Essay number 2

How far does the representation of a particular social group change over time?
Refer to at least two media in your answer (50)

Intro
1.drugs
2. language
2. technology
3. clothing
4. weapons
5. conclusion

After comparing different social groups over time I have realised that not much has changed apart from new technology, weapons and a new style of fashion has been introduced.

Quadrophenia is a 1979 british film about the mods and rockers. The main character Jimmy is intrigued by the common drug everyone uses and eventually becomes an addict. The drugs changes his personality and he drifts away from the group of Mods and ends up committing suicide. Drug abuse is still happening today and many problems are caused because of people losing control or overdosing. For example, the film Harry Brown was made in 2001 and is based on an elderly man (Michael cane) investigating on a large gang causing trouble which includes a scene involving heroin taking and the effects of it.

Riots are shown in the film Quadrophenia and this is another example of how this particular social group hasn't changed a huge amount over time. The mods have no respect for authority and fight back and start a riot. The lack of respect is still the same for example, the police, the elderly, parents and waitresses get abuse shouted at them. The scene towards the end the Mods throw deck chairs at the police and knock over the elderly on the beach during the riot. Jimmy swears at his mother and tells her to 'fuck off' as he gets kicked out of the house. Also in the café scene one of the Mods was told to put his legs down in which he replied 'piss off'.

In the film Quadrophenia the Mods wore green parker jackets, suits and had scooters. The Rockers wore leather jackets and had motorbikes instead of scooters. The rockers were seen as the dominant social group or the antagonists because of what they looked like and what they had. People today are still judged and stereotyped by what they choose to wear. We construct our identity by what we wear and how we act. Today we have many social groups for example, 'chavs' are stereotyped by their clothing. They wear hoodies and tracksuit bottoms. This was shown in the film Harry Brown because hoodies can come across intimidating and frightening. The Mods have now developed into 'chavs' and become more violent because they now have access to guns and knives.

Technology has impacted on social groups massively because now the television has been introduced we are now watching the news everywhere which is a constant reminder of the riots and crimes happening all over the world. Media is now everywhere as well; we are influenced by what we see and what we believe is real. For example, films and video games encourage young people to behave badly because they begin to think it's normal.

Overall, technology has had a huge impact on social ideologies and this has influenced them and changed their attitudes and behaviour.