Age

Question 1

Aries (1973)

Answer 1

• the concept of childhood was linked to industrialisation when society created a new stage of life between infancy and adulthood
• Pre industrialisation children were treated as ‘mini adults’ however now there are laws to protect childhood
• Presented as innocent and naïve, or mischievous i.e. Dennis the Menace

Question 2

Stanley Cohen (2002)

Answer 2

• young people are relatively powerless and an easily identifiable group to blame for all of societies ills.
• They are often used as scape goats by the media to become the common enemy (creating moral panic).
• they become folk devils.

Question 3

Representations of Youth

Answer 3

• Women in Journalism (2009) showed that teenaged boys were frequently portrayed as ‘yobs’ ‘thugs’ ‘sick’ ‘louts’ ‘hoodie’ ‘heartless’
• White et al (2012) broadcasters negatively portrayed young people and more and more than 40% are dissatisfied with the way that they were portrayed on television.

Question 4

Representations of Older People

Answer 4

• Cuddy and Fiske (2004) in the US only 1.5% of TV portrayed its characters as elderly, with most of them in minor roles and they were more likely to be portrayed as figures of fun
• White et al (2012) older viewers tend to be stereotyped on tv and there is a lack of representation of middle aged and older women on TV

Question 5

Age Differences

Answer 5

Boyle- younger generation have grown up with new media
16-24 year olds 10x more likely to go online via a mobile
Jones- young people have the highest level of access, yet 10% of poorest 16-24 are infrequent users.