Exam question response

How does contemporary representation compare to different time periods?

The different time periods we will be looking at are Corronation Street in the 1970s and Gavin and Stacey set in the mordern day.

David Gauntlett who's theory is identity as an abstract concept believes that people don't need to use the media to find their identity and that identity is constantly changing.

Even in contemporary representations identity is shown as individual as David Gauntlett suggests, this is shown through different characters. For example in Gavin and Stacey there are a variety of female characters all portrayed differently, however with some stereotypical features such as Stacey's naivety although her willingness to have sex in the same room as her friend contradicts this, whereas when she is at home she shows a more innocent side when talking to her mum as opposed to drinking and smoking with friends. As David Gauntlett says 'your identity is in a constant state of flux' this is true of Stacey as her identity changes depending on the situation she is in and the people she is with. This is also the case with Judith's Butler theory that identity is a performance, it could be argued that Stacey is performing her identity when she is around different people, acting what person she would like to be at the certain moment in time.

This is also similar in Corronation Street as even though it was set in the 1970's the characteristics shown by Audrey are the same of those shown by Stacey, as when she is at home she acts look a good traditional house wife, by cooking and cleaning and looking after her husband but we soon see her identity change when she meets up with the character that she is having an affair with as she lets her inhibitions go and doesn't care who sees what's happening between them. 

However there are differences in the time periods for example in corronation street we see a typical traditional family with a wife and husband preparing for their children's birthday party, whereas in Gavin and Stacey, Gwyn is a single parent which is much more common in this generation then it was thirty or  forty years ago and is seen as a regular and normal thing.

Winnie the Pooh

To what extent is identity increasingly mediated?

According to Judith Butler identity is a constantly free flowing state. 20 years ago media was a less developed form of entertainment and had only just started to become a part of peoples lives.
Young people are exposed to media representations of identity, arguably far more than their predecessors and as media is a constantly ever-flowing ever-changing form, the identities they project onto a young audience reflect new fashions, trends, and styles. It is therefore argued, that these representations have a direct impact upon a young person, as they may feel that they would like to be involved and may feel the necessity to adapt their identity and character to these media stereotypes to conform to social expectations. Young audiences generally aged around 14 and under are more perceptive to new cultural ideas as they are still developing a sense of their environment around them, helping to shape their own personal identity. As the role models, music and television these young audiences are exposed to have a direct impact on the shaping of their identity, it is possible to see a direct correlation between music and an individuals fashion and social group dynamic.

How does the contemporary media represent nations, collective groups of people in different ways

Contemporary media represents Britishness and youth through the means of TV and film. There are different tv and film productions that represent Britishness and youth in different ways. Examples of these are Gavin and Stacey, Misfits and Fishtank.
Gavin and Stacey is a romantic sitcom based in Barry Islands and Essex, it tells the story of two people from different regions coming together and starting a life. The viewer gets to meet two different people from contrasting backgrounds and the different ways they live in which the viewer then gets to see the different ways that youth can be represented. This representation is a realistic interpretation of youth and britishness.
Using Louis Althusser and his interpellation theory, when Smithy enters the room he adapts to the scenario and this creates an identity for him. He walks into Gavin's house and gets offered three streaks in which he doesn't hesitate to accept, he has a range of options to choose from and the default option would be to politely object to the offer but he goes against this in an antagonistic way and his adaption to the scenario in this scene represents a typical lad which makes his personality seem greedy and assertive.
A contrasting representation of youth compared to Smithy is the character of Gavin. At first the viewer is introduced to a typical essex boy, this is highlighted through the mise en scene of his clothes and car the viewer gets a real image of the type of person Gavin is. It is later revealed that Gavin isnt a typical lad, like Smithy, when they all leave after the one night date. The default option would be to go back home and leave the situation as a one night thing. However, Gavin drives all the way to Wales to greet Stacey when she gets off the bus. This says alot about Gavin's character as it shows him to be unlike male stereotypes.
In Misfits the representations of youth are true but over exaggerated, for example their all criminals and their powers over exaggerate their teen characteristics, its stereotypes adults worry's and views on youth. An example is Alisha, who is provocative anyway and then develops the power to turn people on. The women in misfits are represented uniquely, Alisha is shown as quite a sexual item whereas Kelly is more masculine and aggressive. The men are all different as well, Curtis is the most normal, Nathan is a bit of a joker and Simon keeps himself to himself and is quite strange.
Fish tank is a contemporary representation of a young girl living in Essex, living with the struggles of family life and growing up. Youth is presented by focusing on adults anxieties about youth losing their innocence. For example, Mia and her sister grow up in a house where the females are highly sexualised and in an environment that is unsuitable for girls their age. They both

What are the social implications of different representations of groups of people?

