Representation in 'Harry Brown'

Exploration of "Harry Brown"  

TASK 1 - Explore the themes present in the film, consider the following - 

.       Representations of youth and the elderly
.       Representations of law enforcement 
.       Representations of Class/Wealth 
.       Representations of Women 

TASK 2 - Explore the narrative, and consider the ideological values that are present in the film, think about how the themes present may link to certain media representations/moral panics/sensationalism

EXTENSION - Construct a vialogue of a certain scene within Harry brown and deconstruct the technical and symbolic codes 

TASK 1

REPRESENTATIONS OF: YOUTH VS THE ELDERLY

Teenagers in 'Harry Brown' are exclusively depicted as reckless, cruel, drug-dealing thugs that cause damage to life and property '...purely for entertainment,' (in the words of Harry Brown). This creates a tense dynamic between the old and the young, Harry Brown being the representative for the older generation, an upstanding pensioner scarred from war and disgusted by the actions of these violent youths. This representation likely stems from the hegemonic ideologies of teenage boys causing trouble for well-meaning adults, having little to no respect, and being associated with gangs. This is an ideology supported through various media texts, from sensationalised news (Over half the newspaper stories about to teenage boys in 2008-2010 refer to crime) to TV Drama and comedy. The moral panic surrounding subcultures such as the Mods and Rockers reinforce this concept and these representations maintain the hegemony. It is worth considering that the representations within the film are constructed by adults and therefore reflect the fears and anxieties of adults regarding teenagers and youth as a whole- not necessarily reflecting the truth of  growing up in these times, but rather reflecting the biased view of how adults see the younger generation, influenced by moral panic and sensationalism.

REPRESENTATIONS OF: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Law enforcement in 'Harry Brown', though depicted as morally upright and in pursuit of justice, are largely impotent and ultimately useless. Even though D.I Alice Frampton is correct in suspecting Harry Brown, no action is taken against him and events proceed without interference.






REPRESENTATIONS OF: CLASS AND WEALTH

REPRESENTATIONS OF: WOMEN