Skins Opening Analysis

The opening to skins we are shown different symbolic codes that tell us what the programme might be about before we even watch an episode. The opening sequence has a mixture of things that also explains some background information about the main characters, for example we get many clips of the main characters throughout the entire opening moving at high speed with quick cuts, we are then shown a clock hand moving at the same speed this can mean that these teenagers are living life because time waits for nobody. To add to this we are also shown a clip of some of them on a trampoline this can tell us that they are still only teenagers and have awhile to go before they turn into true adults, to contrast that very short clip we are shown a few clips of them kissing to show relationships and that they are growing up it also has 4 colours that stand out the most, blue and pink to represent boys and girls however the title itself is in white with a black background which shows that pink and blue isn’t really that strong because “boys and girls” fits in with that white since it stands for innocence and purity, however the black background shows sin and evil which is a lot larger than the title itself which could mean they’re being pulled into sin. We are also shown a bridge this can mean that these teenagers want to do something with their lives and are trying to get from one point to another, along with the quick cuts to show how little time they actually do have because how fast time goes when you’re a teenager. Then we have the street signs shown this is probably more or less used for the audience to realise that this means these teenagers need to make choices in their lives not the current area where they are at.

Skins Poster Analysis #2 (unfinished)

This poster takes a smaller group of teenagers to represent in this picture they are dressed like most teenagers dress this day and age. Each one has their own dress sense and they are all different in someway. This is a realistic portrayal because this speaks out to a wider teenage audience, they just look like average teenagers hanging out together. This makes it believable because teenagers do hang out together, and a majority of them even though inside are the same, they do tend to have a different style of dress or slightly different to someone else. Mainly because of the colours the clothes have. This is a positive representation because they are just against a wall, most seem to be smiling and in a relaxed pose.

Skins Poster Analysis

Teenagers are being presented in this poster as an age group that has been stereotyped by the media. Because this is a T.V programme this furthers the media’s stereotype even more this poster shows that teenagers of this specific age group like to party, stay up all night and have fun. This is shown by the lack of clothes the characters are wearing along with the night setting from the lights in the background. We can also tell these teenagers are rebels because of the torn down wallpaper in the background. Is this a realistic portrayal? To an extent yes it is, everyone can find a few teenagers like this just as easily as people can find adults like this so this also makes it believable as long as the audience knows this is only a few teenagers, all teenagers are like this to a certain standard but not specifically how these ones have been portrayed in this poster. It is a negative representation of teenagers as they are the biggest group around, this poster has taken one small group of teenagers and portrayed them as all teenagers are like this, just as I explained about the media’s stereotype of teenagers.

The audience that would have seen this poster is a mixture between teenagers and adults, and both will have a different view on it, for example your average teen might say “what is this programme and why are they dressed like that” but the group it is aimed at would most likely say “This programme is great, I have to go watch that” adults are also split into two groups, parents and other adults. Parents who watch this would either have an angry outburst towards the poster because they are teenagers, where as other parents even though they won’t watch it would have a more relaxed approach towards it seeing as it is just a programme.

I think parents would find this image partly offensive or teenagers that are trying to avoid this lifestyle. For me I didn’t really care about the image what so ever I think it only affects those who choose to have a reaction to it. For example a parent that has a child coming towards this age group will most likely find a way to make that child avoid watching this programme because of how this poster has been portrayed to us. Where as parents with teens already around this age group will most likely not care to much if they watch it or not, because they trust their child will make the right decision.