A negative
representation is better than no representation at all. Discuss this statement
with reference to the group or place you have studied
A representation provides
a model of how we see social groups, genders, individuals and aspects of the
world we all inhabit. They are ideological in that they are constructed within
a framework of values and beliefs. Representations are therefore mediated and
reflect the value systems of their sources; no representation is never real
only a version of the real. However when it comes to the case study we have being
study which is young people’s representation within the media. No representation
looks better than a negative representation. As for example after the riots the
young people have had huge negative representation which not only changed their
image within the media but also changed their image within the audience, hence
creating a moral panic. As how within print, moving image and e-media there has
been huge debates over the representation of young people within the riots and
how the media represented them as for example news reports within the BBC
showed images of young people breaking shops, being violent and just mindless
people which injected (hypodermic needle) this negative image of young people
as how with all the young people wearing hoodies they made a huge generalized image of
them and stripped all other identities that could be associated with a person
for example background class etc. Which goes back to the point that no representation
is better as then each young person from different classes, background’s etc.
can build and define their own image/representation and not having audiences
and the media reflecting a generalized image of the generation.
Within print media
the representation of young people during the riots, was hugely negative. As
within the articles they had similar images, where we either saw the young
people having their face covered with hoodies stripping them of their identity.
For example within the guardian article “trouble in the hood” where all the
images had young people with hoodies making them all look the same, which
resulted in the moral panic of how people in society had this fear of people
wearing hoodies and had this generalised image of all young people being
violent. Furthermore the play of words in which “trouble in the hood” not all
made reference to hoodies but also gave this idea of these people being working
class as the term “hood” is often used by working class youths. Which again not
only negatively represents young people but now also targets the working class
as another example is the daily mail where in the article “supermarket sweep”
they made reference to the idea how the working class are actually taking
advantage of the whole situation as at first the riots started in order to take
stand on Mark Duggans death, however later the whole thing spiraled into this
violent, stealing atmosphere. Where the article “supermarket sweep” really
reflected how the working class youths are just these greedy individuals who
are envious towards the middle class and are hence revolting by stealing. In this
situation Gramsci’s theory can be used as how all these media institutions are
owned by the middle class, arguably we can say that the middle class are using
all these articles as an excuse to really penalize the working class so they
can reinforce their power (hegemony) and reinforce their values upon society.
Which then brings up the debate as whether it was the working class just
revolting on the basis of the economic crisis and all the other welfare cuts or
whether the media has just “mediated” and exaggerated the whole story as the
riots took place during august which is known as “silly season” as during this
time of year news is known to be slow therefore this big event could have been
just taken and blown out of proportion. Relating it back to the question this
negative representation was definitely not good as later other media
institution fed on this image of young people and followed on to make movies
and other moving image pieces of work which reinforced this negative
representation, just increasing the moral panic.
Furthermore not only
were classes being involved in this issue, but also race and ethnicity was
used. Such as the article the evening standard “the broom army” where in this
article they were talking about how after the riots a group of people gathered
and cleaned up the town. However the image within the article only showed a
group of white people, which just reinforced the idea of binary opposition as
how in the article for the Daily mail we see this huge image of the authorities
arresting a black man. This showed the idea of the white people being the
heroes and the black people being the villains which shows how institutions didn't just represent the young people negatively but also the working class
and ethnicities.
In addition movies
and other television programs also helped in reinforcing the negative
representations of the youth. For example movies like attack the block where we
have the stereotypical young male black character that comes from a broken home
who lives in a council estate and is violent etc. And then later in the movie
he is the hero that kills the aliens but lastly is arrested for the damages he
caused which shows how it’s a fight against society and the youth (Said’s them
and us). And how even though the youth are trying to break their negative representation
society will just keep reinforcing the label. Resulting in the youth behaving
in the way they are expected. This shows that no representation is better as if
the youth didn't have that negative representation, they wouldn't behave in the
way they are expected.
In conclusion no representation
is better than a negative representation. However with the media being involved
no representation is unlikely to be there, as each group or individual will be
stereotyped/ represented in a certain way by the media. Furthermore as also programs,
movies etc are written and directed by certain people their view on the individuals
will be shown in the piece work they are directing/writing, showing that how
the representation they portray the audience will view. As especially the news
as that are only source of information we are more likely to intake what they
say hence the view of young people. Showing that no representation of nay group
is unlikely and is better.
