A Summary Of The Syntax Theory

Giroux (1997) Giroux theory  Media representations youths = ‘Empty category’  DUE to media = ADULTS (No teenagers)  Means – DOES NOT reflect reality of teenagers The role of media representations in society By looking at this theory we are able to see that the representation of youth is moulded together through what adults believe and think. Thus then would lead to uprising of stereotypes through the media and also cause moral panics of youths. When all of this has just been created through hegemony and the media raining down their ideas onto the adults Representation of youth  Giroux views show how the youth are mistreated within the media. Describing them as an ‘Empty category’ explains that adults do not really understand what it is
This is so they can tell youths how to act an how not to act so they can enforce middle class hegemony. Representation of youth  Media representations of young people = allows state to control them (EG ASBOs)  This is known as ‘Ideology of protection’  Idea that youths need to be CONTANTLY watched = Youth is the time where they learn about social roles/values  State needs to confirm these values Effects of these representations  This therefore effects the representations as the adults see youths as all being reckless and they have to keep enforcing that these actions are bad. This is to enforce the hegemony of how the should not behave when I comes to adulthood. This means that there will be more negative stories in the
The role of media representations in society By looking at this theory we are able to see that the media always still with the hegemony of the higher classes as these are seen as more acceptable. Also that they do not take into consideration how other people live within society Representation of youth Therefore other social groups/classed ACCEPT these values and class these as a normal way of life. This meaning that lowe social classes will always be shown as negative as they are unable to have the same lifestyle as middle class people. Effects of these representations  This would effect representations as all representations of youth will always be contrasted with middle class youths. Thus meaning that if the lower class youths are not living up to the standard of the middle class youths then they will always be looked down upon within