Research on Brett from Eden Lake

1) Youth are often represented in accordance with popular notions of adolesence

a) ‗A period of ‗storm and stress‘ characterised by intergenerational conflicts, mood swings and an

enthusiasm for risky behaviour.‘

G. Stanley Hall (1906)

mood swings - Beats up guy savagely after he is challanged

risky behaviour - Carrying knives, taunting them whilst walking past at the beach.

b) ‗Adolescence is conflict between identity and ‗role confusion‘. Resolving this conflict involves

finding a settled role in life. If unsuccessful this results in ‗maladaption‘ in the form of fanaticism or

the rejection of adult responsibility.‘ Erik Erikson (1968)

role confusion - Brett constantyly gets challanged

maladaption - mad killings

rejection of adult responsibility - dont care about what the do

c) Adolescence is a critical period of identity formation in which individuals over uncertainty, become

more self-aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Erik Erikson (1968)

self aware of their strength and weaknesses - young, more of them, can get away with anything

e) Continuing ‗confusion‘ about one‘s identity is a mark of incomplete development and may result in

deviant or antisocial behaviour. Erik Erikson (1968)

antisocial behaviour - drinking, smoking, making loud noises.

d) Adolescence is primarily a state of transition, a matter of becoming rather than being.

state of transition - Brett taking adult roll of being in charge

2. Youth are often ‘demonised’ the mass media.

a) ‗We found some news coverage where teen boys were described in glowing terms – 'model student',

'angel', 'altar boy' or 'every mother's perfect son', but sadly these were reserved for teenage boys who

met a violent and untimely death."

‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’

violent and untimely death - caused by the gang lead by brett.

b) ‗the true horrors we fear day to day are not supernatural bogeymen or monsters created by scientists.

They're our own youth.

Daily Mail

They're our own youth - feared by the young couple

c) ‗I was reminded of something that the late Alexander Walker, film critic of the London Evening

Standard, once wrote about Kubrick's Clockwork Orange: we hate and fear our children - because

they are going to kill us.’ Peter Bradshaw- Guardian

we hate and fear our children - because they are going to kill us.’ - couple fear for life after car is

stolen and find the in the forrest.

3. Youth are represented as being let down by adults a) ‗Parents aren't always around to help socialize their children — or even just to show them affection.

Compared to other cultures, British kids are less integrated into the adult world and spend more time

with peers. Britains Mean Streets, Time Magazine

socialize their children - feral, doing as they wish.

pend more time with peers - the group.

b) ―Young people want to make healthy and informed decisions… but until now, too many have been

let down by the education system. ― Katrina Mather, 16, Member of Youth Parliament

4. Youth are represented as part of a subculture

a) ‗Recent research has pointed to the dangers of romanticising youthful resistance and the tendency to

overstate the the political dimensions of youth culture‘

David Buckingham, Introducing Identity

dangers of romanticising youthful resistance - end up getting killed after resisting gang

b) ‗Youth reappropriate artefact which creates group identity and promotes mutual recognition by

members.‘ Jonathan Epstein

group identity - gang wear same clothes

mutual recognition - every one follows brett so must have the same views as him

5. Alienation – youth are represented as being estranged from parts of society b) ―The Youth are prohibited from speaking as moral and political agents, youth become an empty

category inhabited by the desires, fantasies and interest of the adult world.‖ Jonathan Epstein

desires, fantasies - killing the couple and being in control of the forrest

c) ‗Adolescence is a growth period conducive to alienation due the ‗betwixt & between‘ nature of the

this particular position in lifecourse.‘

Calabrese

6. Youth are product of the society they were born into, and often embody the faults and fears of

adult society. product of the society they were born into - Brett is just like his dad who is in control of the group.