Section A Exam Questions

1. Compare and contrast the two texts with particular reference to the representations of teenagers (8 marks)

The representation of teenagers in The Metro front is negative, as they are objectified as being threatening and deviant, as signified by the words 'armed teenage thugs', which injects messages into the audience that teenagers are troublesome. The front page's reference to violent teenagers may immediately be associated with black teenage males, as signified by the image of a black male holding a gun. The inclusion of the image stereotypes black males as being violent and aggressive. In this text, teenagers are negatively represented as being violent, as they 'recruit' other teenagers into their gang and post videos on Youtube and Myspace where they are glorifying their weapons, taking drugs and speeding in their cars. Moreover, these websites may censor the content, as the teenagers may negatively influence other teenagers into joining their gang. The Metro stigmatises teenagers as being an antisocial group who are aggressive, thus creating a wider moral panic, as suggested by Stan Cohen, as audiences may have oppositional readings to the fact that websites such as Facebook and Youtube are not regulated and allow teenagers to post threatening and immoral content and condone drug use and gun related violence.

Likewise, in The Daily Mail website, teenagers are represented as being influenced by violence, yet resent the term of being in a 'gang'. By being influenced by 'black gangsta music' and TV programmes such as 'Crime Watch', teenagers may be injected with the idea that being a 'gangster' is acceptable, as they can 'fit into a crowd' and can be expressive. However, audiences such as parents may prevent their children from entering gangs, as they can be prone to violence and be involved in conflict with rival gangs. The mention of 'gang culture' in the media, as evident in The Metro front page results in a wider moral panic, as parents may feel that the media is injecting teenagers with ideologies that being a gangster is cool and that wearing a distinct style of clothing makes you 'tough'.

Across both texts, teenagers are negatively represented as being socially deviant, as the Metro front page signifies how teenagers are influenced by teenagers from gangs to join their gang and are persuaded to be involved in a gang whereby they can be liberal, for example take drugs and be violent. Similarly, the Daily Mail article perpetuates the view that teenagers are negatively represented, due to a lock of authoritative role models and a disruptive family life. Therefore, teenagers are likely to join gangs , as they can 'fit into a crowd' and be understood by gang members. The mention of videos of gangs on Myspace and Youtube creates a moral panic, as audiences feel that teenagers are more violent and disrupt the status quo, as they are liberal and can appeal to teenagers on Yotube, thus signifying how social networking sites and UGC sites can be an outlet for gangs to recruit.