Identity and the wider media

Wider Media

1) The Factsheet discusses how identity is a complex subject. What does it suggest defines our identity?

A set of relationships is what defines us as a being, but we can also define our self as being:
- who we want to be
- other people's opinions on us
- who we think we are (and how we are portrayed in other people's eyes)

The factsheet suggests that our identity is constructed through modern media. This is through the way we communicate and and access information. 

2) Complete the task on page 2: suggest media texts that could reinforce that someone is non-mainstream; edgy; a pleasure seeker; fashionable; witty and fun; cutting-edge.

• Edgy-R-rated film genre
• Non-mainstream-arthouse cinema
• Fashionable- weekly trend blogs
• Cutting edge- Interests in technology and innovations to it
• Witty and fun- Comedy programmes such as 'friends' 

3) What examples are suggested for a case study on urban youth?

Jeremy Kyle show was one of the examples that the article stated- it shows the negative portrayal of lower class white people, being seen as 'chavs'. It is said that shows such as this bring forth the 'light' of the lower class and the youth as being the villain due to their negative representation in the media such as this.
4) What does Hebdige argue with regards to youth culture? 

Hedbdige argues that youth culture has a form of resistance to dominant culture, and is largely influenced by their own styles and beliefs rather than others. He believes that urban youth culture will present itself outside the norm (the mainstream) and this develops growing fear i.e moral panics.
5) How can we link our Year 12 case study on Ill Manors to youth and identity? What specific examples from the case study could be used to discuss Hebdige’s theory that youth culture challenges mainstream culture and dominant ideologies?

Plan B uses his music as a form of collective identity through the clothes as well as the music he is rapping about. The Ill Manors song is very much linked to the real life issues of the youth, and this is conveyed through-out the film. The synergy between the two platforms intensifies the collective identity that both the audience and the artist have in common.
6) What does theorist David Gauntlett suggest regarding the media’s influence over the construction of identities?

Gauntlett believes that the media has the power of creating this form of 'self identity' through the images and texts we view/watch. For example, stereotypes have become even more stronger due to the media reinforcing them in to the older generation.

7) Do you agree that Hebdige’s view that youth culture will always seek to resist mainstream culture and challenge dominant ideologies?

I believe so, the youth are very much independent from other age groups. They have their own culture and rules that the rest of the world doesn't fully understand, thing such as language or clothing, is like a form of 'rule' that the youth have. They don't cloud their judgement based on what other people think (which is the traditional way), they rather do what they please. Its like a new form of human experience, where one has to detach them self from the norm and explore new ways of doing things and differentiate themselves from the rest. Things such as stereotypes would generally (to an older group) would act as a warning for change to occur, whereas to the youth it is completely the opposite. Instead of just being negatively represented, the youth would rather embrace it, and challenge the dominant ideology to make it irrelevant and insignificant.