Report on Misfits/Skins

Genre is a category that any Film, game or T.V media product can fall into. (Like Action, Horror, and Sc-Fi) The hints and things that give anyway what that of genre a media product is are called Conventions (e.g Zombies in the horror genre). The reasons why these conventions are so important is so the audience can identify the genre are consume that product, because the audience have preferences what it comes to genres.

For example the T.V show Misfits which we know as a mix of Si-fi and Teen drama. And the conventions that tell us this is: We see that the main cast as teens (which indicate who this show’s target audience is), we see them have superhuman powers which is typical of the Si-Fi genre and most scenes  are shot is very stereotypical teenage locations E.G parties, bowling alleys and a community service area.

How these conventions make the genre recognisable are: Super-human and out-of-the ordinary things are what the Sc-fi genre is the most well known for like when we have an E.C.U (extreme close up) on a characters eye while he travels back in time, and because the cast are meant to be teenagers it helps teen relate to that cast.

The audience needs to be able to recognise these genres which make it easier for them to engage in the product, we have different taste in genres so we seek out media products that follow that genre. Plus once we’ve seen a different media product that follows the same genre it sets our expectations of that genre, and want to see if a different product can top it.

When we see scene of Cutis travelling back in time to set the problem straight. It creates an atmosphere; we feel suspense of how the situation will turn out, we feel a rush when he travels because it feels like we travel with him (this is because of the E.C.U putting us into his personal space). This makes us feel more engaged to this media product and makes us want to see more.

This sequence is indeed a mixture of genre’s (being a mix of Sc-Fi and teen drama). It would do this to reach a far bigger audience than only one could bring in. However, when the genres clash in a scene, it make the product look very unprofessional, cluttered and a poor mix which could be a problem seeing as some members of the audience would then leave that product with a bad taste in their mouth.

Narrative

The story of Misfits follows a group of teenagers that are serving community service, but also have super-human powers. The list of characters is: Curtis who can travel back in time, Simon that can disappear, Nathen has immortally and Kelly whom has telepathy.

The shows all round narrative is set in a linear fashion (they get hit by a storm, get super powers etc). However, episode 4 of series 1 follows a non-linear narrative and we see this in the amount of flashbacks in this episode

The reasons for this episode following a non-linear narrative is because of Curtis’s traveling back in time.

The effect of using a non-linear narrative makes it much more interesting. We’ve seen how the story ends (the girl goes to jail, Curtis goes to community service). However, using the non-linear way and Curtis power we don’t know how is will end, it one situation his girlfriend is stabbed, another has him getting away scot free, but at the cost of the having the other characters (aside from Nathan) being killed later on this keeps us entrained and keeps our focus.  

This kind of storytelling is what makes Sc-Fi stand out from the other genres. Because Sc-Fi focuses on the super natural we don’t know what will happen: things like action, horror and romance are very set in the story and follow a cliché story whereas Sc-fi doesn’t get held back by those limits.

Representation     

For this section of the report, I shall be using the season 3 trailer for the e4 teen drama Skins alongside the Sc-fi show Misfits, so there will be a bigger list for the stereotypes.

Sarcastic self-aware: These are the clowns of the group often getting into some form of trouble, yet having a good and honest side to them. These characters are the comic relief, and usually the most popular with the audience.  For example when Nathern from Misfits runs and taunts the security guard at the bowling ally.

Juvenile delinquent/rebel: Often the most controversial characters of the cast. They’re as tough as nails and get into trouble on purpose. This stereotype is usually the most hated of the stereotypes because most teen feel it portrays them in a bad light. (Unlike the sarcastic self-aware characters that most people can relate to). Cook from Skins is the best example of this stereotype and the audience sees the worst of him in the season 3 trailer when he starts the bar fight, and challenges others to fight him.

Popular attractive: this stereotype is a hit or miss with the audience, they could gain a large fan base within the audience depending on how attractive they look. As the eye candy of the show most characters of this trait have other traits alongside this one.  Curtis from Misfits and Freddie from Skins are the clearly this stereotype. For example, while the other members of the cast wear the full uniform Curtis wears it more open.

Reclusive troubled outsider: The most interesting of the stereotypes this character has a dark past with them and just doesn’t fit it. These characters usually have a story ark or more episode focused on them, they become popular with the audience because we don’t know much about them and as time goes on we learn more about them. Usually having some sort of confrontation with the major cause of grieve in their lives. Pandora From skins fits this stereotype. As the audience sees when she makes an interesting look at Freddie.

Geek/young adult: Finally we have the wimpiest character of them all. Having brains and being the smart and decision maker of the group. An interesting thing to note, characters that follow this stereotype also tend to have the reclusive troubled outsider as a secondary to their personalities. JJ Jones and Simon are the examples of this. Like when JJ Jones is trying to impress some girls with card tricks or when Simon buys some people drinks and is rejected.

Adolescent: This is the character that is stuck between being a child and being an adult. They tend to act childish by doing stupid things, yet want the freedom of being an adult and doing what you want. Effy from Skins best embodies this stereotype. Examples being when Effy releases a fire hydrant during the bar fight for no reason.   

These Teenagers act in the most recognised and most known stereotypical way: For example, Simon acts in the most exaggerated nerdish way, he wears plain black clothing and acts awkwardly around other people and Cook acts as an exaggerated rebel that lights riot flares and challenges people to fight him with a snooker cue.

The reasons for these stereotypes being exaggerated is take make the audience recognise and entraining for the audience. We know that people don’t usually act in this manner and things do play out like that in real life.

As to how and why these characters confirm their stereotype is in how the dress and how they behave. As mentioned we’ve seen Simon dress in plain black clothing (he isn’t taking the risk with colour), and how he moves and acts awkwardly. And we see Freddie in the trailer pulling a girl into the bathroom.

The reason why these exaggerated use of youth stereotypes is important in this sequence. Is to grab the attention of the audience. 

And the episode (Misfits) it fits the audience’s expectation of modern youth. Once the audience starts watching the program the all the characters fit the expectation.   

The message about teenagers in the Misfits video is a positive, whereas the one in Skins is a negative. In misfits we see these teens have incredible super powers. And yet they never truly use them for doing anything wrong, we see Curtis use his power to help people. Whereas in the Skins trailer has the opposite message it has teens wrecking a pub, causing serious bodily harm to others.

These shows are created for with the target audience being teenagers around 14-19 years old. However, most teens would disagree with the stock stereotypes that are shown and probably go to another form of media (like the internet) for entrainment, but these shows have a secondary audience in adult aged 25-40 which would appeal to them for the sake of nostalgia. The adults would be able to identify with at least one of the stereotypes listed above.