RESEARCH PROJECT NOTES

"Representations of British Teenagers are just reflection of reality, not constructions, or distortions." How are teenagers represented in British films?

The films I will be looking at are 'A Taste of Honey' (1961, Tony Richardson), 'Cherrybomb' (2009, Lisa Barros and Glen Leyburn) and 'Submarine' (2006, Richard Ayoade), the reason for choosing these films, are the ways each film displays a different reflection of British Teenagers from the late fifties to 1960s up to 2010. 

A TASTE OF HONEY

• The representations of British Teenagers in A Taste of Honey would be a strong reflection of reality as the issues displayed within the film are true reflections of the society within the Sixties. 
• The 'New and Changing' and 'The Swinging Sixities' were the names given to the 1960s because the decade was revolutionary and allowed a 'permissive society'. The increase of employment, more opportunities for women, increased numbers of immigration and enhanced radical behaviour from students and middle class young people 
• The rising opportunities of women, more independence, more opportunities.
• The number of immigrants coming over to Britain played as a positive and a negative for Britons. (racial discrimination in industry, housing, government, public. middle class uni students accepted and greeted the new immigrants to Britain, middle class did this because they were really interested in new and fashionable things, which was embracing the changing societies and greeting new members of the British society, rising immigration meant interracial dating)
• race relations - protests / marches
• Youth culture in the Sixties gave the government many problems and threats
• The 'Swinging Sixties' & 'New and Changing' Britain (sexual revolution, mini skirts, Beatles drug use, subcultures, student protests, homosexuality )
• a taste of honey showed people a new and changing society
• A Taste of Honey was a ground breaking/prominent film that showed 
• The sexist attitudes at the time, made life more difficult for a white women to be with a black man, then the other way around.
• The theme of 'love' acts as a catalyst for rebellious behaviour in A Taste of Honey, for example Jo is so hooked on Jimmy, her love interest, that she more aggressively argues/disagrees with her mother, which lead to her spend the night at Jimmy's flat, and getting pregnant.

CHERRYBOMB

• The British Teenagers displayed in Cherrybomb would be represented as distorting reality, as there are three protagonists and only one displays a realistic representation of British Teenager then the others highly exaggerated the British Teenager. 
• Cherrybomb contrasts to A Taste of Honey because modern day society the media continues to consume youth culture and distorting it.
• Cherrybomb include several different categories of radical behaviour, such as sex, violence, profanities, alcohol, dugs and smoking. These tell us that even before, watching the movie, we know that the style of youth culture is an exaggerated stereotype, rebellious and radical.
• The next couple of reviews will argue whether of not the film Cherrybomb is a realistic representation of British Teenagers.
• "One Line Reviews, Iain Scott - 'this well crafted but general unpleasant film, feels like a pair of below average kins episodes" (Skins is a British teen drama that follows the lives of a group of teenagers in Bristol through the two years of sixth form. Its controversial storylines have explored issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness, adolescent sexuality, substance abuse, death and bullying.) The word 'unpleasant' further describes how gritty and serious the film is (exaggerated drama) and the fact that the film is being related to Skins shows how exaggerated the teenagers representations are, as well as show how the representations are created for entertainment purposes only. This negative review made by Iain Scott a middle aged critic, showcases how the coming-of-age film was written for younger audiences. 
• The next few quotes will argue against the previous, saying; "Cherrybomb is a stylish, yet realistic portrayal of contemporary teenagers." and "Cherrybomb is a great film for anyone who likes drama, comedy, a bit of romance and a burst of reality" These shows how younger audiences relate to the representation of British Teenagers and responded really well to the film.
• Clip 1: 'the titanic party scene' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ63NlwFW1M&list=PLZJQDnibyqQfFMvC0PXGm2QZLjySQRnxV&safe=active displays a stereotypical and very destructive view of British Teenagers in modern society as everyone starring in this scene is underage. This scene includes smoking, drugs, alcohol, breaking and entering, graffiti and illegal fireworks, all the things that an standard rebellious teenage film includes.
• Clip 2: 'night in and night out' scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aZ80S38Qns (0:34:09 - 0:39:07) this scene displays a contrasts between the older and younger generations, which relates back to A Taste of Honey and the generation gap of the 1960s. The way that the directors Lisa Barros and Glen Leyburn present this generation gap is thorough intertwining shots between Michelle and Luke and then Malachy and his family. At the end of this scene we see that Malachy chooses to give in to temptation and steal his dads car, and Luke choose a girl over his friend.

