I have analysed the series Stranger Things and they represent
different social groups throughout the show. One of the many social groups that
are represented in the strange things series and arguably the most important
representation is the way they present teenagers. They represent the pre-teen
and adolescence through each of the characters. One of the focuses of representation in the
sequence I analysed was the police officers when they were searching for will
byers in the woods and discovered his bike. They have represented the police officers
as being inquisitive and showing chief hopper to be the leader of the trio. These
officers however have quite a stereotypical uniform of a police officer in that
time, for example the badges and police cars whereas modern day cops can be
dressed more casually. The officers are not mis represented and show the
typical representation of the police. However during this sequence there is a
slow pan down shot to create mystery and suspense along with a close up shot of
chief hopper taking medication leading the audience to think that he may have a
potential problem.
The second sequence that I analysed was the scene containing Joyce
Byers with her son when Chief hopper returns wills bike. This sequence had many
representation within such as Joyce being represented as an unstable mother
through her altercation when trying to reach her ex – husband. Once again in
this sequence chief hopper is again represented as the leader as he approaches
the door first while the other 2 officers follow. The third representation
within this sequence is the representation of Jonathan who unlike most of the characters
within Stranger things, actually goes against the stereo type of a teenager as
he has more of a father figure in the byers household. Jonathan is shown to
help hold the family together and by being supportive towards his mother. Adversely
Joyce is shown to be as often represented in the media as weak and emotionally
vulnerable. This is shown through the short cuts of Joyce when she is presented
as being emotionally unstable and frantic when asked simple question yet Jonathan
stays calm and alert. Joyce and Hopper are accurately represented as stereotypical
characters, whereas Jonathan is misrepresented and does not support the stereo
type of a typical teenage.
The third sequence that I analysed from the Stranger Things
series was Mikes house at the dinner table. Mikes family is represented as
being a typical nuclear family, the parents hold the authority over the children,
however in the teenagers in this family portray more stereo typical teenage characteristics
by trying to oppose their parents. Mikes mother is represented as being a
typical house wife that looks after the children while Mikes dad is represented
as the working “white collar” member of the family therefore following the
stereo types of the 1980s. Nancy is also represented as the stereo typical
adolescent and the opposite of Jonathan. She is shown to be focused on studies
yet also be secretive about her social life and new love interests. Mike in
this sequence is represented as a stereo typical young teenage boy as he tries
to get his sister in trouble and gets defensive around parents. All members of
this family show accurate stereotypical representation of a family in the
1980s. this scene shows many cut shots to show close ups of each family member.
The cut shots are shorter and quicker when the family are arguing adding tension
between the family dynamic. The scene is set in the dining room which is well
furnished and decorated suggesting the family are financially stable . this again
is shown as in this sequence you can see a television whereas in the byers
house there is only a radio
In conclusion Stranger things shows many different representations
of social groups such as the difference between rich and poor along with the
different responsibilities each character has to take as well as the different
roles that have within their groups. Stranger things also shows what a normal
family in the 1980s would look like in order to further set the scene and
context.