Essay Plan:
How Are Teenage Girls Represented Within The 21st Century?
- With Specific Refrence to 'Kidulthood'
Overall my independent study focuses primarily on the concepts of social change and attiude within our contemporary society, and through plentiful research, and other links of relevance, the reasons and explanations surrounding the behaviour of teenage female youths within the 21st century society has beome more understandable, acknowledgable, and disturbingly interesting. I have specifically chosen to refer to 'Kidulthood', as my primary text, as it reflects teenage girls in the most disturbing light, in which I am also aware. Instead an era of rebellion, and female change is reflected within 'Kidulthood', presenting a harsh reality, in which females no longer posses the traditional nuturing roles within society. However instead, a masculine, violent, feminist, angry, chauvinsitic, and cruel persona, 'Kidulthood' portrays a very different female expectation raising both shock, controversy, and an element of morale panic towards the issues inevitably facing our 21st century society. Reflecting an era of tragedy, violence, disrespect, and family breakdown, 'Kidulthood' portrays a downward spiralling future, which evident within recent society schemes suchas 'Hug A Hoodie', are failing, and leading youths closer towards a depressive future of drugs, sex, alcohol, early pregnancy, and family breakdown. However the reasons for this era of depression?? I discovered within texts suchas Nick Barhams 'DISCONNECTED', which portrayed instead a society of technology and boredom, whereby youths lack interest, and traditional hobbies and past times that resorted in socialising, and events that constructed family life, cultural, and community spirit. Instead our 21st century era of television, and easy technology has inflicted upon society both lazyness, and alack of motivation, and determination to suceed.
Other TExts- Another contemporary texts I have used to study and compare against the representations of 'Kidulthood' is the 2001 teen movie 'Thirteen' which focuses on the same issues, and social change surrounding teenage females today. Similar to 'Kidulthood', 'Thirteen' portrays the evolving representations of female youths, and like 'Kidulthood' includes sexual scenes, fuelled bu drugs and alcohol; However also upon one very influenced individual who succumbs to peer pressure, and resorts to self harm, due to the break down of her family. All these issues are similar portrayed within 'Kidulthood', and provide a basis in which direction to primarly explore and focus on within my independent study.
Teenage females are represented within the 21st century as pursuing the same lifestyle as men in order to gain social equality, this is portrayed within 'Kidulthood', through the teenage females persuit of sex, and physical strength equal to a males. Instead males are reflected within 'Kidulthood', as more morally correct, and caring; As Trevor condemns extreme female violence, and Sam finds it hard to abondon his cheating girlfriend.
-Feminism, the main focus of my independent study is ofcourse the liberation of women, and their fight in persuing equality to men. Within Kidulthood however a more contemporary extreme of feminism is depicted, as we are faced with a form of adverse cultural feminism. Cultural feminism refers to the obvious differences between man, and women, and the differences in personality traits, aswel as physical attributes. However these differences are thought of to be 'rubbed off' onto the other sex. For example a females more caring, nuturing nature may 'rub off' on to the other gender, and these differences therefore attract the two genders to one another. However within todays contemporary society and the reflection of teenagers within recent films suchas 'Kidulthood', and 'Thirteen', these traits are no longer evident within the 21st century female youths of today. Nuture, care have instead been replaced with anger, and violence, thus reflecting a more contemporary form of feminism, wherby females possess masculine traits in order to demonstrate their liberation and freedom. However, wherby some may view this as an act of female liberation, and equality others view behaviour witnessed within 'Kidulthood', as once again the representation of a patriachial sociaty. Whereby females preform sex in order for drugs controlled by males etc, however is this the reflection of a patriachial society once more? Or is this the behaviour of 21st century female girls instead a reflection of contemporary feminism, wherby the outsmart, and outwit males, through feeling sexually liberated, and equally physically powerful?
