In both the DVD cover and the title sequences of Dawson's Creek the main characters of the series are featured heavily and the actors playing them are properly introduced using Friends style typography, connoting friendliness and innocence to enable the audience to feel like they know the characters and get involved with before they are introduced to the storyline. In contrast, in the title sequence and on the DVD cover of Skins the key characters are only briefly introduced and are hidden from the audience, by smoke in the title sequence and a rizla on the DVD cover. Both of these things suggest to the audience that the characters of the programme are more mysterious and less friendly and innocent as well as being involved in smoking and possibly drugs and are represented as the sort of people to get involved with. The characters of both of the programs are also heavily stereotyped however they are stereotyped in different ways. The characters of Dawson's Creek are shown as typical middle class children of the idealistic American dream with traditional value, they are stereotyped like this through their constantly smiling faces, conservative clothing and body positions as well as the typical college background on the DVD cover and both the college setting and the inner city office buildings that represent corporate America and 9-5 traditional jobs in the opening titles. The characters from Skins are represented as being modern, independent, promiscuous and more like adults. They are represented like this through the editing and music of the title sequence, the fast pace of the music and changes between shots as well as the complex graphics and the frames all suggest the use of modern technology and a modern lifestyle for the characters of the show. Promiscuity of the characters is suggested by the positioning of the all the characters on the bed on the DVD cover as well as some of the characters kissing on both it and in the opening sequence this impression is furthered by the fact some of the characters are kissing more than one person.
The narrative of Dawson's Creek is suggested through the mise-en-scene of the DVD cover. The protagonist of Dawson's Creek can be identified easily because of his position in the centre of the cover, he can also be identified because of his size compared to other characters. The fact that he is in between two women suggests that relationships might be part of the storyline, the fact that he is closer to one and that the other is in darker light might suggest that one him and the first person is in a relationship while is evil and trying to sabotage them or just jealous. In comparison it is harder to identify the protagonist of Skins through the mise-en-scene of the DVD cover as all the characters featured are closer together however he could be identified by looking at the other characters body language for example one of the others towards the edge of the cover, possibly because they are less significant, appears to be staring at Tony, the protagonist, showing that he is the centre of attention. The cover also shows him kissing someone else suggestion relationships involved, the fact that they are all on a bed and one of them appears to be unconscious whilst another appears to have taken drugs shows that there are parties and drugs involved. The opening sequences reveal more about the lives of the characters and the narratives involved, the mix of close up and medium close ups in Dawson's Creek show the emotions of the characters, combining this with the light-hearted music, natural lighting and homely setting with a city environments further embeds the idea that they live perfect lives in suburbia with a happily ever after ending. The opening sequence of Skins also provides more detail about the characters and narratives albeit different to Dawson's Creek. The variety of long, medium and short shots combined with computer graphics, jagged frames, colour inversion and shots of high rise towers give the impression of inner city, fast paced, urban jungle living which is less than perfect with more action and drama and a less than perfect, sometimes shocking ending.
Teenagers are represented differently in both Skins and Dawson's Creek because each of the programs had a different generation of target audience to entertain so the social issues and issues affecting teenagers over the ten year period would have changed so the content and representations shown in the programs would have changed to reflect the change in those issues and to keep the new target audience entertained. There is also more pressure on Skins to remain cutting edge because it is not only competing for viewers with shows broadcast at the same time, but with any program or film broadcast on a wider range of channels thanks to Sky+ and online on demand services as well as other internet TV and radio Stations.
