Teens in the Media - Is it Accurate?

We are going to continue looking at the portrayal of teens in the media for several more days. Today we are going to look at an article that analyzes how teens are portrayed specifically in the press. What you need to do is read the article and tell me if you agree with it or not in a blog post titled "Teens and Media Part 2"

'Hoodies, louts, scum': how media demonises teenagers

After you have discussed the article, in the same post I want you to answer the following questions. Think back to the assignment we did earlier this week to help you with this.


Think about how teens are portrayed in the media (news, TV shows, movies, music videos)

1. Do you think teens are portrayed accurately and fairly?
2. Does the media reinforce stereotypes? Are they realistic or fair?
3. Are the teens you see on TV like you?

Teen Representation in the Media

Today we are moving on from advertising to look at the representation of teenagers in the media. We will be analyzing how well teens are portrayed in the media in terms of how they are shown to act, whether they are shown in a positive or negative way and even who is representing the teens. Remember the PowerPoint we looked at earlier in the semester where we learned that many teens in TV shows are played by actors in their mid-20s and sometimes even 30s! (I'll include the PowerPoint in this post in case you need a refresher)

Your task today is to answer the following questions in a post titled "Teens in the Media"

1. Find two teen celebrities that are often in the media (for whatever reason). Compare and contrast them in aparagraph. Do they conduct themselves in different ways? What are they famous for? How do they appear in the media? Do you think that’s an accurate portrayal of teens?
2. Find two TV shows that are about teens (fictional or reality). Compare and contrast them in a paragraph. What does each show say about teens? Think about who is portraying the teen in the show. Are they an accurate representation of a teenager? How do the teens in the shows act?  Do you think this is a fair portrayal of an average teenager? If not, why?

Teens on TV PowerPoint 

Transformers

Just in case you need a reminder here are the questions that you need to answer about product placement in the movie Transformers that we watched in class.

Please make sure you hand in your list of products in the movie that you made while we were watching.

1. Is Transformers just one big advertisement for many different kinds of companies?  Why or why not? 
2.Did you feel that having so many product placements in the movie took away from the storyline?  Why or why not?  Please give as many details as you can.  You can also use other movies or TV shows you have seen before as examples.

Product Placement Prevalent in Music Videos

Watch this video about product placement in music videos and answer the following questions.

1. Do you think product placement is more or less effective than in movies? Why?

2. Have you ever bought a product because it was featured in a music video?

3. Do you think product placement takes away from music videos?

4. Should it be allowed?

5. Find 5 examples of product placement in music videos other than the examples shown in the video. If you don't know any look it up! You might be surprised what you find!