How are
different social groups represented in the sequence you have analysed? What
role does the use of media language, signs and signifies have in constructing
and presenting these representations as real?
In Stranger Things children have a very strong representation
as an age group and have two sub-sections as older teenagers such as Nancy,
Barb, Steve and Johnathon who are constantly represented as an age group that
all they care about is impressing the opposite sex and being as popular as they
can. This is compared to the other sub section of pre-pubescent teens such as
the main characters Will, Dustin, Mike & Lucas who are represented as nerdy
kids who are still creeped out by girls and don’t understand why everyone doesn’t
just enjoy life and spend time with their friends due to the fact they have no stress
or worries in their life of a significant nature. This division between the two
teenagers slowly fades throughout the long form TV drama due to the fact they
both realise the significance of the disappearing children.
As well as this, the different social groups clash as adult’s vs teenagers is created as Nancy and Mike constantly clash with their mum where Nancy leaves the dining table as she is not able to go out and ‘revise’ and Mike shortly leaves after as he doesn’t think he parents are doing enough to help find Will and simultaneously creates a divide between the different social groups. This clash is presented to the audience when Copper interviews the 3 boys and constantly belittles them and could be seen as quite rude to the boys raising his voice and threatening when he warns them not to look for the boys. This can show that the boys want to be respected as they seem to be a lot more mature than the other students we encounter although their interest in board games and technology which at the time would have been seen as nerdy but know it is the norm.
The social group of single mothers is boldly presented within
Stranger Things. Will’s mother Joyce, is one of the most important characters
within the Long Form TV drama and a huge part of the main story line. We jump
to her point of view often through episode one and follow her journey on her
quest on finding her son. Joyce is represented in many different ways in
episode one and we see a distinct contrast. At the beginning of episode 1, she
is presented as a panicked and disorganised we see Jonathon cooking breakfast
for himself and his younger brother and having to wake him up in the mornings, which
also shows a contrast of teenagers stereotypes of being selfish and reckless
but Johnathon is shown as caring and considerate. Joyce’s house appears to be
cluttered and messy, supporting her disorganised stereotype, as she looks for
her keys she later finds in her sofa which is not where someone would leave
their keys if they had life under control.
