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

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

Harry Brown and Quadrophenia are two films set in two very different time frames, yet both show threats to the conforms of society and the fear of others. These two films show how the representations of youths have changed over time, and the differences in time periods.
In Quadrophenia youths are clearly represented as having no specific lifestyle or job, and are potrayed as being violent and disruptive, simply being “A Mod Rocker.” The representation of these youths, particularly as they are fighting against capitalism highlights that these youths are fighting against the reproduction of social order(Acland Theory), particularly as their demonstrations are aimed against the conservative government and are fighting against their values of conforming to how there generation should act in the 1960’s. Compared to Harry Brown these youths have clearly  been placed in a particular social class; Mods were a significant sub-culture to the UK, known for their significant clothing styles, means of transportation and music taste. Mods were assigned to a social group, but the ending of Quadrophenia highlights that these social groups could easily change.
In Harry Brown it can be said that youths can be represented as similar because of their violent behaviour, but this violent behaviour can occur because of more than one reason. Under the hypodermic needle theory it is a true statement that the youths of harry brown have been subjected to violence from birth, and immediately adopt the values of drug taking and violence as a way of living. Shooting someone quite simply does not shock them, a mans life simply isn’t valued. A moral panic theory can be applied to Harry Brown, youths in this film are seen as a threat to society in order to fight against the hegemony that they are facing being at the bottom of the social chain. It can be said that Harry Brown takes control of his neighbourhood in this film, and wants the world to conform to his version of normality, ensuring that the “Youths” are under control thus sticking to the hegemony that’s in place by the government. Compared to Quadrophenia it can be said that youths are the dominant force who want to take control, rather than being controlled by their parents. Harry Brown fights for social normality, whereas in Quadrophenia the "Mods" battle against it.   The gang idealogies of the two appear to be different.
There are also further themes that are both in Quadrophenia and Harry Brown. Drugs is one issue that is highlighted in both films, however in Harry Brown the theme is further exaggerated, connotating an extreme affect to the consumption of drugs, thus provoking audiences to be shocked. A clear example of this is when Harry Brown travels to the drug dealers den, and both harry and the audience are stunned at the mental and physical state that the girl is in lying on the bed. She has also clearly been physically abused, and used as an object. Harry Brown asks "Are you sure shes ok" which also connotates how the older generation have compassion for the human race, whereas the younger generation (like the drug dealers) simply care about guns and the highly dangerous drugs that they are dealing. This is a negative representation.
In comparison, we still see evidence of drug use in Quadrophenia yet the theme is less exagarated. We only see the purchase and consumption of drugs from youths, who appear to deal with the effects of the substance to a less extreme than the highly tattooed drug dealers in Harry Brown. Furthermore it is also evident that criminal activity is reduced in Quadrophenia and doesnt compare to the symbolic violence that we witness in the other 2009 film. In Quadrophenia Jimmy does fight, but this doesnt end up in the death of another human being through the use of weapons, including knifes.
We must also consider  the use of parents throughout these two films. In Harry Brown it can be said that the hyperdermoic needle theory applies because the youths of today have been raised with the view that sensless violence is ok, without having strong parental role models to guide them.  An example of this is when in Noel states that he just follows on from what his father did.  This to audiences would clearly be a be a negative representations of youth who live on those types of council estates. It is also alarming that the film highlights how children who are raised on council estates always adopt a lifestyle of crime and drugs, because this may not be true but under the cultivation theory the use of this in the medium of a film may actually lead to people believing that this statement is completely true.
Identity is also an interesting aspect to these two films. The two set of youths are represented by having different identites but actually there is an overall theme that they both belong to a type of group, providing them with power and control.  A theory that could be applied to Quadrophenia is the Giroux Theory. It is where youths are described as an empty category and are open to influences, which is relevant for Jimmy because his actual lifestyle and behaviour is influenced by the way that he sees other "Mods" around him and also actually the older generation react to them in a negative way. In Harry Brown however I think that identity is used as a concept of controling the estate, and that the youths all conform to the stereotypical hooded clothing and tracksuits. The youths are shown to have mindless power and authority over all aspects of the estate, whcih I believe isnt a realistic representation of youth today. Some youths just wish for a sense of belonging, rather than seeking an avenue of violence. In Quadrophenia I think that identity is deemed to be more important to certain characters. Jimmy turns hysterical when he realises his social demographic no longer exists, and therefore throws his moped over a cliff in frustration.  One particular theory could be applied to Harry Brown's youths is the Acland theory about ideology of protection. They conform to a identity and continually kill many innocent civilians, including the woman with the baby at the start of the film, and therefore something bad happens to them, which is where Harry Brown violently shoots them. This reinforces the idea that children of today should be discouraged from joining gangs as something as a result will lead to something bad happened to them or even death. Harry Brown is the protagonist.

To conclude overall youths are portrayed negatively throughout both of these media texts, however it is the main themes of the film that are poignant and point out how youths are controlled through hegemonic values. Some youths wish to fight it;Quadrophenia, whereas others believe try to mediate control in society;Harry Brown. Both films are iconic in how they potray the youth of today in Harry Brown and the youth set in the past;Quadrophenia.

Mark- 40/50. Low level 4

I think you gave good arguements and had thought about the question clearly. You presented a lot of theories and applied them well to your arguements showing you understood them. I think you could improve by maybe a stronger conclusion? But was very good overall :)