• Malachy is influenced by love and rebellion in this film. He wants to prove his friend wrong by breaking the rules in order to impress Michelle, a girl he wants to win over. The audience still see Malachy's good side, for example when they are joy riding in Malachy's dads' car, Malachy says 'i have to get this back in one piece' and Luke replies in a mocking tone 'What? back to your mummy and daddy?' which leads Malachy to 'up the anti' and become more 'hardcore'. This gives the film an essence of realism as many teenagers are heavily influenced by their friends in certain situations.

SUBMARINE

• Submarine showcases a gentler, more conventional image of the British Teenager. 
• Submarine differs from the previous films as Submarine does not exploit the British teenagers'  radical behaviour. 
• The rebellious behaviour within the film such as; smoking, sex and bullying is limited and less exaggerated by the director Richard Ayoade, whereas in Cherrybomb the behaviour is heightened and focused more heavily on.
• Oliver is influence into rebellious acts in Submarine, similarly to Malachy is in Cherrybomb, for example Oliver tries to impress Jordana by helping to torment another girl, this expresses how 'love' acts as a catalyst for rebellious behaviour in Submarine as well as Cherrybomb and A Taste of Honey. (All three films are centred around the theme of love as a catalyst for the characters' rebellious behaviour) 
• In the film, Oliver Tate says, "I must not let me principals stand in the way of progress, i must adapt." this expresses the willingness he has to himself to fit in with others and to impress/get closer to Jordana, his love.
• Submarine leans more towards the older generation and differs from the younger generation. 
• The years Cherrybomb and Submarine were released might further show how British Teenagers act OR have become more rebellious OR show how media has distorted and constructed a false idea of British Teenage rebellion in reality.
• Clip 1: "Dinner Date" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIvlhEu_mPo
• This scene has elements of the older generation through Oliver's speech, (to a wonderful evening of love-making) his body language (toasts), costume (suit) and the presentation of traditional values that a grown up might have. This scene can not be described as rebellious though it involves rebellious elements, such as; the underage sex, drinking wine yet the behaviour is not exaggerated or highlighted in any way so it becomes less significant.
• Clip 2: "Kiss Under the Bridge" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJoQOXqcCNo This scene has elements of promiscuous behaviour, profanities and 
• Clip 3: "Two weeks of Lovemaking" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0eMIR9Pt14 This scene has a sweet dynamic, making it seems more realistic  but however quite exaggerated because it is highly limited that young teenagers make a romantic montage their relationship. So this film could also come under the distortion aspect of a representation of British behaviour in reality. 
• Richard Ayoade says "it was really interesting how we established that Oliver was seeing everything through a film" .......

_______________________________________________________________

Books:
YOUTH MEDIA by Bill Osgerby

Bill Osgerby was reader in Youth Media, gender, British Culture and Communication at London Metropolitan University says....

"Grace Palladino has observed, embedded racism and economic inequality ensured that throughout the 1950s 'black teenagers' remained invisible as far as mainstream society was concerned"

"The rise of the teenage consumption was more hesitant"

"The equation of 'youth' with 'affluence' became a prevalent theme in Britain during the late 1950s"

"great economic power to the young" 

"youthful connotations seemed to guarantee a hedonistic and independent lifestyle."

Dominic Sandbrook, author of 'White Heat: A History of Biritain in the Swinging Sixties' quotes 

"Sixties Britain seemed - superficially at least - to be a country reborn in the crucible of affluence."

n