Representation (complete)

  • Seventeen Going Under constructs a version of reality (real locations and characters) — the paradigmatic choices of visual and technical codes work together to convey a point of view about social issues including inequality.

  • Fender refuses to accept the certain areas of society are frequently misrepresented/ under

→ representations are challenging raising awareness of struggling areas of society in need of support and recognition.

  • Fenders music is very anchored in his sense of belonging to a particular place and community — rep of North Shields conveys message about people who live there

→ including a stereotypical working class street and a social block juxtaposed with evocative shots of the coast

  • observations of working class life are a significant element of his music

  • Destructive effects of poverty are illustrated here with references to his mother, her struggles with debt and his own younger feelings of responsibility and powerlessness

Representations of masculinity

  • toxic masculinity of Fenders 17 year old self is in subject of his recent introspection — shown in the bullying and violence of his youth and the idea that boys must be tough

  • He uses his songs to construct the representation of gender in the music video to confront his emotions and as an outlet of expression

  • Narrative of the music video demonstrates how representations are affected by social and cultural contexts

  • David Gauntlett ( identity theory) Fender re defines masculinity and challenges the notions of toxic masculinity and its effects — doing so he offers a more complex representation of what it means to be male

→ in modern society — he offers a more diverse representation in which identities can be constructed

Representations of youth

  • music video illustrates issues relating to young people — particularly in underprivileged to young people including poverty, violence and drugs

  • Through his own experience he effectively articulates the emotions of young working class men and women who may feel trapped by their lives and environment

  • Stuart Hall — stereotypes can misrepresent individuals from these groups and reinforce audience perceptions and assumptions

Representations invoke discourses and ideologies

  • Sam fender is politically outspoken, understanding how dominant groups in society control what is produced — how representations are constructed and the harmful effects of reinforcing regional and gender stereotypes

  • The music video serves both to amplify the lyrics and t position the audience to engage with the issues — e.g mental health problems, empathy with the characters and their situations