Genre Specific Analysis

Submarine

A lot of narrative is used for this title sequence, giving the audience an insight into the main character. In terms of youth theories, he supports part of Stanley Hall's theory (1904) that "the common mood of teenagers is a state of depression." This is shown through the dark lighting and colour palette's used. He appears to disrupt the other parts of his theory that argues "young people are extreme and need excitement", and doesn't seem to follow the idea that youth are mixed metaphors "fun" and "trouble maker". This character in particular doesn't appear to follow either.
Theorist Andrew Higson (1998) writes, "Identity is generally understood to be the shared identity of naturalised inhabitants of a particular political-geographic space- this can be a particular nation or region." Even during just the title sequence multiple establishing shots are used to relate to people who live in that particular are or areas that look similar.
As I want my film to have a more uplifting atmosphere I'll more so use the other theories surrounding youth. 

When it comes to race and sexuality, teen comedies don't tend to vary their cast. White Caucasians are, a majority of the time, used for the main character. This supports Sarita Malik's argument (1998) that "Many feel that Black and Asian audiences are still not sufficiently catered for and that insensitivity towards issues of race and ethnicity still exist. The reality of a lived multiculturalism is not represented in the British media.” She also argues that "Whiteness has been naturalised" which is proven by the lack of variety in race in many films, especially in teen comedy genre. Gay characters either have the story revolve around their sexuality if they're the main character, or they're used as a sidekick. It's more common to see gay males used for a comical effect, support Andy Medhurt's theory about sexuality. His theory states that "Films and television comedies are full of images of gay men as effeminate screaming queens... It chooses that aspect of gay male behaviour (SELECTION), inflates it into the defining male characteristic of male homosexuality (MAGNIFICATION), then establish it as the most easily recognisable image (REDUCTION)." He argues further that this is done to make heterosexual viewers feel safe in the belief that their way of life is the only 'natural one'- making them feel superior.  
Teen comedies usually have an age rating of 12/12A meaning that their content has to be age appropriate, but the female characters still tend to support Laura Mulvey's theory (1975)that women are treated “As erotic objects of desire for the characters within the story, and as erotic objects of desire for the spectator." Despite a lack of nudity in teen comedies, attractive females are still selected for the main parts (or as a love interest). Class isn't a major area that's prejudiced against in teen comedies, although occasionally it can be used as the basis of a narrative that revolves around a bullied character. This supports Andy Medhurst's theory (1998) that states; "They are awful because they are not like us." (the "us" being middle class, white males). Characters who evidently fit into a social class of C2 or lower tend to be portrayed as bullied or a bully, creating a stereotype for teenagers in low income families.