Bridging Task

Throughout media young people can be represented in various different ways; ranging from anit-social “internet addicts” to out-going “party animals”. However, just because the media represents them in these two ways doesn't mean that they are actually like that.

For example most teenagers listen to music regularly and it can be a big aspect of their life. The songs which are mostly played on radio stations, are considered to be “mainstream” and what most young people would listen to. In these songs the lyrics can range from partying and getting drunk to being meaningful. In addition, the rhythm in the music which is played on mainstream radio stations can be very upbeat and fast tempo which can make the song more appealing to the listener and enhance your mood; because if you listen to a sad song for example it can make you feel sad, while if you listen to an up-beat song and it make you, yourself feel up-beat. However not all young people like the same type of music, and they would listen to another music style which appeals to them; this can range from punk-pop to alternative to heavy rock. In the lyrics to these songs, they seem to portray more of not knowing your identity or true-self.  In music videos like music can present young people from the style of the clothing and camera angels in the video. In most music videos of “mainstream” music, the young people are shown to wear party-styled clothing as the music is mostly played at clubs and parties; this can suggest that some young people like to go out more and like to party and have a good time. Another common factor in music lyrics these days are “being kids in love” and “having your heart on your sleeve” and this shows about young people are reckless and care about people too easily. But it can also show that even though at times they can give their love away too easily that they are also going through a state of becoming more mature in away.

Tv shows are another media text that can represent the personality of young people, from reality shows to sit-coms and tv dramas. In comedy sit-com “The Inbetweeners” can show that young lads always want to get girls and have a good time. While in the drama show “Skins” not only shows that, it can show major life-issues such as drugs and mental health issues such as eating disorders. This can present that young people go through issues sometimes due to peer pressure and other times from the fault of their own making. It also show how the characters deal with different stressful events and it can in a way can show the audience a better way to understand these issues. However a down-fall from this is that they can influence, the easily influenced to maybe try this things which wouldn’t be a good idea. From these shows it can show that the media may think of young people to be troublemakers in a way but it can also show that young people can grow-up in a way like in shows where they end up looking after their friends or family members and helping them with life situations. While in reality tv shows, they show truly how some young people of today act because they don’t have a written script and it is an in-take of what their life is like.

Magazines and magazine covers can also display what the media thinks of young people. Fashion magazines have clothes which young people (mostly girls) would appeal to and this also can show that the media think that young people are very trendy and stylish. However in these fashion magazines there are normally thin looking models and this can influence young people to feel the need to become like that and this isn’t good because some of the models are airbrushed. However magazines and the covers on the magazines can hint at the fact that the media expect young people to look a certain way, but not everyone can look a certain way. In some magazines they mention celebrities which young people can look up to for role-models. Sometimes in newspaper articles they mention thinks that young people have done wrong; and this can prove that the media feel like young people only like to stay out all night. While in other newspaper articles they praise young people for their achievements and this can also show that the media realise that not all teenagers are troublemakers and act the same way.

In conclusion, the media can see young people in many different lights, however you can’t find out what the media think of young people truly because it constantly changing every day.