Historical Case Study - Write Up

Stan Cohen's Ideas


Stan Cohen presents the idea of moral panic and deviance amplification.

• A moral panic is the intensity of feelings expressed in a population that threatens social order.
• Mass media defines what moral panic is, providing the 'frameworks'.
• Refers to these groups as 'folk devils'.
• Presents the idea that subcultures are sometimes deviant ie. Hoodies. The media jumps on this.

Clockwork Orange (1971)

The film follows the idea of a group of youths who live in a world were their is little control, where such groups are violent and disobedient towards any law and order.

•  Moral panic was created by the press about the film, claiming real-life drawbacks that effect modern culture.
• Sensationalist headlines reporting incidents that may relate to the film, deviance amplification.
• Was found at the time to not actually influence the youth like the media suggested, however the youth of the day did agree to links such as hooliganism and loyalty in friends.

Quadrophenia (1979)

Jimmy

• Wanted to be part of a gang, group identity being very important to him (MOD culture, scooters).
• Wanted to be different, however actually turned out to be the same as all the other Mod's.
• Took it too seriously, wanting to leave his life and dead-end job to follow this idea of being in a group.
• His identity was compromised when his friend was beaten up, leading him to have to decided whether to stay loyal to his long-term friend (who was a Rocker) or his Mod background and friends.
• Jimmy is stereotyped as a standard Mod, with an example being when his Dad claims he looks stupid and the same as all the others.
• It's claimed Jimmy has 'no mind of his own', following ideas and events set-out by his group, such as the Brighton clash.
• There is a strong divide between adults and youths in the film, shown through the relation between Jimmy and his parents.
• Divide between middle-class and working-class, as found when Jimmy is being sick in the toilet while the other men talk about work.

Steph

• Steph showed sexual freedom no real loyalty, as shown through her cheating on her boyfriend with Jimmy.
• Feminine compared to androgynous Mod's (tom-boy girls).
• She is also portrayed to be of a higher class, using the group as more entertainment than any real connection, unlike Jimmy. 
• Also fairly caring about her appearance, but less tailored to the Mod stereotypical look.

Mise en Scene showing Youth Culture

• Newspaper clippings on the wall of Jimmy's bedroom, with the inclusion of semi-naked women.
• Drug-centric subculture, with many references to 'Blue's' which gave them a high. Being highly addictive and a focus point of the Mod lifestyle.
• Smoking and drinking is also heavy linked to youth culture, with scenes like the alcohol-fuelled house party and pub visits clearly highlighting this idea.
• Clear divide between clothing of Mod's and typical adult clothing, with the Mod's wearing clothing such as parkers while adults were seen wearing suits. With the bathroom scene containing Jimmy being a great example.
• A divide is shown between classes is also shown through clothing and environment, with Jimmy's house being that of a typical working family's while Brighton bell-boy scene showing the upper-class through expensive cars ect. 
• The visiting of the Cafe also fitted with typical youth ideas.

Ideologies

• Sub-culture ideology, with a strong focus on rebelling and fighting authority. With the Brighton fighting being a key example.
• Dominant ideology of being in a gang and being part of something much bigger.
• 'Mods vs. Society' idea persistent throughout the film.
• Mob mentality = More strength to tackle authority with large numbers.
• Racism a common occurrence in society. 
• The wish for the likes of Jimmy to find an identity unique to himself, which actually joining in the Mod society only challenges than actually helps.

Stan Cohen's theory can be clearly applied to this film as both moral panic and deviance amplification is clear throughout. Moral panic is shown through the media and attitude at the time; with Jimmy's newspaper clippings showing the focus on youth revolts by the media, and Jimmy's parents attitudes showing how the portrayal of Mod's brings about a bad stereotype. The focus on the rebelling on youth bending the rules throughout the film enhances the deviance and helps show the Mod culture as some of 'folk devils'.

How these can be related to today


The ideas presented through these films can still relate to the stereotypical idea of youth today. The media specifically still paints most of the youth today with the same brush as they did then, focusing on events such as the Student London Riots to show rebellion against authority and reinforce the idea of deviant amplification and create an idea of moral panic that many, specifically adults, would adopt when judging youth. The rise of similar stereotyping to Mod's such as 'Hoodies' also shows how the links still exist were the youth are grouped and frowned upon.

To this day, these films are still referenced to in the media when describing youth culture.