Evaluation Question 2

Q2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our media product ‘Thief’ represents the specific social group of teenagers, as the characters are aged 17-18. The character Will Block portrays teens in a stereotypical light, that they are all dangerous thugs who target women in particular, to make them feel demoralised and vulnerable. He hasn’t got a job which an older audience would see this to be because of teenagers' laziness and antisocial behaviour. However, they may not understand the difficulties of obtaining a job at present especially during the recession, which a younger audience (the target audience) would empathise with. On the other hand, Eve White is represented as an innocent, hardworking member of society who is targeted because of her gender, which is a common factor amongst crimes such as rape, attacks and mugging.



This is a trailer from 'Taken' which demonstrates how young females are targeted because they are seen to be the weaker sex and that men can treat however they want. It highlights the still present issues in society of females being the weaker sex. However, my thriller ‘Thief’ displays the typical views in society through the character Eve White being a vulnerable female who is attacked. However, it then challenges this view with the character Scarlet Fraser who is tough and will fight for her rights.

As our cast is made up of only teenagers, it addresses some of the issues adults have with youths, that they are very intimidating because of their numbers. It emphasises the fear adults have against young adults and the intimidation they feel which then reinforces the typical teenager stereotype, that they will approach adults and attack them because of their violent demeanour. This is a highly unfair mindset that some adults have as many teenagers are law abiding and want to achieve to their full potential.

This is a photo of 'hoodies', which is how some adults view most teenagers to be like and to behave like.

In a daily mail extract a Labour MP called Emily Thornberry claimed that almost every teenager in her constituency in Islington, London has been mugged. She said: "It is a hidden crime. Kids are robbing other kids but you don't hear about it. It is extremely sad and very serious.”

This is the extract from The Daily Mail online.