Plan B Ill Manors Quote

We are all products of our environment... some environments are just harder to survive in

Ill Manors (film)

This film is about youths in London, stuck in the vicious lifestyle they've been pushed into. It shows the harsh reality of some people's lives- drugs, sex, violence, vandalism etc. I think Plan B's aim of making this film was to introduce this situation to people who aren't aware of it, and simply think youths make an informed choice to behave this way. This film shows each character's story and how complex their situations are- they can't get out of this mess. The plot reveals each character is linked and the violence between them is even more emotional once you feel you know these characters. Throughout the whole film you watch the characters going through troubles and complications- much more sinister than anyone else's day-to-day life. The representations of youths in this film support people's negative views eg. their clothing: caps, dark clothes, baggy tops, bling, trackies, hoodies etc. This reinforces the expectations that anyone dressed like this is bad. The use of drugs demonstrates how low these people feel their life is and that is their only method of escapism eg. michelle takes drugs to help her get through life as she is constantly in bad situations- being used for sex to produce money for others. This film shows the importance of gangs as if you're not part of a gang you are seen as a child and don't have the security needed, such as Jake becoming part of Aaron's gang by beating someone up, the music reinforces this importance 'he becomes a man today'. The use of guns in this film (eg. Chris/ Aaron/ Jake) back up the expectations and the fears that people have about youngsters: they can be dangerous, but only due to the society they have been brought up in. This film addresses some wider social issues such as the vicious cycle which targets and attacks youngsters caught up in the motions of it all. This underclass can't escape: they're raised poorly, taught to achieve via illegitimate means such as joining gangs and gaining status through violent acts, they then have their own children and they're stuck in the same situation- because they're raised to believe there's nothing they can do for themselves cause their parents made nothing of themselves either. Because the underclass are constantly in this situation it causes the rest of society to label them as trouble, therefore the media reinforces these views to make the beliefs stronger. Wider society's behavior towards the underclass (such as authority targeting a certain type of person for stop and search etc) pushes them further into the hole, causing them to be more and more unattached to the rest of society.

TED Lecture

-no schools take bad kids
-no respect for authority, ignored by society, don't listen to anyone but rappers
-broken families, alcohlic and drug addicts for parents, raised children to believe kids can never make -anything of themselves cause they didn't, kids abused physically/mentally
-only takes one person to put positive thoughts in a kid's head
-no one wanted to take the chance on 'ill manors' until he was famous
-chav= derogatory term, bad stigma 'council housed and violent' hypocritical as racism etc would be public uproar
-demonisation of youth, people judge them without first hand knowledge, base knowledge on what they read
-whole generation pushed out of society, beaten into apathy, no more youth centres
-media dont show good sides of youth eg. plan b's story, doesnt fit in to the rest of the bad press
-plan b took people on in his band, but can't help everyone, other individuals can help eg. plasterer, plant seed of knowledge 'each one teach one', without opportunities these kids would have criminal records

Time 4 PlanB

http://www.time4planb.co.uk/

http://www.time4planb.co.uk/news/statement-on-ill-manors

Plan B is running this campaign to try to get the middle and upper classes to think about their behaviour towards the underclass, as well as the derogatory and prejudice behaviour from authorities. He believes society is hypocritical as to how labeling someone a 'chav' is a common phrase used by individuals and the mass media alike, but racial and gender prejudices are heavily frowned upon. Plan B aims to raise awareness of the reasons this underclass feels the need to fight back and rebel against the society they have been kicked out of.

Ill Manors (Song)

Youths are represented as scum in these lyrics. They are like a species you can go and look at but they are stuck in that situation. They have all the bad qualities that people expect of them. However, Ben Drew only encodes this message, as he is only saying it in a satirical sense because he knows that not everyone is like that and he ahs been in that situation before. He has digs at the government and argues that they are to blame for these situations, 'there's no such thing as Broken Britain, we're just bloody broke in Britain'. He adds links to other songs which might attract older generations to listen to the lyrics of the song. He humour within this song is whitty and very matter-of-fact as he tries to reveal the real feelings behind the youhts of today.
The visuals of the song back up the stereotypical portrayal of youths and gangs. It is filmed in slummy urban areas with no new building projects, 'they preserve our natural habitat' and they're wearing hoodies and face scares to hide their identity. It shows them smoking and drinking, and involved in violence and vandalism. It also shows some original footage from the London Riots. On the other hand it shows figures of authority abusing their power eg. policemen attacking individuals and members of parliament snapping at the public, 'what you looking at you little rich boy?'.
This video fuels negative representation of youth collective identity but in a sarcastic, satirical way. Plan B takes the mick out of the government and media representations of youths and plays up to the expectations in the music video. However, at the same time, the lyrics and images in the song attempt to challenge these negative views by mocking them. In the video the youngsters are seen smoking, drinking, vandalising and partaking in violent behaviour; the typical acts assumed by other classes. There are some scenes showing authority abusing their power such as a group of policemen taking down one youth, or members of the government reaching breaking point and snapping at members of the public. Plan B was trying to challenge people's stereotype of youngsters ironically by living up to the expectaions people have given them. Plan B hopes to raise awareness of the harsh treatment given by different social groups towards the underclass and youths. By making this song he also wants to create inspiration for the people in these situations to try to make their lives better than what they are now. 

