Greg Philo's theory

Greg Philo argues that contemporary 'hoodie cinema' reflects middle class anxiety about the threat of the working class. His theory identifies how the increase in 'hoodie cinema' is due to the fear that the new youth culture in our society represents. For example, in previous action/horror movies the 'bad guy' would usually consist of some kind of creature/monster/murderer. While recently in cinema, we have seen the 'bad guy' of the film switch to a group of teenagers in hoodies. This may be due to the present rise in the threat of new youth culture which has been developed and shaped by the media to the stereotype teenagers as 'monsters', therefore explaining why they are being pinned as those in movies.

This shows that anyone under middle class is inserted into this 'hoodie cinema' , which basically sums up that in all films that if you are not middle class then you are a thug in a hoodie. The media has represented youths like this in order to encourage and persuade the older generation to feel threatened and afraid of teenagers as they are 'dangerous'. Moreover, this exploitation of youths in 'hoodie cinema' aid to the prejudice that they encounter throughout the media and within adult opinions of them. This is as adults are led to believe what they are shown, and so only see teenagers as the violent, destructive image they have been given instead of the good, hard-working side of youths which is not displayed by the media.

An effect is also made on working class youths, as by everyone else they would be seen as thugs and upper class people would be more threatened of them. Also, it would be harder for them to make something of their life if they believe that they will always be linked with the 'hoodie cinema' idea. In this sense, working class youths are being victimised as even if they want to focus on getting a good job/education, they will always be associated with 'hoodie cinema' and stereotyped as trouble, due to the media's preconceptions of youths. Moreover, this expresses the extremely strong influence that the media has on the public as they have completely built up a negative image of youth culture which the older generation have bought into without a second thought.

By looking at this theory, we are able to tell that the media link social classes with strong stereotypes. The middle class is shown as being the ideal person while anyone lower than this is seen as being a hooligan. Philo describes them as a long term excluded class, simply not needed, who often take control of their communities through aggression or running their alternative economy, based on things like drug-dealing or protection rackets. Furthermore, Philo also believes how the culture of violence is real, but for the British media, destructive youth culture is simply due to bad upbringing or just evil children.