Youth Identity Constructions

Youth representations

Although Kreayshawn seems to be subverting the hegemonic view of females. Her posture where she is holding herself suggests vulnerability and projects a sense of belonging that is underlying beneath her rebellious nature. “identity is complicated” David Buckingham suggests that “adolescence is about ‘becoming’ rather than ‘being’ which suggests that the presentation of her rebelliousness is only one stage of her identity construction rather then her whole image.

Her facial expression suggests aggressiveness according to Malsows hierarchy of needs this would suggest she is in the self actualisation stage and is secure in herself; by using direct address her eyes are piercing the audience and looking at us directly which implies power and the audience would feel they are gripped by her.

By reviling as much of her body as she has here is provocative and may allure male audiences. However her having tattoos subverts this image as they have less feminine connotations.

Her use of bright red nail polish is in the forefront of the image and is very striking. The colour red is a signifier of passion, lust and red nail polish and lipstick is often associated with provocative females. Although because of the image she has created the red could be more easily associated with violence or anger.

“Identity is complicated, everybody thinks they've

got one”

David Gauntlett suggests that the concept of identity is complicated because everybody believes they have their own distinct identity. I agree with this theory in that everybody believes they have their own unique identity either through their friend groups, music, interests however in this highly media saturated society it is almost impossible for a person to retain their own ‘unique identity’. Michel Foucault's theory says that “as a society we have constructed the idea that peoples identities are the person we are on the inside. Which is by defined factors such as gender, age etc. but that this basic identity is mediated for who we meet” when you relate this theory with Gauntlett’s it is easy to see why ‘identity’ is complicated. Because the identity that we believe is our true identity is made up of predetermined factors such as your gender, sexuality or age that are merely superimposed on us. And we then further mediate this in order to fit it to the people we meet which then can create a sense of collective identity and subculture which is usually made up of stereotypes. Because of this people are often unknowingly part of stereotypes but still believe they are unique in with a distinct identity.