The stereotypical representation of a group of young people through any form of media is loud, rebellious, thuggish... etc. This is very apparent in the television series "misfits" this series follows a group of teenagers after they have been caught after committing crimes and as their punishment given hours of community service.

There is strong sense of isolation with the characters in Misfits within British society. Initially we come across them in orange jump suits which make them appear like outcasts. This would give foreign peers a bad impression of how the delinquents behave while in community service.
Despite how most settlers in Britain are used to this kind of insecurity. The minority of new comers would find this social situation unfamiliar to their own culture. An example from "Fish Tank" where Mia assaults a group of girls in the middle of a public playground. Regardless of the calm suburb environment, the British people represented in this area are seen as socially dysfunctional and violent.

The representation of Youth is shown a lot of prejudice especially when it comes to the media. Hugely blown out of proportion news stories about youths cover the TV and papers and the fact that the crimes are committed by youths is always made clear. This then gives anyone that don't talk to or ever come into contact with youths will get all their views from this minority. This will then lead to very negative social implications, for example, fewer opportunities for young people to get jobs as they are seen as lazy and cannot be trusted.

Julian Jarrold

Julian Edward Peter Jarrold

Descended from the founders of Jarrold Department Store, which has been in business since 1770. His father is president of the John Jarrold Printing Museum.Filmography as director

• Red Riding '1974' (2009 - TV Episode)
• Brideshead Revisited (2008)
• Becoming Jane (2007)
• Kinky Boots (2005)
• Anonymous Rex (2004)
• The Canterbury Tales: The Man of Law's Tale (2003)
• White Teeth (2002)
• Crime and Punishment (2002)
• Never Never (2000)
• All the King's Men (1999)
• Great Expectations (1999)
• Painted Lady (1997)
• Touching Evil: Deadly Web, TV Episode
• Touching Evil: Through the Clouds, TV Episode
• Silent Witness (1996) TV Series (episodes)
• Some Kind of Life (1995)
• Cracker: The Big Crunch (1994)
• TV EpisodeMedics: All in the Mind (1994)
• TV EpisodeMedics: Changing Faces (1994)
• TV EpisodeFighting for Gemma (1993)
• Children's Ward, TV Series (1990-)
• Dramarama (1983)TV Series (episodes)

Julian Jarrold

Who is he?

Julian Edward Peter Jarrold, born 15 May 1960 in Norwich, is a BAFTA Award-nominated English film and television director.

He is a member of the family which founded Jarrolds of Norwich in 1823 and was educated in Norfolk at Gresham's School, Holt.^[1] He now lives in North London.

What other films/tv has he directed?

• Red Riding '1974' (2009 - TV Episode)
• Brideshead Revisited (2008)
• Becoming Jane (2007)
• Kinky Boots (2005)
• Anonymous Rex (2004)
• The Canterbury Tales: The Man of Law's Tale (2003)
• White Teeth (2002)
• Crime and Punishment (2002)
• Never Never (2000)
• All the King's Men (1999)
• Great Expectations (1999)
• Painted Lady (1997)
• Touching Evil: Deadly Web, TV Episode
• Touching Evil: Through the Clouds, TV Episode
• Silent Witness (1996) TV Series (episodes)
• Some Kind of Life (1995)
• Cracker: The Big Crunch (1994) TV Episode
• Medics: All in the Mind (1994) TV Episode
• Medics: Changing Faces (1994) TV Episode
• Fighting for Gemma (1993)
• Children's Ward, TV Series (1990-)
• Dramarama (1983) TV Series (episodes)