Stereotypes

Stereotypes

Theorist Andy Medhurst argues the media creates groups/place through, "magnification of negative aspects of that group" Medhurst 1998.
He says this is done to make the ruling group (straight, middle class, middle aged white men) feel superior.

Gender Stereotypes

Laura Mulvey (1975) argued women in the media are used as; ‘Erotic objects of desire for males on screen and in the audience,’ (Mulvey, 1975).

Gauntlett (2002) argues males in the media still follow traditional stereotypes as they are shown as, ‘Alpha males who control the action with violence,’ (Gauntlett, 2002).

Mackillon argues something slightly difference, ‘Males are now shown as sexual objects of desire who are more concerned with image,’ (Mackillon, 2002).

Youth Stereotypes

Stanley Hall (1904):

 “ Adolescence is inherently a time of storm & stress when all young people go through some degree of emotional and behavioural upheaval, before establishing a more stable equilibrium at adulthood." Hall also argued that:
1. The common mood of teenagers is a state of depression.
2. Criminal activity increases between the ages of 12 & 24.
3. Young people are extreme and need excitement; “Youth must have excitement and if this is not at hand in the form of moral intellectual enthusiasms it is more prone to be sought in; sex, drink or drugs.”

 Dick Hebdige (1988) argued youths are stereotyped as mixed metaphors of; “Youth as fun,” and “Youth as trouble maker.”

An example of teenagers being depressed is on this magazine cover


An example of teenagers doing drugs and drinking alcohol is on this magazine cover


An example of teenagers being happy is on this magazine