Stereotyping

"Middle and working class people stereotype the upper class as snooty, aloof, condescending and phony. Some sterotypes about middle class people (held by the working class and upper class) are that they are over ambituatious and striving... Stereotypes about working class people, perceived by middle class and upper class as lazy and unmotivated.

Finally the upper, middle and working classes perceive lower class or underclass individuals as inherently violent, dirty and incapable of improving themselves. " (Anderson and Taylor, 2007)

(fig. 81)
I am mainly focusing on the representation and stereotyping of the lower classes.

SHAMELESS

Frank Gallagher, the main protganist of Shameless is a brilliant example of a stereotypical representation of a lower class individual. He is constantly unemployed, single parent who has a severe alcohol addiction. The character he plays is age 42 however he loooks much older due to the lifestyle of drink ans cigarettes. Frank looks dirty and seems incapable of improving himself which supports the previous ideas surrounding lower class stereotypes. His long greasy hair adds to the dirty image.

Dig. 82

I have watched several episodes of Benefit Britain and found it interesting that some of the individuals on the show do fit the stereotype. For example, this particular individual on the left is quite aggressive on the show (reflecting violent character previously mentioned by ----), she is not necessarily dirty but does not look as though she has taken care of herself and does appear to be unable to improve herself.

Fig. 83

This is another woman from an episode of Benefits Britian. Some observations :
- She has fine, high arched eyebrows
-Large colour tattoos, flowers on her arms
- Wears large hooped earings
- Bra is showing
-multiple necklaces

These could be useful when creating my own character

Fig. 84

Little Britain, a comedy created by Matt Lucas and David Walliams, makes a commentary on modern society in Britain. One of the most well known sketches is Vicky Pollard, a representation of a stereotypical chav. With her overplucked thin eyebrows, blemished skin, gold earings, tracksuit, lipliner and her hair high on her head in a scrunchy.

She is a groteque representation of someone of a lower class.This sketch was sucessful due tot eh observations made which could be identified with by much of the audience.

Fig. 85

Jeremy Kyle is a useful resource when looking at lower classes as it is renowned for making entertainment out of the problems of the guests who often fit the lower class stereotype. They are otten aggressive and look dirty/they make little effort which their appearance. Observations of this woman:
- She has incredibly thin eyebrows
-large hooped earings
- Has her Monroe pierced
-Hair styled to the side
- Either a mole or beauty spot on her cheek

Two common features are very thin eyebrows and large hooped earings.

Fig. 86