How are youth cultures represented in Quadrophenia?

Youth culture is defined by different social and cultural groups. In Quadrophenia, it focuses on the conflict between Mods and Rockers. Like most youth cultures teenagers are portrayed in a negative light. Mods and Rockers created public scares in the media for the bad publicity they were getting, even if the incidents reported were isolated and not as common as the media perceived it to be. Anything negative which happened between a few individuals then reflected on the whole group. 

Quadrophenia is about a Mod called Jimmy, who tries to fit in with the rest of the Mod crowd. After some drama and adolescent issues Jimmy eventually becomes distant with his friends and quits his job as he is hitting rock bottom. Jimmy finally finds himself and ditches the Mod life. 

The general idea of Quadrophenia is well established in the DVD cover artwork. Jimmy is in black print, causing him to stand out from the others, and he is in the foreground. This establishes him as the main character, but also signifies how Jimmy is separate from the group. The colour scheme of the cover (excluding Jimmy) consists mainly of red, blue and white. These colours represent the iconic Mod symbol, which is taken from the Royal Airforce Roundel. The tag line "A way of life" defines Quadrophenia and the Mod subculture as a way of life in a deeper meaning, like it being a religion. Also the quotation from Pete Townshend, "We've all been there", which suggests the audience was part of the culture at a point and we will able to relate. The other characters in the background are shown together with there style and posture being similar and away from Jimmy. 

The title of the film is significant to the films plot and message. Quad means four, the four personalities of Jimmy. Jimmy is supposed to be four people: a tough guy, a romantic, a lunatic, and a hypocrite. Each side of Jimmy is brought out in the film in different scenarios  from his love interest Steph to joining in with the riots in Brighton. Sometimes one could just as easily be another. 

The film is based on the Who's album "Quadrophenia" which is a concept album. Each song follows on from one another, creating a narrative. The Who had a heavy influence on the film and their lyrics are very important. At the end of Quadrophenia the song "I've had enough" summarises what is going through Jimmy's head. The song and the actions in the sequence compliment each other  The last verse hints at what Jimmy has decided to do, despite there is no dialogue the lyrics summarise the main features of being in that subculture. The film ends with Jimmy driving the Ace's scooter of the cliff and destroying it. It symbolises Jimmy's end of being a Mod and no longer belonging to that subculture. His actions are once again emphasised by the lyrics of the Who's song. In the last verse key words are mentioned, summing up a Mod's typical habits (in bold). 

"I've had enough of dancehalls,
I've had enough of pills,
I've had enough of streetfights,
I've seen my share of kills,
I'm finished with the fashions,
And acting like I'm tough,
I'm bored with hate and passion,
I've had enough of crime and love."

   

The camera angles in that same clip is mainly a close up of Jimmy and wide tracking shots of him riding the scooter. Within the first 2 minutes of the clips there is very little cut transitions between shots. The mid shot as he shouts, "bellboy", which makes him very distant from the audience as if he is shouting at us. It then cuts to him turning around in a close up. Your attention is brought to his eyes, which is blackened with eyeliner. His eyes seem to bulge and fixate on something in the distance, his facial expression implies he is "lunatic" Jimmy. As he moves, half of his face is cut out of shot and then comes back into shot, this suggest instability of the characters mental/emotional state. Jimmy then nicks Ace's scooter, as one last act of rebellion. There is a low angle as he fiddles with trying to find the key, suggesting it is a spear of the moment decision and he is rushing/panicking. Diegetic sound is present and the noise of the keys is evident. When Jimmy staggers on the path over to the scooter, his footsteps are very loud to put emphasis on the way he is running. The running is wobbly suggesting insecurity and shock, from the Ace's revelation of being a bell boy, because he was his idol and Jimmy is devastated to find out he is just a like any normal young man. Therefore questioning the identity of being a Mod.   

Jimmy rides the scooter along the road and then goes to the cliff edge. The shot is predominantly a tracking shot which become an aerial shot as he drives next to the cliff edge allowing us to follow Jimmy on his journey. The music follows along with the transitions and the little action happening in the shots, this makes you focus on the lyrics of the song. Jimmy stops by the edge and there is a quick cut transition to Jimmy's point of view of the sea. The sun reflects off the sea and the waves are still. This symbolises a sign of peace and tranquility, because the sea is supposed to be a calm landscape. Jimmy then continues to ride and the aerial shot moves further away, making him smaller. As Jimmy gets smaller it shows him to be isolated and alone. It conveys a message that even if you are in a subculture it doesn't mean that they are your friends. When he is alone about 2 minutes in there is a small instrumental interval. "Love reign o'er me" then breaks up the instrumental, and can be linked to Jimmy, with the idea that he is all alone and wants it to be that way. "Reign" implying he wants to lead his own life and be his own man.  

Quadrophenia shows the subculture in two ways. The first idea as a small community 
or as something violent and negative. Jimmy shows both sides, and shows more confusion about himself. Jimmy is trying to create a identity for himself, but at the same time he wants to belong to a group of people. He wants to be needed. Jimmy and others in subcultures are there to fill a void in their life. They are at the point of change from child to adult, which is daunting and they turn to a group for comfort and to fit in.