Link to 4oD website: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/skins/4od#2918540
Rather than an element of film language, Representation is a key concept which allows us to deconstruct a range of topics, bearing in mind the relationship between the media producers, their target audience and you the consumer.
Age:
Is the representation of age a factor in the text?
In the episode of Skins that I looked at, age is a huge factor and part of the narrative. The age range is adolescent teenagers who are trying to live their lives to the full and show how they have control over their lives. The program is aimed at the same age range of the central protagonists in the text, so age is a vital issue that relates to the themes of the production.
Does the text focus on an age group and give it preferential status?
Yes, the text focuses on an older teenage age group which gives it a higher status than what it has in society. The narrative is based on young teenage life and how they live in today’s world. The programme however does slightly exaggerate the partying atmosphere that it makes the teen’s lives out to have.
Does the text focus on teenagers or thirty-somethings, and marginalise older or younger figures? If so, why?
The text focuses on teenagers; this is to interest the target audience to the TV drama. We see references to older figures too. This shows how they teenagers react to them and how there is a major difference in behavior between both generations.
Ethnicity:
Does the text give equal billing to a mixed ethnic cast?
From the first episode we are introduced to only two mixed ethnicity. We see a contrast in how the two ethnicities act and the difference in morals in teenage years. However we see a recluse, and how people react to him.
Or does the cast offer a narrow view of society, marginalizing or prioritizing its focal characters?
The cast offers a stereotypical view of teenagers in society. This may not be the same in different towns. The main characters show what many people imagine teenagers to act and be like, with a range of different interests and personalities through each character.
Gender:
Is one gender given a preferred reading over the other?
The TV drama shows that there is still an impact of male dominance. The females in this drama are shown following what the males want them to do. Although they may not want to be apart of the plan. They still go along with it to look good and still accepted by the other sex.
Are traditional and outmoded representation issues depicted here?
Yes, we see a range of representation referring to the characters and the setting in the TV drama.
Are we revisiting the battle of the sexes, or is an inversion of patriarchal power seen here?
The TV drama shows a mix of the battle of the sexes and patriarchal power. Although the females are trying to stand out from the males, we still see the male dominance as they are following along with what they want to do. However, the battle of the sexes is referred to; this is included in the sexual frustration between the males and the female characters.
Historical era:
As with significant events, dramas often set in distinct historical eras, and in representing them to us, the producers often wish to put their stamp on this era. Other than issues of authenticity, which we often immediately engage with, can we read elements of our own morality being superimposed upon another age?
The main historical era represented in this TV drama is the noughties. This shows the real change in the morals and the behavior of teenagers contrasting to how they acted a few decades ago. As the target audience will be familiar with some of the behaviors and actions of the characters, this is easy for the target audience to engage with.
Location/setting:
Similar to regional identity, how are we asked to read key locations and settings?
The main setting of the show is in a town. We know that it is set in Bristol; however this isn’t stated in the TV drama, as it is representing the actions of the teenagers that can be in any town. The main sub-settings in the TV drama include the college, clubs, the character’s houses and the streets of the town.
Are they represented to us in such a way that we are positively or negatively disposed towards them?
The setting is presented to us in a negative way as they teenagers haven’t got much to do in the area; as a result we see this through to the behaviours of the characters shown in the text.
Regional identity:
Most areas or regions have strong identities; most often this is done through character, but often equally important are other aspects of mise-en-scène. Is there a strong sense of regional identity, and is this representation positive or negative?
Through the character’s actions we see a negative representation of the set region. This is due to there not being much on offer from the region. We can soon recognize the country that the TV drama is set in, however we are unsure what part of England it is.
What elements of the text tell you this?
We notice from the scenes that the town is quite industrialized, and because of this we can come to the conclusion about the identity of the region, which also reflects off of the characters’ costumes and behaviour.
Significant events:
Does the text you are analyzing deal with a significant event?
Yes, in this scene the significant event includes one of the characters loosing his virginity. We also see references to drugs and alcohol when going to a party. The narrative is set in a school environment which forces some events to be based around this.
Dramas often focus on dramatic events, and the way in which they are related to us is often given with received bias. How are the events represented?
The events are represented to be the ordinary for all teenagers which is not the case. Each of the characters are people that most teenagers can relate to and they can also associate them their group of friends but with exaggerated qualities.
Who are we siding with in conflicts or tragedies, and why?
The audience are mainly teenagers so therefore when they watch the program they are more likely to side with the teens on screen as they can relate to them and how the characters are feeling. We as an audience see the narrative unfold in the teenagers point of view so that makes us more likely to want to side with them.
Sexuality:
Is the representation of sexuality an issue within the text?
Yes, within the program, all different sexualities are represented. This is part of some teenager’s life and they use this experimental period to find out who they are. The program represents this to the viewer in a non-biased way.
Are assumptions made about the sexuality of the characters (or, indeed, its viewers)?
As a viewing audience we expect most partnerships to be of male/female origin and this is reflected in the show. A main first storyline is that of a boy losing his virginity to a good looking girl which is something that is an issue in a male teen’s life. Sexuality within the show is a key theme and the viewer learns who is coupled up with who because of this.
Are issues of sexuality taboo or part of the text’s attraction?
In the program ‘Skins’ the issue of sexuality is a key concept in its production. The theme is definitely not a taboo subject! The program raises many issues in which other dramas would shy away from, this is part of the reason that the show is so popular – it tackles the difficult subjects.
Social class and status:
British texts are said to have a preoccupation with class issues. Is this the case in the text you are looking at?
The issue of class is raised in the first episode of the program. The first of the parallel narratives show a middle class family getting ready in the morning, the children and mother portray a normal middle class status but the father on the other hand is represented in a working class way – clothing and speech being largely prominent.
Does the text give favorable representations of a particular class or denigrate another class? Why?
The program does give a favourable representation of middle class society but it shows working class and upper class society in a derogatory way. For example, the working class families use foul language and live in a run down house whereas the upper class family is shown to be snobbish. This is done because the program is largely aimed at the middle class families – so the audience would be more able to relate to this type of show.