Theorist: Laura Mulveys theory towards both women and men is definetly relevant to my own independent stud on Kidulthood, as I am focusing on the representation of female within the 21st century. Luara Mulvey refers to the male gaze, in which women are viewed as mere sex objects, this is definelty applied to my text 'Kidulthood', as female girls are witnessed preforming sexual acts upon men. The girl is placed in a devalued position, and in one scene is on her knees before the man, whilst she preforms oral sex. The positioning of this female onscreen highlights the authoritive/powerful representation of men, and enforces patriachial views/society. Furthermore refernce towards women as both whores/madonnas is aso necessarry within my own text. As well as this Mulvey focuses on Sigmeund Freuds own theories towards women. This can also be applied to the 'kidulthood' text as it offers explanation towards the delinquency witnessed within 'Kidulthood', as some of the main charcters we follow onscreen(Trevor), are from single parent families. This inturn emphasises contemporary scoiety, as an era of misguidance, lonilness, and conflict. Sigmeun Freuds theory represents that the children have lacked from an early stage his theoratical development in which it is necesary for the child to larn their own position within the family.
Speech, and dress code
The way females are portrayed as speaking and dressing within 'Kidulthood', mimicks once more the way the males act and behave also. Using slang suchas 'innit', 'sket', 'bitch', and 'hoe'. All these words are abusive towards the female gender, yet..... the females use them agiainst each other within the film. This portrays instead a patriachial society wherby male control is indicated within even speech and dress code. The traditional 'respectful' manner of a female instead is totally demolished and desecrated within 'Kidulthood', as it portrays females not only speaking similarly to male youths; However also dressing within the same attire, of big, furry hooded jackets, to caps, and trainers, the 'typical' look. The traditional female associated dress code, of skirts, dresses however is completly avoided, or portrayed in a revealing, distasteful manner. Therefore once more, feminism, female liberation, 'girl power' is demonstarted through mimicking male conduct, wherby equality with men is persued in order by female youths possessing strong male traits. Also within Nick BArham's 'DISCONNECTED', contemporary female behaviour also focuses around females being part of a crew, gang. However historically, and traditionally males typically are part of/conduct a gang/crew, as it consists of violence, and abuse, areas of life that the female was usually sheltered from in order to raise/conduct a strong family life. Furthermore, the craze of large hoddies, caps, and trainers providing unisex fashions, also signifies the unoriginality present within sociey today, and the desperate need for stimulation and change.
HiStOriCaL TeXt!!!
'REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE' (1955)
Starring: James Dean
Directed by: Nicholas Ray
Rebel wthout a cause, similar to our 21st centrury representation of society within Kidulthood, aims to reflect the changing behaviour of American society, through the journey of star character James Dean, against the struggle against a new area, new gang, his love interest, and critaical parents. Rebel Without A cause, offers explanation behind the motives of such desturctive behaviour resulting in a car crash tragedy, and the struggle against his conscience, and the words of his disfunctional family. Throughout the historical 1955 movie, the continous theme of family mishap runs strong, with consistent reference aimed towards the fact that 'nobody listens', portraying a weak family bond as the root cause to such rebellious actions. Violence within the movie appears to be stimulated by boredom, and ofcourse to create a strong impression infront of females. This results similar within Kidulthood to use of knives, guns, and the even more poignant death of an innocent. Tregedy strikes from all around within James Deans 'Rebel without A cause', and strongly reflects upon a changing society as does 'Kidulthood'. Furthermore the representation of females within the movie, are merely for the male gaze, and therefore females act as the passive characters overall; With the majority of action surrounding around the males of the plot. The females within the 1955 movie, are merely reflected upon as love interests, and moreover as a 'trophy', to be fought for and won. Therefore LAura Mulvey's theory refering towards the 'male gaze', is completly appropriate towards such a text, similar to 'Kidulthood.'
A few quotes from the film, stongly convey a sense of no direction, purpose, and stimulation, the common cause for such behaviour.
Buzz(to Jim): "You know, I like you. Jim: Why do we do this? Buzz:Well, You gota do something. [Refferences both the male posturing(arguably, the theme of greatest relevance in the film) and the aimless or perhaps "causeless" nature that inspires their behavior.
Nobody talks to children. No, they just tell them.
If I had one day when I didn't have to be all confused and I didn't have to feel that I was ashamed of everything. If I felt that I belonged someplace. You know?
- Wickepedia
Below links to the 1955 trailer of 'Rebel without a Cause'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048545/trailers-screenplay-E20418-6-3
How Are Teenage Girls Represented Within The 21st Century?
