Media Mock Revision

2) Consider the view that the current representation of teenagers is simply another 'moral panic'. (12 marks)

The representation of teenagers in the trailer for the video game 'Bully' can be seen to be a moral panic, as the game perpetuates the stereotype of teenage boys to be rebellious and deviant. The representation of the protagonist may result in audiences having oppositional readings to the text, as teenage boys who play the game may be injected with ideologies that creating mayhem in school is acceptable. As well as this, teenagers in the game can be referred to as folk devils, as stated by Stan Cohen, as the game condones violence and havoc in a school setting. The title 'Bully' connotes rebellion and disorder and may allow audiences such as adults to have negative views towards the game, as it promotes disorder and may result in the teenage male audience being dumbed down by playing the game.

Similarly, the trailer for the Channel 4 programme 'Skins' constructs negative representations of teenagers, and can be signified as a moral panic, as teenagers indulge in immoral behaviour such as smoking , drinking alcohol, doing drugs and other unethical behaviour. The fact that the producers construct these representations of teenagers may result in a moral panic, as an adult audience may feel that the programme promotes teenagers to be antisocial and irrational. The montage of teenagers smoking, drinking alcohol and having same sex relationships may result in adults gaining negative views about teenagers , as they can be corrupted by society and be influenced by the media. The adult audience may also have oppositional readings towards the text, as the teenage audience who predominately watch the show are being dumbed down, as it fails to teach them about the risks of smoking, alcohol and under age relationships.

However, certain representations of teenagers in the media, such as Glee and Eastenders can not be seen to be a moral panic, as these alternative representations of teenagers signify how teenagers are not violent and deviant. In Eastenders, Tamwar Masood is constructed as a stereotypical teenage Muslim boy who is an academic and is family orientated. Therefore, this alternative representation shows the audience that teenagers are successful and not entirely bad. The hit US television drama, Glee also constructs positive representations of teenagers who are willing to become confident through music. By having these alternative representations, audiences are urged to have positive views towards teenagers, who desire to be successful and not deviant, as seen in the trailers for Skins and Bully.