How are teenage girls represented within the 21st century?
-with specific reference to Kidulthood

Proposal

My independent study focuses around the representation of teenage girls within contemporary society; I have specifically chosen to study 'Kidulthoods' representations of female youths, as this recent 2006 movie created a hysteria of controversy post its realease. 'Kidulthood' contains severe violence and reveals scenes exposing the disturbing increase in sexual female activity, bordering along prostitution within our 21st century rising drug epidemic. My overal aim is to investigate how teenage female representation has changed and evolved throughout the years; From the representaltion of the stereotypical housewife, wherby females where represented as the quite, dutiful sex; In contrast to contemporary societies representation of females appearing both 'easy', 'drug-addicted', 'gold diggers'. 'Kidulthood' portrays the harsh reality facing teenagers within todays economy, however to what extent are these representations true?

Narrative

The disturbing suicide of a bullied female classmate kick starts a chain reaction of events, and we as the viewer embark upon a numerous amount of journeys accompanying both a gang a male youths,Trife (Aml Ameen), Jay(Adam Deacon), and Moony (Femi Oyeniran). As well as pregnant girl Alisa (Red Madrell), and unsupportive freind Becky (Jamie Winstone), as both cease the opportunity to the day off school. We then follow loner and bully Sam played by actor Clark Noel, as he hunts down local boy Jay in abid to maintain his 'thug' reputation, due to the attack on his mother and home, and 'theft' of his on/off girlfriend Claire (Madeleine Fairley). Each party faces their own personal trials and tribulations, as Alisa struggles to deal with her pregnacy single; Trife enters the world of drugs through his uncle and fails to escape; Jay and Claire struggle to escape teen bully Sam; and Becky fails to see past an association between money and sex. All face a long a winding journey, however a bleak future inevitably greets a bleak reality. As after facing up to fatherhood, and ultimatley admitting his feelings to pregnant girlfriend Alisa, Trife is caught in a crossfire of violence, and another is dead by the end of the day.

Genre: Drama

Institutions: Revolver

Representations:

The representations of teenage girls within ‘Kidulthood’ dramatically stray from past representations of female youths before the 21st century. Teenage females before hand where represented as the smart, quite, dutiful gender; Whereas the boys where portrayed as the rebellious, louder sex. However ‘Kidulthood’ effectively portrays teenage girls to be equal if not worse, compared to male youths. Female youths are now portrayed as equally sexually experienced, as well as rebellious, and aggressive. Girls are represented to be as equally experienced as boys sexually within ’Kidulthood’. This is represented throughout the movie, as a pregnancy is revealed, and sexual acts are preformed between Becky and Alisa with complete strangers. ’Kidulthood’ therefore clearly reflects how sex is drastically devalued within the 21st century. However whats more it also reflects a society of social change, wherby females; The once more innocently reflected gender now disregard sex as much as males. With Alisa replying in a film to a sexual act with a complete stranger ‘orite, but only a hand job.’

Furthermore females are portrayed within ‘Kidulthood’ as equally masculine, as the first opening scene reveal severe female physical as well as mental abuse. The masculine role therefore is also fulfilled on behalf of the female gender, as the first major fight of the movie is between teenage girls. The fight is instantly extremely violent, lacking the traditional build up of emotions. Instead unprovoked, and undeservingly a teenage female is both head butted, punched, and kicked, thus later resulting in her own inevitable suicide. With such extreme abuse revealed from the opposing gender, a new breed of stereotype is created; as we are used to seeing agile, and tactful female abuse e.g Kill Bill. However this new found 21st female aggression is neither aigile, or tactful, instead it is both extreme and ruthless.

As well as this the image of teenage girls has also evolved, as ‘Kidulthood’ reflects a time period of almost uniformed attire; Whereby ‘hoodies’ and big jackets are the latest craze. ‘Kidulthood’ instead reflects a time period which lacks individuality. Instead the teenagers are effectively reflecting societies behaviour through their everyday being, and lack of originality, and uniqueness in the way they dress represents their dull daily routine, and in turn societys desperate need for stimulation.
-Female peer pressure to have sex- changed, same as boys.
Investigate further into ‘Hug a Hoodie’ scheme, teenage violence, suicide, and pregnancy.- focusing on females.
Media Language

1. Location set: West London- adds authenticity to movie, as set in a location suffering from teenage violence.
2. Secondary Location: High School
3. Close up shots are constantly used within ’Kidulthood’ as many emotions of anger and distress are focused on throughout the film as it also appears to be the main theme of this teenage drama.
4. Natural light- set outside mainly, give authentic feel, depicts reality through natural settings.
5. Grey visuals- reflects tragic narrative
   
   
   
   Audience
   
   The primary audience for ‘Kidulthood’ is teenagers aged between 13- 19 years old, as the movie is made in relation to that specific time period. It represents 21st century teenagers daily lives, as one of both havoc and hell, and although some may not experience the extremities represented within ‘Kidulthood’ all can relate to a high school fight etc, and most of the situations occurring within this sex, drugs, and violence based movie. As well as this, for any 13-19 year old male and female who may not live in such a way, or endure any of the abuse witnessed within the movie; ‘Kidulthood’ reveals a different side to teen life.
   
   The secondary audience I feel would be parents, parents of youths and teenagers. ‘Kidulthood’ offers a glimpse of some of the tribulations their son/daughter endures, and faces. It reveals to them a different childhood of what they themselves probably lived. As the 21st century instead is reflected as a era of drugs, underage sex, and peer pressure. Furthermore I also feel ’Kidulthood’ raises awareness to society as a whole, reflecting an unstipulated, unmotivated era of youths… bored and desperately n search of a need for purpose.
   -underage sex/pregnancy- offers purpose?
   -article on problem with society is we are never bored- due to ipods, television.
   
   Theorists
   -Clover
   -Propp
   -Freud
   -Todorov

'HUG A HOODIE' PLAN

- "Mr Cameron is seeking to distance himself from the Tory Party's innate belief in secular original sin, and demonstrate his Party recognises criminals are made bad, not born bad."

"Let's try and understand what's gone wrong in these children's lives and we'll find it's about family breakdown, it's about drugs, it's about alcohol abuse, often it's young people who are brought up in care when they should be in loving homes. Let's now deal with those problems. That doesn't mean at the same we can't be tough when a crime is committed."