In London today teenage crime is very high in ratings. The reason why most critics feel teenagers commit crimes is because of lack of parenthood or love in their lives, but critics still have not found the main reason why teenagers commit crimes. Some risk factors associated with teenage crime are poverty, seeing violence on a daily basis, drugs, easy access to firearms, unstable family life, delinquent peer groups, and media violence. Especially the demise of family life, the effect of the media on the teenagers today, and the increase of firearms available today have played a big role in the increase of teenage crimes. The most common risk factor is the demise of the family life and the increase in family violence. Many of these teenage criminals have been abused or neglected and they also grew up in a single-parent household.
In what ways do the media glamorize gun crime? The media glamorizes gun crime in many different ways. From violent songs to film posters, we are frequently seeing pictures and films portraying guns as some type of glamorous "tool". The "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" film poster is a good example of gun glamorisation. At first glance, we see 50cents's overly tattooed back, featuring his street name, and turf (south side), and we also notice the contrasting white of his bandana and boxers. This represents purity, cleanliness and decency. Our first impressions of 50cent are those of a powerful and intimidating person, maybe with good intentions or morals. The next thing we see is the gun tucked into his belt. This is telling us that guns are going to play a big part in this movie. It can also suggest that guns bring power, as 50cent is shown as powerful.
Boy? The ultimate ploy in the media’s armoury endeavouring to prevent youth gun crime. ‘How many men go to jail and have their mum come and meet them?’ it’s a fair question, I reckon, when you’re a cocky teenager checking out of a young offenders’ unit and your hot-headed mate wisdom is already there to greet you with your little brother Curtis in tow. Here, the ex-offender in question is Ricky and barely has he handed in his prison gear and re-entered the volatile environment of his east London council estate when he is reluctantly sucked into a vicious circle of pretty rows, threats, gun violence and recrimination. And the catalyst for all this? A broken wing mirror on another lads car...such mundane realism defines ‘bullet boy’, the feature debut of TV documentary-maker Saul Dibb who has rejected the usual flashy, clichéd and unhelpful trappings of teens-and-guns tales to tell a tragic story of how a family is destroyed when guns enter their otherwise unremarkable lives.
I believe teenagers should stay away from older ‘role models’ and games such as ‘GTA IV’ or ‘Hitman’, but instead, stay focused on something they would enjoy , like a hobby of some sort or a fun activity, or they could even focus on school work. Aiming for A* GCSE’s if possible but otherwise C grades would be best. Teenagers could also try getting to know some better people in life, making new friends who could help you in life.
