The Inbetweeners (Ben Palmer 2011) and Fish Tank (Andrea Arnold 2009)

Representations in The Inbetweeners

• Age

There are fairly positive representations of youths in the opening scene, but perhaps because humour is added to their situations. Will is the first character we see in the film, also the narrator, and he is immediately represented positively by talking about his further education at university and even applying to Oxford. He is well spoken suggesting he is from middle class which is also implied through his father. The second and third characters we see are Jay and Neil, who are represented negatively, but because humour is added we perceive these situations as positive. For example, because Neil's character is entertaining and humorous for the audience, we take the fact he dropped the man's prawns on the floor as soon as he finished work in a light hearted manner. He is also friendly towards the man which supports the positive representation. Finally we see Simon who is again represented positively in a humorous manner. He is implied to be innocent and shows complete respect towards his girlfriend, then showing his sensitivity when he breaks down crying once she breaks up with him. The representations are quite realistic, but the humour added makes it slightly over exaggerated.

• Ethnicity

There doesn't seem to be much ethnic diversity within The Inbetweeners. This is associated to class as they live in a London suburb, dominated by white middle class. The representations within the film are predominantly white which is symbolic towards the information we are perceiving. This perhaps means that the audience the film is aimed at is white middle class, which means other classes and ethnicities may not be able to relate.

• Gender

The film goes against gender stereotypes, but it is dominated by the male sex. Simon is overpowered by a female when his girlfriend breaks up with him and he breaks down crying, going against male stereotypes. However, the film clearly orientates around the male perspective, sometimes realistic and sometimes unrealistic. The media predominantly covers the representations on male youths, as supported in The Inbetweeners.

• Social Class and Status

The teenagers within the film use colloquial language but are well spoken, especially Will. They seem to rely on the parents, emphasising the lack of independence, contrasting against relationships to parents within lower classes. The shots we see of the suburban neighbourhood is a complete binary opposition to the representation, for example found in Harry Brown. Their location emphasises the idea of middle class, Will even narrating how safe and secure the area is. The fact they are also even going on holiday also suggests wealth and social class.

Social Class: Reinforcing Cultural Hegemony/ Dominant Ideologies

• Working class British youths are generally represented as being violent, brutal, unapologetic, criminals, addictive personalities - Harry Brown, Kidulthood, Quadrophenia, Eden Lake
• Middle class British youths are generally represented as being more law abiding, conscience citizens - The Inbetweeners
• On-top of this the antagonists are always the working class youths and middle class adults are positioned to be the protagonists

Representations in Fish Tank

• What ideas are used to introduced the main character?

Stereotypical representations of working and under class are immediately used such as location, clothing, lack of parenting and education, language and so on. There is immediately violence and conflict, however we see her as a victim rather than the inflicter. The audience is postitioned to indetify with her, meaning we percieve her as the protagonist rather than the antagonist. The use of cineatography gives an immediate idea of social reality and issues, also used in films such as Harry Brown and Quadrophenia.

• What are the similarities and differences of representations of youth between Fish Tank and Harry Brown?

The immediate difference is that we follow a female character, where as in Harry Brown the youth culture is dominated by males. We see her as the protagonist because of the way the audience is placed to relate and identify with her, therefore making us see her as a victim.

• Fish tank represents young people in a similar 'broken Britain' context, but is no more sympathetic to them
• The behaviour of the characters is less extreme/exaggerated - no torturing and general mayhem
• Issues of genre/audience
• Female Protagonist
• Mia is seen as more of a victim
• Almost all teenage characters in representations are clearly working class
• Main adult characters tend to be middle class
• Representations may be said to reflect middle class anxiety of working class to their hegemonic dominance
• Is on of the functions of these representations to remain hegemony? Why?