Task One – Investigation into the representation of Stereotypes in Print Media
The layout of the article does influence how the subculture is viewed. You are instantly confronted by an image of surly-looking teenage girls absurdly dressed. The reader instantly forms an opinion about the photograph and makes a judgement about the people in the image. The initial quotes are from scene teenagers themselves talking about their subculture and expressing their views on how society sees them to be different. The second set of interviews comes from a girl from another subculture who is opposed to the scene idea. The two opposing views provide balance and it gives the reader a choice. It uses a lot of descriptive passages, for example the opening sentence, “Dyed fringes long and their threads grungy”. This introduces the reader to an idea of a teen fashion subculture. The photo immediately informs the reader what the article is about. The girls’ body language sends a strong message to the reader about their personalities, attitudes and place in society. The writer uses direct quotes to give the article credibility, however the selection of detail is a very important persuasive technique as well. The quote, “We like getting stared at” suggests that they enjoy receiving negative attention based on their differences – something that is normally avoided by individuals. They Intentionally separate themselves from the rest of society and the quote, “We hate Supre and Jay Jays” emphasises the fact that their subculture is based upon shallow ideas and teen fashion trends. I feel that the article is neutral. It is not bias and does not take any particular side. The writer uses quotes from both emos and scene girls, showing both sides’ opinion on the scene subculture. This also gives the reader the choice to decide whether they prefer emos or scene. The article is accurate as it presents interviews and quotes with people, which show that research has been done during the...