AGE AND TV DRAMA HANNAH HALLIDAY

TYPICAL STEREOTYPES OF OLDER PEOPLE • They are weak and vulnerable. • The majority of older people are lonely and are isolated

from their families.• Old people are boring.• They are wise.• They are forgetful.• They are clumsy. • Old people just sit and knit all day.

TYPICAL STEREOTYPES OF TEENAGERS • Rude• Ignorant• Lazy • Loud • Vulgar • Miserable • Anti-social • Thieves

TYPICAL STEREOTYPES OF ADULTS• Workaholics • Boring • Strict• Miserable • Organised • Stern • Depressed• Mature • Independent

HOW IS AGE REPRESENTED

• It is clear that in most TV dramas, people live up to their stereotypes. For example, we see teenagers being hooligans and going against the law. This is a stereotype set my society however in reality, the majority of teenagers are not like this.

• In addition, the stereotypes for old people are normally things like, relaxed, caring, loving, grumpy, confused and they getting involved with helping. An example of a TV drama which relates to this is Emmerdale.

• However, there are countertypes of each of the stereotypes, such as, Debbie in Shameless. Even though she is a teenager who is a character in quite a rough TV drama, she would thought to be out causing trouble but she doesn't. Debbie stays at home instead of going out to take to adult role in the family. A countertype of old people, for example, is Susan Kennedy in Neighbours. She is out going and likes new things whereas old people are thought to stay at home and help people.

HOW HAS AGE REPRESENTATION CHANGED OVER TIME?

• The representation of people of different ages has changed massively over the years.

• Up until the 1950’s, there were really only two age groups shown in television (adult and child).

• This was because that most children left school at a young age and went straight to work and became adults.

• In the 1950’s more young people started staying in education and began leading very different lives from both children and adults and so developed the idea of the “teenager”.