Representation

In order to determine our character profiles and how they would appeal to different audience groups, we decided to also research different representation areas and the issues associated with them.

REPRESENTATION AREAS:

• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Ability
• Class and Status
• Age

Ethnicity:
The representation of ethnicity in coming of age dramas differs depending on location and time frame in which the film is set. In dramas set in the past more focus was placed on racial tensions and issues in films like This Is England. However now films often represent a more multicultural society, but there are still very few non-white protagonists, despite the increase in ethnically diverse sideicks or other minor characters, such as Ellen in Angus Things and Perfect Snogging. In films like Bend It Like Beckham ethnicity and different cultures provide lots of conflict and drama, and often a protagonist has to go against their family or friends wishes and expectations and be their own person.

Gender:
Films like An Education are set in the past, so feminism and sexism are more prominent themes, just as they would have been to any young person coming of age during the sixties. There are probably equal numbers of male and female protagonists in coming of age dramas now in order to attract the huge teenage audience. Also regardless of gender is the focus that sexual identity and relationships have in the narrative, and they always fall in love with someone who is their opposite. Most coming of age protagonists have been men until recently, as there has been a surge in quirky and strong female leads, each with it's own USP. Female leads now need to have wit and a quirky charm, often attracting love interest by being different and standing out form the crowd of more stereotypical female characters.

Instead of women just being love interests and a board for male characters to bounce their verbal wit off, many female characters are represented as funny, but an even greater number are flirty or promiscious, which also provides humour. A female lead will almost always have another female best friend, conforming to the audience's expectations of female 'bezzies', and a male lead will have his 'bros'.

Conforming to gender stereotypes is usually a big issue for the protagonist, with many striving to be different and accepted for who they are.

Ability:
The coming of age drama genre is not alone in its lack of disabled characters, with very few ever being made even minor characters. Most coming of age films feature an able-bodied protagonist, but quite a lot of films in the genre explore mental health issues, like Donnie Darko. Often instead of having any actual disabilities characters will be socially awkaurd, nerdy/weird, or just a loner/unpopular, such as Cat in 10 Things I Hate About You.

Class and Status:
It is rare for a coming-of-age drama to feature an upper class protagonist, more usually opting for lower or middle class protagonist. Coming of Age films rarely feature popular or successful protagonists unless they have some underlying problem that renders all the good things about their life worthless or they are literally just fed up with it, prompting them towards greater freedom such as Troy in High School Musical. Often a character's love interest will be the opposite class and status to them, in order to provide an obstacle for their relationship while simultaneously creating drama and conflict.

The stereotypes placed on class are also another obstaacle for the protagonist, and they often have to fight to be accepted for who they are, and this barrier is represented as a prejudiced a wrong one.

Coming of age dramas set in a lower class environment with lower class characters like Fish Tank tend to be more gritty and urben, and although the theme of love is still prominent other themes like voilence are more dominant. American films of this genre are often set in a middle class surburban setting to provide the optimum amount of boredom to juxtapose with the protagonist's youthful vivaciousness.

Age:
Obviously, coming of age dramas focus on young adults whether they are teenagers or young adults. Recntly, the genre has focused on older teenagers as their protagonists. Some coming of age dramas even feature children as their protagonists, such as Son Of Ranbow, Little Miss Sunshine and Billy Elliot. This targets a more mature and nostalgic audience, but having a range of different age representaions within one film allows anyone to reminisce about any time during their life. Often in the genre age differences are used to create conflict and drama, with people of different ages not understanding one another. Older people are either supportive, antagonistic or take on a mentoring role. They are often represented as restrictive or exploitive, either holding a young peson back or leading them astray, as with Maxwell 'Wizard' Wallace in August Rush. The mentoring role they take on is often destructive for the young mentee, as they are either too strict, or instigate moral issues or difficult situations, such as Peter Goldman in An Education, who doesn't tell Jenny that he has a wife and child while simultaneously becoming engaged to her.

Sexuality:
Sexual identity and discovery are huge themes in coming of age dramas, but it is rare that the protagonist is homosexual. Often the protagonists friend, family mamber or enemy is bisexual or homosexual, either providing conflict or an oppurtunity for two characters to establish an understanding. Often this is kept a secret providing further obstacles.

Romance often drives the plot, or is at least a major sub-plot, providing much of the comflict and drama within the narrative, and fufilling audience expectaions. Without at least a bit of romance audience's will feel cheated, as relationships are a big part of most people's youth.