Representations in The Inbetweeners Movie and Fish Tank

The Inbetweeners- Director Ben Palmer, 2011

• Age - young adults, late teens, nearly adults, wanting to have their own independence and freedom, parents are seen to be quite embarrassing and 'old'

• Ethnicity - all white, in some films ethnic characters are represented negatively so this is showing the positive representations of white youths

• Gender - mainly males being represented, dominating, with girls being referred to very negatively - seen as sexual objects to the boys.

• Social class and society - seem to be lower middle class, if they were working class youths it may not come across as positive, with the other films we've seen the representations of youths have been negative and they have been working class, so there is some connection

• Working class British youths are generally being represented as being violent, brutal, unapologetic, criminals, addictive personalities - Harry Brown, Quadrophenia, Kidulthood, Eden Lake
• VS
• Middle class British youths are generally more law abiding, conscience citizens - the Inbetweeners
• On top of this the antagonists are always the working class youths and middle class adults are positioned to be the protagonists

Fish Tank- Director Andrea Arnold, 2009

• What ideas are used to introduce the main character? Fighting against society, herself and her mum. She's a victim of her surroundings.
• What are the similarities and differences between Fish Tank and Harry Brown? More deep and emotional, hand held camera technique - more real, far more sympathetic, unusual female protagonist

Almost all teenage characters in representations are clearly working class
Main adult characters tend to be middle class
Representations may be said to reflect middle class anxiety at threat of working class to hegemonic dominance