‘How are British youths represented in Quadrophenia and Harry Brown’

‘How are British youths represented in Quadrophenia and Harry Brown’

 

Often in many films the British Youths are most often represented in a negative way. This is in the 2009 production of Harry Brown and the 1979 production of Quadrophenia.

In both of these films the British youths are seen as rebels. The youths are represented as out of control and the other characters in the films are scared of them. In Quadrophenia the youths go to Brighton beach and start a riot, they are then arrested by the police. This is an example of Aclands 'Ideaology protection' theory. Aclands theory was that the goverement (police) try to control the youths and as they are out of control. In this specific scene of  Quadrophenia the youths are having as riot down by Brighton beach. By having the riot by the beach shows a juxtaposition. The beach is supposed to be a family friendly, idyllic place, and by having a dangerous riot, with youths throwing chairs and fighting each other,  it makes the scene look far from idyllic.

In Harry Brown the youths run the local estate where mainly the lower class live. This automatically associates the lower class with these 'youths'. The main themes in Harry Brown are violence, guns, knives, abuse, sex, drugs and gang culture. All of these themes represent the sub-culture of this film which is 'hoodies'. This sub-culture is often influenced by drugs, rap and violence. Giroux theory is seen here as the youths are automatically filled with the stereotype of 'hoodies'. Giroux theory talked about 'youths' being 'empty boxes' and they are filled of what society thinks of them and not what they are actually like. These ideas that the youths are filled with are most often negative and portray 'youths' in a bad way. In Harry Brown the youths are all in involved in some sort of gang. This is an ideology as the youths feel they need to be in a gang to fit in with each other. This is a shame because instead of the youths having a chance to not be part of that gang culture, it shows that's the only way they feel safe and 'in' with the group as they are safe and protected.

In Quadrophenia the sub-culture is 'mod' which many youths were part of in the 70's and were a strong 'gang'. The mods were influenced by music artists such as 'The Who' and 'The Beatles'. Although the mods don't look as intimidating as thugs at a first glance they were still part of 'moral panic'. Mods had a normal 9-5 job and then would blow all there money on drugs and drink, which lead to violence and sex. They were the ultimate rebels and in Harry Brown it is represented that no-one respected them because of that, not even there parents. This created moral panic which is explained by Stanley Cohen by the whole of society fearing a group of youths just because everyone else was. This is demonstrated in Qaudropenia as the society in the 70's feared the mods.

Overall both films represent sub-culture of the youths in a bad way. Although both of these films were produced in two separate time frames, there themes and thoughts are the same. Quadraphenia is the eldest one and things that shocked the audience back then would still shock the audience in the 21st century. However there are a few exceptions, for example, when Johnny's mum kicks him out, I think that would be what alot of parents would've done in the 70's. However in the 21st century that may seem abit harsh as I think now that we are more forgiving and would try and get help for our children. On the other hand in the opening sequence of Harry Brown when the youths murder the mother, I hope that would shock audiences all ages and time frames. Both of these films are used to deliberatly shock the audience and I think that is achieved, whether the representation is over-exaggerated or not.