Discussion and Activity

How far were the responses of the rioters themselves given space in the media?
Whenever we heard anything from the rioters' point of view it always focused on the negative things they said or the way they said them to back up the bad stigma attached to these youngsters. However many reports didn't give space for their explanations at all and simple assumed that they were out there to cuase mischief without any reason or morals. Many of the interviews with the rioters were a spur of the moment sort of thing, not planned and rehearsed so it didn't give the youngsters a lot of time to think about how they need to explain themselves, unlike the formal debates with the government etc.

Given the general framing of young people as the key participants in the events, how much space was given to young people's voices, and what sorts of young people were given space to respond in the media debates?
They were given very little opportunity to talk and explain themselves, they were often confronted in the middle of a street where their emotions were probably still running high. They were often hooded, male, masked, and smoking or drinking, giving off the stereotypical look of a thug- the way the media made sure all youths would be represented. Despite this, there is one famous news coverage where a smart young man confronts Borris and suggests reasons why people may be committing these crimes and causing devastation. This was a rare opportunity for the young man and you could argue that he stood up for all people his age and in his situation.

To what extent did social media challenge or confirm representations of youth identity in the mass media during the time of the London Riots?
Social media such as Facebook and Twitter was used to set up the riots throughout England. Luckily these posts are very public and were easy to track so the people who were involved were easy to identify. On the other hand after the riots there were groups on both sites advertising clean up sessions eg. #riotcleanup and Facebook pages dedicated to restoring the towns and cities. Also Henry Jenkins suggests these social media sites allow youngsters their freedom of speech to say what they want and express their feelings and emotions. BBM was a huge problem for the officials as messages send via this device can't be tracked meaning the rioters could set up attacks between them and others without anyone else even having a clue about it. Due to happenings such as the London Riots there have now been dedicated sites set up to promote youngsters in a good light such as 'Goody in a Hoodie' suggesting not all youngsters are thugs and just because someone wears something doesn't automatically give them a bad name.

London Roits Write Up

1. Overview of Contempory Case-study:

What was the context of the riots?
When Mark Duggan was shot dead by police people started a peaceful protest as they believed it was down to police racism. This then blew out of control as people used this situation as an excuse to fight back against the government, even though many of the rioters just wanted to join in with the 'fun'. They caused chaos in their local areas, setting fire to almost everything and vandalising and looting shops.

What were the reasons given as to why youths were involved in the riots?
Many youths say the riots were a fight back against raise in university prices, cuts in funds such as EMA and the general treatment that youths receive by the older generation and those of higher status. However it is argued that the majority of the rioters were just there for entertainment, something to do, or just to cause trouble.

Were youths given a fair and unbiased representation in the press coverage of the riots?
The majority of the reports don't give the rioters a fair say as they always interview either the victims or the people in control eg. the police.Whenever they do give quotes of the rioters it is often the violent things they shout in the height of the moments. They are rarely questioned reasonably on their behaviour and given a proper opportunity to explains themselves.

2. Applying Theory

How can the coverage of the London Riots be understood in relation to the ideas of Stan Cohen?
Stan Cohen created the idea of Folk Devils, which in this case are the rioters. The older generation always label youngsters as trouble, and situations like this back up their point. These Folk Devils create moral panicks and the media usually plays these situations up.

David Gauntlett stated that, 'identities are not given but are constructed and negotiated' how does this apply?
These youngsters have other identities eg. son, brother, colleague, but they are now mainly labelled as 'thug' or 'theif' due to their most recent behaviour. They could move on from this bad situation but will always be remembered as being a rioter.

From the research you have conducted into the coverage of the London Riots, to what extent is the representation of the collective identities of youths constructed by the press? Consider for and against arguments.
A lot of what goes on nowadays is published in the papers, whether it's relevent or not. Often in the papers things are exaggerated or views are biased to prove a point. In this case, youths are being represented as violent and disrespectful, these articles disregard those of us who don't behave like this and had nothing to do with the riots. These articles make the readers group all young people into a certain stereotype which is invalid. On the other hand people are often quick to make their own judgements about people due to their appearance and often don't consider how they actually are as a person.