The movie adulthood focuses on the hardships of a living within London; particularly youth. There are many issues and debates being raised with Noel Clarke’s follow- up film from Kidulthood. Firstly, it is the Noel Clarke actually reinforcing the bias representation of youth and knife crime within the media. Secondly, the actions of the film on a general perspective seemed to reinforce the stereotypes that are attached to youths within London. Furthermore, it seemed that there was no demonstration of the alternative representation of youths within London, e.g. educated and well behaved kids, instead the use of props: Guns, Knife, hoodies and Batons; were used to hold a mirror up to society similar to the media’s representation of youths and didn’t consider the increase in A-level results for teenagers across London.
Within this particular scene Sam is the character who was released from prison, once the news came out three youths were sent to kill him for £6,000. However, one of the youths was Sam’s brother in which he had no knowledge until he was turned over after being beaten up. The point of view shot within this particular scene it demonstrated the growing endemic violence between youths, because the point of view shot was effective because it demonstrated how dangerous youths are within London are as they go as far to ‘jook’ each other in order to maintain this gangster status, as dangerous and someone not ‘to fuck with’. This goes into another issue and debate of youths not having a role model they therefore turn to alternative means to gain further in life financially i.e. crime. ‘The lack of positive role models and the way in which black minority characters are routinely stereotyped contribute to feelings of low self esteem and failure, especially among young black minority children’ [1]. This perhaps contributes to the gangster attitude and the point of view shot is a powerful way to demonstrate this because as the youth is pointing the knife towards his brother it is as if he is pointing the knife towards the audience and Clarke’s way of positioning the audience in that inferior position of power makes this particular scene highlight many issue and debates occurring within society today. Finally, the lack of role models within these youth’s lives is a suggestion, because of their educational failure they have nothing in which they can look forward to in life and the only thing that these youths seem to have is their respect and thus turn to violence, which in their eyes they may see it as a way in which they must uphold as their respect is the only thing they can look forward to and thus they must take care of that respect.
The mise- en- scene further demonstrates the effects of the media, particularly as the setting of the scene is on an estate and had many connotations to evil and mysterious behaviour particularly due to moral panics created by the media associated estates where youths live and commit crimes. Furthermore, the scene was particularly filmed near rubbish containers which have been a common technique used within television of crime genre. E.g. The Bill, where most of the actions are based on binary oppositions and the Mise- en- scene is dirty and cramped, and Adulthood as a movie fell into many of those conventions. It seemed that Adulthood was a typical film in which the disruption is the centre piece of entertainment and all is well because the conventional use of disequilibrium. Furthermore, the lead having a troubled past is a typical convention used within crime genre.
Furthermore, the cultivation theory fits into the film Adulthood; in terms of crime audiences are now becoming desensitised to violence. Particularly within this scene of the film where a medium shot of Sam on the floor being repeatedly kicked and another part of this scene was the ending where Sam punched Harry onto the actual rubbish containers. These actions indicated how tolerant audiences have become of violence and audience’s attitudes towards violence have lost its seriousness. This is further reinforced by Antonio Gramsci who argued, ‘once a particular group has achieved hegemony the public see this as “common sense”’ further reigniting the power and influence of hegemonic values. Thus making it difficult for opposition groups to make an effective change; this is probably why Clarke chose to show and follow on conventions of a typical crime genre as motion picture continues to develop in the 21st century it is now widely focused on the financial aspect and meeting the needs of what is now considered to be a success, because during the ‘golden age of film’ money was not at the forefront of a film success it was merely the creativity and the gripping storylines that was at the forefront of motion picture. Thus suggesting that in order for Adulthood to be a recognized film and become a 21st century ‘success’ it must contain hegemonic routes into obtaining audience’s attention by following similar conventions to the crime genre shown on television, and not take the risk and thus making it increasingly difficult for different aspects of drama to be shown rather than reinforce what entertainment is; which is the same typical conventions used within other aspect of the media.
Furthermore, from a Marxist perspective many props such as knives and hoodies fit into ‘culture industries’ in which audiences are encouraged to watch T.V because it helps to generate greater profit. Furthermore, Marxists see the media as a way of distracting the proletariat from their exploitation and passing down their own ideologies and values. This is further reinforced by French Marxist, Louis Althusser, who argues that the media is like an ‘ideological state apparatus’ where the dominant groups in society pass down their ideologies. For example, Christianity is the main religious institute that is celebrated in mainstream media e.g. BBC 1 Songs of Praise, Education- in order for entrance into A-Levels students must have 5 GCSE’s, Family- Nuclear family is considered normal within Mainstream media.
[1] Bennett, Peter, Slater, Jerry & Wall, Peter (2006): A2 Media Studies The Essential Introduction. Oxon : Routledge
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