Moral Panics

Stanley Cohen ' Folk devils and moral panics 1972, looked at...
his main points were....
He looked at representations of the clashes between mods and rockers in 1965, such as (refer to some of the newspaper coverage naming papers and quoting headlines.)
he predicted that...

Examining the Past

The label 'teenagers' has been in use since WW2.

It has connotations of...

• Lazy
• Dis-obedient
• Ill-mannered
• Hooligans
• Violent
• Rebellious

Many of these are explored in Matt Wolf's documentary 'Teenage' (2014)

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=39768

• No hope
• Reckless
• Wild
• Miss-understood
• Creative
• Jitterbugs
• Hooligans

The representation of teenagers by adults- consistent from generation to generation over the centuries (Plato 400bc - 

'love luxury, bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect elders, love chatters, tyrants, don't rise for elders, contradict parents, gobble up dainties, cross their legs, tyrannise their teachers.')

Similarly the representation of teenagers by themselves or by sympathetic adults ('Quadrophenia' (1979) This is England (2006). 

Media Arc - Dan Gardner author of 'Risk: the science and politics of fear' (2009) - only certain representations will be made by the media depending on what fits with their existing narratives about that group/event.  

British Youth Riots Article

Riot Article

In reaction to the riots this article demonstrates a negative representation of british youth. They are portrayed as being violent, aggressive and not caring for anyone. This represents all British Youth in a particular way which is highly bias as not all British youth are like this. He describes British Youth as 'un educated' and 'bored'  making all the British Youth sound unintelligent and gives various quotes from people with the same opinions as him which subsequently builds a strong article building British Youths to be perceived negatively. He states it 'doesn't surprise' him, which suggests that this ideology is hegemonic however it is just his opinion. he states that British are 'even worse that' Iran and russians, this stereotypes these cultures also as being bad and thus stating Britain is worse than them. Showing images of other newspapers from around the world suggests this opinion of British Youth is now a world with stereotype, it demonstrates how the media can enforce such a belief to a vast amount of people in a very short time from one event in Britain. He also states that if British Youth cannot buy what they want materialistically then they will find a way of getting it whether this be stealing, suggesting that they do not care for anyone but themselves. Also, where are the statistics? there is no evidence backing his opinions up.




Academic Response

In response to the article, i feel like the British Youths are being unfairly stereotyped by the language, images and collective criticism. The article fails to acknowledge the majority of the British Youths that were not involved in the riots. These Youths have been stereotyped through no fault of their own and this is unfair. The fact that there is no statistical evidence for any of the accusations of Youths proves that the comments are of opinion. With reflection of who this opinion is from is highly significant. Bias opinions from the elderly whom aren't within the social environment of British Youths today do not see the majority of Youths that would demonstrate a nicer and more intelligent society. An equal amount of quotes if not more could be found where British Youths are not seen in the way this article makes them out to be.
By stating the minor aggressiveness that he witnessed outside his hotel as unsurprising, he reflects his own ideology in a hegemonic light however this was just his opinion. Also, by scrutinising British Youth this man has failed to realise he has also stereotyped other cultures such as russia and iran, stating British are 'even worse', to me this suggests this man is a very judgemental person to any Youths making his while article completely bias.



This article raises a moral panic. We need to consider whether this hegemonic representation of British Culture has always been around and just made more public with today's media or is it really the culture changing. Questions as to who writes the text, who's voice is heard and who's isn't should be considered.

Past and Present

Past and present youths both seem to be referred to in a negative light. Demonstrating youths as being ill mannered, disobedient and uncontrolled. The media today due to its vast sources can reflect this making the stereotype even more prudent, however in the days where media wasn't so bold in peoples lives peoples views were still very similar however these opinions were made by themselves and not just because the media said what children were like stating these statements may be a valid reflection.

Scene

The scene subculture is a contemporary subculture which has mostly taken place in United States, associated with a style of fashion and sometimes music. People involved in this style are called "scene people" or sometimes "scenesters".
scene kid = boy/girl. usually seen wearing neon colors w/ black. leopard and/or zebra print obsessed. hair colored at least 2 different colors and cut at different angles.

Chavs

Dictionary Definition: 
a young lower-class person typified by brash and loutish behaviour and the wearing of (real or imitation) designer clothes. 

Someone's description of a chav:
Picture this a young lad about 12 years of age and 4 ½ feet high baseball cap at ninety degrees in a imitation addidas tracksuit, with trouser legs tucked into his socks (of course, is definitely the height of fashion). This lad is strutting around, fag in one hand jewellery al over the over, outside McDonalds acting as if he is 8 foot tall and built like a rugby player, when some poor unsuspecting adult (about 17/18) walks round the corner wanting to go to mcdonalds for his dinner glances at the young lad, the young lad jumps up in complete disgust and says “Whats your problem? Wanna make sommin of it? Bling Bling” when the adult starts to walk towards the young lad, the young lad pisses himself and runs off to either his pregnant 14-year-old girlfriend or his brother in the army crying his eyes out.

Representation Definitions

Stereotypes 
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Hegemony
Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others

Ideology 
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.