- With Specific Refrence to 'Kidulthood'
Overall my independent study focuses primarily on the concepts of social change and attiude within our contemporary society, and through plentiful research, and other links of relevance, the reasons and explanations surrounding the behaviour of teenage female youths within the 21st century society has beome more understandable, acknowledgable, and disturbingly interesting. I have specifically chosen to refer to 'Kidulthood', as my primary text, as it reflects teenage girls in the most disturbing light, in which I am also aware. Instead an era of rebellion, and female change is reflected within 'Kidulthood', presenting a harsh reality, in which females no longer posses the traditional nuturing roles within society. However instead, a masculine, violent, feminist, angry, chauvinsitic, and cruel persona, 'Kidulthood' portrays a very different female expectation raising both shock, controversy, and an element of morale panic towards the issues inevitably facing our 21st century society. Reflecting an era of tragedy, violence, disrespect, and family breakdown, 'Kidulthood' portrays a downward spiralling future, which evident within recent society schemes suchas 'Hug A Hoodie', are failing, and leading youths closer towards a depressive future of drugs, sex, alcohol, early pregnancy, and family breakdown. However the reasons for this era of depression?? I discovered within texts suchas Nick Barhams 'DISCONNECTED', which portrayed instead a society of technology and boredom, whereby youths lack interest, and traditional hobbies and past times that resorted in socialising, and events that constructed family life, cultural, and community spirit. Instead our 21st century era of television, and easy technology has inflicted upon society both lazyness, and alack of motivation, and determination to suceed.
Other TExts- Another contemporary texts I have used to study and compare against the representations of 'Kidulthood' is the 2001 teen movie 'Thirteen' which focuses on the same issues, and social change surrounding teenage females today. Similar to 'Kidulthood', 'Thirteen' portrays the evolving representations of female youths, and like 'Kidulthood' includes sexual scenes, fuelled bu drugs and alcohol; However also upon one very influenced individual who succumbs to peer pressure, and resorts to self harm, due to the break down of her family. All these issues are similar portrayed within 'Kidulthood', and provide a basis in which direction to primarly explore and focus on within my independent study.
Teenage females are represented within the 21st century as pursuing the same lifestyle as men in order to gain social equality, this is portrayed within 'Kidulthood', through the teenage females persuit of sex, and physical strength equal to a males. Instead males are reflected within 'Kidulthood', as more morally correct, and caring; As Trevor condemns extreme female violence, and Sam finds it hard to abondon his cheating girlfriend.
-Feminism, the main focus of my independent study is ofcourse the liberation of women, and their fight in persuing equality to men. Within Kidulthood however a more contemporary extreme of feminism is depicted, as we are faced with a form of adverse cultural feminism. Cultural feminism refers to the obvious differences between man, and women, and the differences in personality traits, aswel as physical attributes. However these differences are thought of to be 'rubbed off' onto the other sex. For example a females more caring, nuturing nature may 'rub off' on to the other gender, and these differences therefore attract the two genders to one another. However within todays contemporary society and the reflection of teenagers within recent films suchas 'Kidulthood', and 'Thirteen', these traits are no longer evident within the 21st century female youths of today. Nuture, care have instead been replaced with anger, and violence, thus reflecting a more contemporary form of feminism, wherby females possess masculine traits in order to demonstrate their liberation and freedom. However, wherby some may view this as an act of female liberation, and equality others view behaviour witnessed within 'Kidulthood', as once again the representation of a patriachial sociaty. Whereby females preform sex in order for drugs controlled by males etc, however is this the reflection of a patriachial society once more? Or is this the behaviour of 21st century female girls instead a reflection of contemporary feminism, wherby the outsmart, and outwit males, through feeling sexually liberated, and equally physically powerful?
