Stereotyping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC6zFBji_vQ&feature=related

In this short clip from British teen drama Skins, we see a group of youngsters conforming to their media given stereotype. Many peoples, (particularly adults) perpetual ideas of how young people act are shown under the spotlight in this clip. However most of these ideas, which form a prominent stereotype, are inherited from the media's creation of this "folk devil" being youths in revolt. So referring back to the clip, we witness a clique of young teenagers carrying out anti social and very illegal practises such as: underage drinking, recreational use of drugs and smoking. The media portray all "youths" to be in some which way affiliated with these practises, not to mention stabbings and violence, hence their positively negative stereotype. So in this clip we see these characters conforming to their stereotype in order to please and confirm to the audience that this is indeed how young persons act. Many members of the audience watching may also be able to identify with this clip, whether it be teenager or adult. As many people can give in, or have experienced peer pressure, being in a situation involving drink and alcohol and maybe even a situation in which they or someone with them have participated in anti social (criminal) behaviour. The mise en scene such as the: low key lighting, props and the predominantly young electro house music all add to this screening of stereotypically youthful behaviour, in which they all like to party, and get "wasted." The low key lighting and angular close-ups of the characters all add to the illusion of intoxication or "being high" which put the audience into the characters perspectives. To conclude, the props of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes are all used to show how young people stereotypically spend their time, doing illegal activities for people of their age.