The stereotype that teenagers are lazy and stupid- Newspaper Article
An article claiming that teenagers have 'pea-sized' brains, states that the brains of teenagers are no bigger than a shrivelled pea. The article begins by assuming that the audience already know this stereotype by saying 'everyone knows teenagers are impossible'. The report even compares asking teenagers to do something to asking a flea to understand Mozart, reinforcing the stereotype that all young adults are stupid. It goes on to say that the television stereotypes of lazy teenagers unable to get out of bed are true, even comparing them to zombies.
In Richard Dyer's 4 functions of a stereotype, this article uses 'a reference to the world', because the stereotype is used to explain a reason for teenagers being that way. This method is often used in media texts to explore problems in the world we live in. For example, the stereotype of an alcoholic could be used to investigate issues surrounding that or the reasons why. The assumption that the readers will already know the stereotype that teenagers are lazy and unproductive is used to push a scientific explanation for it. Therefore, the main focus of the news article is that there has been a scientific discovery to explain teenagers' laziness.
The stereotype that all teenagers are troublemakers- Television Series
The television series, 'world's strictest parents' is a show in which two troublesome teenagers will leave home and stay with strict parents to try and discipline them. The teenagers that are portrayed on the show are always ridiculously rude and are shown getting into trouble at school and at home. Through this, the programme reinforces the stereotype that all teenagers are violent, always misbehaving and not listening to adults, who are portrayed as the people who 'know best' and have to come to the rescue to sort the teenagers out.
An article talking about the 'teen gangs' of Britain
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