Representation This Is Engand

The 1980’s social, cultural and political counter-revolution convulsed England. There was violence in football and on the inner-city street. The 1980s Era was about fitting in, or having a uniform. The youth in the 1980s took different uniform groups however within a certain group came a certain set of clothes. The groups are different cultures and sub-cultures. The main culture in This Is England is the Skinhead culture. Shaun is a young character who is portrayed as innocent and is dressed by his mum. He is caught up in the skinhead culture before his time when Woody takes him under his wing and introduces him to the clothes and his gang. The 1980s was all about the designer wear. The characters are dressed in Doc-Martins and Ben Sherman shirts. The 1980s was an Era where gangs roamed the inner city streets. The 1980s was very social as these gang member where all best mates. They dressed the same and did everything together. The gangs also consisted of teenage women as demonstrated in This is England.  Woody’s gang in this is England are a gang which are still representing the skinhead culture which started in the 1960s. When we are introduced to Combo, an original skinhead who is much older than the gang, he demonstrates a racist representation of era. Combo has been in prison where his views have been altered; he has become racist and violent. We are demonstrated his racist ways when he threatens Sandu with a machete in his shop. We see how he has influenced Shaun to also be racist as he is offensive to him on his way out. Combo still has love for his ‘troops’ if they are willing to listen to him.

As an older gang member, Combo is the most political. He is affected by England’s politics and conjures up a strong hate towards Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s prime minister. Margret Thatcher is a huge influence over the shape of this era. The film is set in 1983 around the time of the Falkland’s War. Margaret Thatcher was responsible for sending England on a war, which lead to huge mass murder.