I was just wondering what everyones views on Skins and The OC are - on their representation of today's 'youths'?

Do you think the creators have represented our generation correctly?

Do you think that Skins or The OC are more accurate in conveying youth?

Plus can you think of any other 'Teen Dramas' that convey a more accurate representation of youth?

Any feedback would be great, thanks xx

well o.c nothing like what us engish are like i dont think anyway im not sure about othere ppl but like yer .. its all a bit i dunno .. skins yes it is sorta real i can see ppl geting up to the stuf on skins i dont but

o.c-no
skins-yesd

Mmmmm Is this research for your dissertation?!

I thought Skins was rubbish at first, but to be fair it picked up as the series went on. And it actually does remind me of my 6th form college days- which was 1997-99, so it seems to represent my 'teen years' (... although I'm still living them now, despite being 25 & married & having a mortgage!). But whether it represents the 'youth' of today I don't know....
I suppose it represnts a certain youth, you know 'middle class' (whatever that means these days), going to do A levels, going to go to Uni, Play-hard-but-still-do-my-assignments type of teenager.

As for The OC, it was ace in S1 when they showed them drinking, smoking, having sex, doing drugs etc, real things teenagers do gte up to. As think about other 'recent' US teen soaps, Dawsons Creek for eg..... it was completely unthinkable to do any of those things and if a character did do them it was 'wrong'. But most kids (as far as I'm aware in the UK anyway) don't drive round in BMWs & wear gucci clothes...

But then again, hey what do I know? I'm an old woman!!

Is that enough for ya? Not quite 10,000 words but it will get you on your way hey?!

quote:

Mmmmm Is this research for your dissertation?!

hahaha yeh its for a media research project, but whenever i seem to say that, people either tell me to do my own work (which is actually to get other peoples opinions) or don't reply... so i am very greatful hahaha

I totally agree that The O.C was better in S1.. more realistic i would say, well apart from the whole BMW thing

Do you think then that British dramas (especially teen) are more true in their representation of youths than American then? Like with Shameless and Sugar Rush?

hmmmm... i'm getting quite into this now

Ha ha! I caught you out!

Shameless is rubbish!! Contraversial I know,
but I'm from Manchester & it really does nothing but stereotype us all as a load of free-loading numpties, a stereotype we have tried hard to shift....!

As for Sugar Rush, yeah I'd say it's pretty true to life; channel 4 usually do a good job of these things. With the exception of Hollyoaks of course....ahhhhh I know
How can I say such a thing....?!?! Sorry guys but it is awful! Storylines are dealt with in an atrocious way!

Programmes like Skins & Sugar Rush don't talk down to kids/teens/young adullts like Hollyoaks does with it's 'just-say-no' Grange hill attitude!


Hope this helps you out!! I'm off to bed now!
xx

quote:

Originally posted by silew89:


Do you think then that British dramas (especially teen) are more true in their representation of youths than American then? Like with Shameless and Sugar Rush?

Yes I do; but I think that it's probably more to do with scheduling in the US, advertising slots etc, than an actual unwillingness to show teenagers smoking a joint!

although very exadurated - i think skins has a fairly accurate portayal - i can relate to the type of people shown, the places they hang out, issues and parties they go to etc.

the OC is deliberately set in a wealthy part so we can see how the other half live lol. But with the OC - the drama in there lives i can't really relate to - something big/crazy happens everyweek. but thats why i like it, because to me its more of a fantasy than a reality - which is what TV is for.

the oc has improved views of american teens though - atleast they're not supposed to be 15 and talking in adult ways etc (ala Dawsons Creek) - although Autumn Reeser who plays Taylor is 26 or something!!

quote:

With the exception of Hollyoaks of course....ahhhhh I know
How can I say such a thing....?!?! Sorry guys but it is awful! Storylines are dealt with in an atrocious way!

i know!! i've just never got it! its so awful (sorry i do know a lot of ppl do like it). its so rediculous its redunkulous!

Yeay!!! Someone who agrees with me!

Seriously no one can watch it & take it seriously, it must be an escapism thing!

hi everyone! i'd like to know similar sorts of things as silew89 but im looking at the representations of youth in hollyoaks and the o.c. if you could just give me some comments as to what you think that would be fab! thank you! x x

I am also doing a similar project for media. I am looking at the representation of teens in Soap operas ond TV dramas.

this has been very helpful.

Heyaaa i would like some help with my prject, im doin media, and iv decided to do it on, How the characters in American teen dramas are representing today’s generation? av u got any ideas of what i can include in the essay? thank uuuu x