Theorist: Laura Mulveys theory towards both women and men is definetly relevant to my own independent stud on Kidulthood, as I am focusing on the representation of female within the 21st century. Luara Mulvey refers to the male gaze, in which women are viewed as mere sex objects, this is definelty applied to my text 'Kidulthood', as female girls are witnessed preforming sexual acts upon men. The girl is placed in a devalued position, and in one scene is on her knees before the man, whilst she preforms oral sex. The positioning of this female onscreen highlights the authoritive/powerful representation of men, and enforces patriachial views/society. Furthermore refernce towards women as both whores/madonnas is aso necessarry within my own text. As well as this Mulvey focuses on Sigmeund Freuds own theories towards women. This can also be applied to the 'kidulthood' text as it offers explanation towards the delinquency witnessed within 'Kidulthood', as some of the main charcters we follow onscreen(Trevor), are from single parent families. This inturn emphasises contemporary scoiety, as an era of misguidance, lonilness, and conflict. Sigmeun Freuds theory represents that the children have lacked from an early stage his theoratical development in which it is necesary for the child to larn their own position within the family.
Speech, and dress code
The way females are portrayed as speaking and dressing within 'Kidulthood', mimicks once more the way the males act and behave also. Using slang suchas 'innit', 'sket', 'bitch', and 'hoe'. All these words are abusive towards the female gender, yet..... the females use them agiainst each other within the film. This portrays instead a patriachial society wherby male control is indicated within even speech and dress code. The traditional 'respectful' manner of a female instead is totally demolished and desecrated within 'Kidulthood', as it portrays females not only speaking similarly to male youths; However also dressing within the same attire, of big, furry hooded jackets, to caps, and trainers, the 'typical' look. The traditional female associated dress code, of skirts, dresses however is completly avoided, or portrayed in a revealing, distasteful manner. Therefore once more, feminism, female liberation, 'girl power' is demonstarted through mimicking male conduct, wherby equality with men is persued in order by female youths possessing strong male traits. Also within Nick BArham's 'DISCONNECTED', contemporary female behaviour also focuses around females being part of a crew, gang. However historically, and traditionally males typically are part of/conduct a gang/crew, as it consists of violence, and abuse, areas of life that the female was usually sheltered from in order to raise/conduct a strong family life. Furthermore, the craze of large hoddies, caps, and trainers providing unisex fashions, also signifies the unoriginality present within sociey today, and the desperate need for stimulation and change.
HiStOriCaL TeXt!!!
'REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE' (1955)
Starring: James Dean
Directed by: Nicholas Ray
Rebel wthout a cause, similar to our 21st centrury representation of society within Kidulthood, aims to reflect the changing behaviour of American society, through the journey of star character James Dean, against the struggle against a new area, new gang, his love interest, and critaical parents. Rebel Without A cause, offers explanation behind the motives of such desturctive behaviour resulting in a car crash tragedy, and the struggle against his conscience, and the words of his disfunctional family. Throughout the historical 1955 movie, the continous theme of family mishap runs strong, with consistent reference aimed towards the fact that 'nobody listens', portraying a weak family bond as the root cause to such rebellious actions. Violence within the movie appears to be stimulated by boredom, and ofcourse to create a strong impression infront of females. This results similar within Kidulthood to use of knives, guns, and the even more poignant death of an innocent. Tregedy strikes from all around within James Deans 'Rebel without A cause', and strongly reflects upon a changing society as does 'Kidulthood'. Furthermore the representation of females within the movie, are merely for the male gaze, and therefore females act as the passive characters overall; With the majority of action surrounding around the males of the plot. The females within the 1955 movie, are merely reflected upon as love interests, and moreover as a 'trophy', to be fought for and won. Therefore LAura Mulvey's theory refering towards the 'male gaze', is completly appropriate towards such a text, similar to 'Kidulthood.'
A few quotes from the film, stongly convey a sense of no direction, purpose, and stimulation, the common cause for such behaviour.
Buzz(to Jim): "You know, I like you. Jim: Why do we do this? Buzz:Well, You gota do something. [Refferences both the male posturing(arguably, the theme of greatest relevance in the film) and the aimless or perhaps "causeless" nature that inspires their behavior.
Nobody talks to children. No, they just tell them.
If I had one day when I didn't have to be all confused and I didn't have to feel that I was ashamed of everything. If I felt that I belonged someplace. You know?
- Wickepedia
Below links to the 1955 trailer of 'Rebel without a Cause'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048545/trailers-screenplay-E20418-6-3
posted by xalliayax at
4:18 PM
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