1. Representations in Skins
Charlie and Helen

2. Characters
• Tony: Arrogant, cocky, popular, choir boy
• Michelle: Represented as just a girlfriend, wasn’t shown as
independent
• Sid: Loser, virgin, the runner (given jobs e.g. drugs)
• Chris: Hard man, yet a bit soft, easy to pick on.
• Cassie: Quite, slightly weird, everyone likes her.
• Jal: Like Cassie she’s quite, plays the clarinet, intelligent.
• Maxxie: He’s gay, tap dances.
• Anwar: The religious one out of the group but has a rebellious side.

3. Narrative
• First episode, introduces all characters, full on,
basic storyline as it tries to show every
character.
• There are many stereotypes used, making it
easier to understand characters, for example:
gay couple in the pub and the posh girls,
through clothing, accents and houses.

4. Subverting Stereotypes
• Adults acting childish. For example: The
women across the road undressing. Tony's
Dad, shouting and swearing. Angie (teacher)
very emotional, relies on students.
• Other representations, French Teacher, strict,
judgmental, and stuck up, wanted respect.

5. Social Class
• Clear divide between public
and state schools. Through
buildings, people, language
etc.
• Posh people, very well
spoken, nice clothes, big
house, nice cars and very
adult views.
• Other teenagers conveyed
as, thuggish (starting fights),
rebellious, bringing drink
and drugs, stealing car,
shown as outcasts against
higher classes.

6. Typical Characters
• The couple: Tony and Michelle
• The weird one: Cassy
• The loser: Sid
• The gay one: Maxxie
• The religious one: Anwar
• Druggie: Chris

7. Construction
• Skins is a construction of reality, taking
aspects of teenage life, but over exaggerating
and stretching normality.
• Similarities: Parties, Drinking, Drugs, Friends,
relationships (social and sexual).
• Differences: Stolen car, then the Car in the
river (bit exaggerated), Cassie passing out
then waking up again as though nothing was
wrong.

8. Conclusion
• Friendship group is a reflection of reality,
shows relationships e.g. Love triangle
between Sid, Michelle and Tony.
• A bit over the top, and exaggerated in some
parts, this is a construction of reality, however
most teenager's will be able to relate and
understand the storyline.