According to Stanley Cohen, author of Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972) and credited as creator of the term, a moral panic occurs when "condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests." Those who start the panic when they fear a threat to prevailing social or cultural values are known by researchers as "moral entrepreneurs," while people who supposedly threaten the social order have been described as "folk devils."
Moral panic links in with the film "clockwork orange" which caused a stir among the public once released for its graphic and violent behavior. Originally a novel written by "Anthony Burgess" the story was natorious for its contraversial content. Involving the conspiracy between the main characters "alex and his droogs" antics and how their actions effected and where mirrored by the public, in particular the younger generation the film was eventually band. The debate still stands today as to whether our society can be influenced by such unappropriate behaviour or if the devients who commit the crimes will regardless of what they have viewed.
1.How was the film reported by the press and how did the youths of the time relate to the film? Though the film was praised many medias and critics criticised the films content and how it may be perceived by the public. A critic Pauline Kael called the film pornographic, because of how it dehumanised Alex's victims, while highlighting the sufferings of the protagonist Alex himself. Also showing Alex enjoying the running over small animals or raping underaged girls, and argued that violent scenes — the Billyboy's gang extended stripping of the very buxom woman they intend to rape — were offensive. This content which was seen to shock the viewers at the time began the medias and newspapers to begin a moral panic in which sensationalist headlines about antics similar to those of the film where seen to be influenced by it, them stating "the clockwork orange theory" has taken place. The youths related to the film in a way as similar to Alex and his droogs they wore similar clothing to each other and stuck together in gangs however when talking about the behaviour viewed youths stated that it was nothing in which they had not seen before. This brings in the debate again as to whether the film does need a concern or this type of behaviour will take place regardless if like the droogs they have no prospects within society.
2.How can Stan Cohens theory be related to this film?
This relates to Stan Cohens theory as it represents youths in a bad light and indicates to the viewers that gangs such as Alex and his droogs all act a certain way as devients against society which is not always the case. The fact the film was so contraversial did cause an almost moral panic similar to Cohens theory as to whether this was the future behaviour of the young deliquents and if they would be affected and mirror those actions similar to the characters as a way of acting out towards society.
Quandrophinia 1979
1.Discuss the representation and ideological values of Jimmy, Steph and Kevin. Use textual examples to back up your point made:
The main point in which Jimmy is represented is that he tries to be out of the ordinary and the big I am which could be due to the lack of excitement within the other aspects of his life (family, work.)The fact that Jimmy wants to be out of the ordinary is shown through dialog when stating to Kevin "I don't want to be the same as everyone else, thats why I'm a mod see" which is slightly ironic as though he is a mod they all show similar behaviour and wear similar clothing making them the same as each other rather than unique. This ideologie of wanting to be different but actually all being similar to each other could be done in order to the impression which the young generation think they have by being different and the view of which the older generation have of them by all being the same. This is shown further by him and his dad being binary opposites and him stating Jimmy to be a "freak" asking "haven't you got a mind of your own." The mob mentality and sticking together is also an ideology in which is shown by them trashing the house and the streets of Brighton basically because they can and are in such a large crowd that they are not fearful of the consequences. Jimmy is shown to be centrally framed between the two older men at his work and is throwing up whilst they ignore him and chat amongst themselves which could be to show the intollerance the older generation hasto the younger generation and the antics they get up to.
Steph is indicated to be the typical teenage girl of that period by being flirtatious and fun as at the time the contraceptive pill had just been created allowing women to be much more sexually active than they previously could be.
2.What examples of mise en scene reinforce the idea of youth culture? There is various forms of mise en scene used in order to establish the youth culture such as the dark rock music, motorbikes, drugs, smoking, parka, gambling, bars parties and riots. These are all things which show the young generation in a bad light and indicate that they are very image consious. The mise en scene is important in order to indicate the lifestyle of the mods and the outlets they use in order to supress their bordom and go against society.
4.How can Stan Cohens theory be related to this?
The mods are almost seen to take over society by their antics and are devients which rebel against the normal and try to almost destroy it. This rule breaking and conflicts between the younger and older generation may cause a moral panic within the media as its something which is generally feared by the older generation. Those who then see a mod in the street maythen be fearful that they will get into antics similar to those in the film purely because of the way they dress. The mod mentality is something of a moral panic as if big enough and wanting to rebel against society it is possible that the culture we live in could change, a fearful thought for the society at that time.
moral panic today be reinforced by these films?
moral panic and deviance amplification
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