"Media representations of youth reflects societies concerns and fears" Bullet boy Homework

The representation of youth in the media has often been shown in a negative way, portraying them as violent and insubordinate towards society. The language, clothing and activities of the youths in these media texts are often primarily seen in certain parts of England where gangs and gang culture are highly active. This can raise concerns and create fears in society as this is the main representation of youth in modern media.

In the 2004 film Bullet Boy the young characters are shown in a dangerous and vicious manner through fighting, weapons, verbal abuse and the murder of two characters in the film. The main character Ricky is firstly shown leaving prison, this gives the viewer the idea that he has already been in some kind of serious trouble and during his first day out gets a hold of a gun. This representation of the main young character with a gun can link with recent events such as the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting (2012). The concerns of society are highlighted through media texts although what is being shown is part of a minority, this links with Giroux theory where "Youth becomes an empty category in representation- reflects adult concerns. Media representation of youth does not reflect reality of youth identity" which states that youth is only shown through what people fear the most instead of the majorities act. Youth in the 1961 film Wonderful to be young were portrayed in a completely opposite way, as being spirited and quirky through the musical song and dance scenes and by trying to save something that matters to them, whereas in modern films such as Green street (2005) and Ill Manners (2012) which depict youth as only conducting violence, sex and the use of drugs. The contrast between the illustration of youth in these media products are evidence to the change in how the media represents youth due to current events.

Another theory that can be related to the concerns and fears of society is Grebner's cultivation theory which states that the more time spent watching television the more likely they are to believe the social reality that is being portrayed. This theory states a different belief than Giroux, saying that the more television people watch the more they believe that what they are seeing as true, an example of this is the James Holmes mass murder where he shot a cinema full of people during the showing of the dark night film. Holmes was known for playing addictive violent role-playing video games and was also a huge batman fan, he also showed interest in the film The suffocator of sins which shows a vigilante who shoots criminals. All of these media products showed evidence during the massacre. This is an example of how people can start to believe that how they and characters act in video games and films as the way to act in the actual world.

In conclusion, the medias representation of youth reflects societies concerns and fears by using characters from whom show the most violence in todays society even though the amount of actual youths acting like this are a small minority. Therefore, enlarging societies fears and prolonging them. These fears however are not in all of society just the majority that only see what the media is displaying and because of this completely believe it.