Quadrophenia Homework
For homework we were asked to watch the film Quadrophenia, which would help us to identify what it was like for the Youth of Britain in the 1960's. This film, set in 1964, follows the life of Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels), a young London Mod whom begins to experiment with things that all teens at the time would. Such as ecstasy, alcohol and smoking. They were rebelling teenagers and began to believe their 'everyday' job was dull and outdated, so began to create their own fashion, trends and enjoyed the freedom they started to gain.
How is this attitude shown in the film? Find – mods attitudes towards older generation and – older generations attitudes towards mods
- The Mod's had no respect towards the older generation and was very disrespectful in the way they approached and talked to them. This is seen in Quadrophenia when Jimmy says to his boss to "Shove his job", this job would keep him out of trouble in gangs but Jimmy doesn't think about this.
- They destroy property during the riots in Brighton and London, including a Cafe in the town. The Mod's including Jimmy do not think of the ramification this would have on others.
- The teens in the 1960's and their parents would argue a lot as seen in this movie because they have very different views, Jimmy's Dad tells him to "Stop watching that rubbish" when he is watching a performer on the TV. This is because the dad believes the media is having a bad influence on the younger generation.
- There is a clear definition of class difference in the film, which reflects on what Britain was like in the 1960's. Higher class people would not care about lower class and would think of them as not on the same 'level' socially as them. In Quadrophenia Jimmy is ill at work and his fellow colleagues do not help him but instead ignore him (showing the class difference).
- Mod's were seen as being intimidating and scary in society, so the public would avoid contact at all costs. Like when the Mod's are in the Cafe in Brighton with their rivals the rockers, the public are scared of this situation.
Quadrophenia deals with collective identity and personal identity. How does the film illustrate the collective nature of mod culture? Can you think of specific examples? How does Jimmy change during the film? What do you think this change symbolizes?
Throughout the film you can see the collective identify of the Mod's and their personalities in society and everyday situations. The film shows the nature of the Mod's as being rebeliant by taking drugs, causing riots, having parties and being of an aggressive nature. In Quadrophenia this is shown throughout in many different ways. one part that helps portray this is when Jimmy and his other Mod friends break into a Chemist, to steal drugs to take with them to Brighton. They also become very loud and aggressive here, shouting ' We are the Mods'.
Jimmy does change throughout the film, in his attitude and personality and becomes more sensible. The first time that you begin to see this in Quadrophenia when Jimmy always was seen as hating the rival group the rockers, but then begins to see that they are people as well and not so bad after all. Kevin who is a rocker, is seen helping Jimmy fixing his bike and this is when you see his view for rockers to start to change. Another the scene the portrays Jimmy's change in personality towards rockers is when him and his friends try to find the rocker that beat up their friend (a fellow mod). But when they find the rocker it is Kevin and Jimmy instantly tries to stop his friends from hurting him. These two scenes prove how Jimmy's attitude towards the rockers is changing.
I think that these changes symbolize how the Mod's and the Rocker's were all just people and although they hated each other, some of the members only went along with it to be able to fit in with the social groups at that time.
After Jimmy returns from being in jail, he finds that everything has changed because he has been kicked out of his house and he has quit his job meaning he has no money to fins a home or somewhere to stay. He begins to realise that he has lost everything he once had, This shows how being a mod wasn't as good after all.
Could you make a modern-day version of Quadrophenia? Is there such a definable youth culture as the mods today?
I believe that youth in society today has a definable youth culture, that many people are scared of. This means that we could make a modern-day version of Quadrophenia, with the 'Hoodie Horrors' of Britain. The Chavs in Britain are constantly in the media in a negative way, showing how chavs cause 'horror' and disruption around the country.
