Self identity

Textual comparison between Trainspotting and Skins

Trainspotting is a film set in 1996 whereas Skins is a current, on-going series set in the present day. This instantly makes you expect to see a huge difference between the two portrayals as time has moved on and the youth culture has changed so much in those 15 years.

There is the obvious difference in style and fashion which happens with every type of person over the years, but in this case is shown with youths. But in comparing these to portrayals of the youth culture, it becomes apparent how different the fashions are and how opinions have completely changed over what is ‘cool’ and fits their stereotype. In Trainspotting, the guys tend to wear basic clothes, i.e. plain shirts, t-shirts, etc. Whereas nowadays if you ask anyone to think of what clothing they think of when they hear about the youth of today, they will say hoodies! This is strongly portrayed in Skins.

A similarity between Trainspotting and Skins is the on-going theme of drug abuse; this shows that the issues with drugs have not changed over the 15 year period and are still as much of a problem now as they were then. But the worrying thing that the audience are shown is the fact that, in some of the character’s cases, drug taking is enjoyed and with no view of giving up. It could be debated that Skins shows drug and alcohol abuse, in some situations, in a good light which could have a negative effect and influence on the audience.

In Trainspotting, the main characters are like a dominant, powerful gang, who everyone else stays well clear of if they want to stay out of trouble. However in Skins, the portrayal is different as they are not shown to be so powerful, they are shown to be just like a lot of other people at their school. This almost implies that the drug and alcohol culture has taken over and that all/most teens live the same kind of lifestyle, and if you believe the media hype, this is in some ways true.

Response to 'An introduction to the anthropology of Youtube'

The video about the anthropology of Youtube was really informing about how hugely Youtube caught on and in such a short space of time. It made me think about how everybody has heard of Youtube and knows what it is about and it seems to me that it has been around for as long as I can remember, but I never really thought before about who created it and how it became so globally famous. This footage explained how quickly one upload can reach the whole world and that is how careers start, i.e. Soulja Boy, and how trends and hobbies begin. For example, the ‘Numa Numa’ song; one man decided to mime it in front of his webcam and share it with Youtube, and before long there was thousands of people doing the same thing. It seems pretty amazing how I am uploading this to a blog for homework, yet so many people record themselves with the webcam, creating a   ‘vlog’, and want the world to see it. Just talking about their lives and their opinions on things, and to think that people are actually interested in these things, I can understand it if it were a celebrity but just another average person? But this footage showed that are actually so many people that do this every day or week, but there are even more people that take time out of their day to watch it! It shows the power of Youtube and it makes you wonder if the use and fascination of Youtube will ever die down.

Links to youtube videos..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3K15_PCfn8               My favourite band Seven Summers performing Way To Be, I come on Youtube to watch their performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq_cwwWcyqQ              Smithy meets the England team for Red Nose Day 2009 - I came on Youtube quite a few times to watch this after it aired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRCi83P4-VY                One of my favourite singers Olly Murs and his music video for Thinking Of Me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8                A hilarious clip from Family Guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n37J10GIDQA&feature=related        Highlights of my team Spurs beating my team from my Italian heritage, Inter Milan, 3-1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d57r44jWUCw&list=SL         One of my favourite shorts from Rooster Teeth called Paper Cut - they are the company that my brother works for in America and he is involved in making them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xN12kR4TLc                 My brothers Youtube series Slow Mo Guys - this is where he films my cat, Lloyd, jumping out of a tree, I like to keep up to date with what he is doing.