What are the social implications of different media representations of groups of people?

This is taken from Dave Harrison's excellent guide on how to answer this question effectively.


1) If we apply a basic effect model to the representations of youth, particularly the negative ones there could be detrimental implications. (Also some interpretations of the work of theorist Althusser believe that the power of the mass media resides in their ability to place a subject in a way that their representations are taken to be reality.)

If representations of youth seen in Eden Lake and Harry Brown are not decoded as being a selective representations then it could result in creating or perpetuating stereotypes (commonly held public belief about specific social groups, or types of individuals).

This could then lead to creating distance between social groups - which could in turn lead to ignorance and more fear.  So adults (particularly vulnerable ones) will become afraid of today’s youth, will be reluctant to engage them and demonise them instead. It can also create tension within social groups with young people becoming afraid of other young people

[cont]