrayal of youth is not entirely pessimistic,” he argues that “Mixed metaphors” appear when analysing the representation of youth.

He claims; “Dual stereotyping of youth,” creates these mixed metaphors that Dick Hebdige (1988) termed; “Youth as fun,” and “Youth as trouble maker.”

How is age represented in this extract?

Stanley Hall said, in 1904, that ‘all young people go through some degree of emotional and behavioural upheaval,’ saying they are all rebellious and have the common mood of depression. The media language found in this extract supports Hall’s theory in many ways, however, it also disrupts this idea and shows more of arguments relating to mixed metaphors saying ‘Youth as trouble and youth as fun’ which Hedbridge said in 1988 and Osgerby said in 1998.

This extract begins with a montage of fast moving, interesting images in short clips. These quickly show the modern urban setting as well as showing the characters. The entire montage uses a sound bridge, of upbeat non-diegetic music, which links the images together. This music is used as a mixed metaphor as it is upbeat in contrast to the shots of characters being rebellious and causing trouble as opposed to the sound which makes it seem ‘fun’. This connotes the extract links in with the theories of Hedbridge and Osgerby and their ideas of youth being a mixed metaphor.

In terms of the images, there are multiple shots, which show the viewer a lot about youth representation. The shots within the montage show close ups of youth smoking, kissing and wearing more rebellious clothing. These shots support Hall’s theory being rebellious and being more obsessed with things like sex and drugs. These costumes, which are revealing, shows that these girls are rebellious, but it also shows these youth having fun on things like a trampoline shows mixed metaphors supporting the theories of Hedbridge and Osgerby.

After this opening montage the next shot shows an extreme close up, which is a birds eyes view, revealing the main character. This shot zooms out to a high angle, medium shot of the character lying in bed, under covers that show a naked man and woman. This again links in with Hall’s theory of youth’s obsession of sex. This high angle also connotes that the audience should look down on the character, possibly judging him, possibly due to the covers.