Character Stereotype

Character Stereotype: The ‘Party Animal’

Examples: Chris from Skins Series 1 and 2
Cook from Skins Series 3

Storylines
Characters within this stereotype are usually associated with storylines that involve the leisure and socialising side of teen life. Therefore the storylines these characters are featured in normally involve all the usual aspects of teenager’s social lives such as: Drugs, alcohol, sex, parties and music. These characters normally get the fun side of the programme however they are sometimes involved in the really hard hitting storylines too, involving addiction, abandonment and other dark scenarios that can occur in teenage lives.

Appearance
There does not appear to be a set appearance for this type of character as they can be found in numerous types of costume, all completely different. For example, there is cook from the third series of skins who tends to be very well dressed in expensive brands such as lyle and scott, which is currently popular with teens. On the other hand there are ‘party animal’ characters like Chris from the first two series of skins normally appears to be tired and dishevelled with messy hair and unbranded, brightly coloured clothes. He seems more fittingly dressed for a student as the clothing he is wearing is cheap and suited to a rave or house party rather than anything formal.

I think a key feature of the ‘party animal’ character is that they can come in all shapes and sizes. There is no set routine of how they look or act, this simply adds to their wild way of living and their lifestyle.

Chris from Skins Series 1 and 2
Chris fits in perfectly with the stereotype of the ‘free spirit’ character, more commonly known to youths nowadays as the ‘party animal.’ They way he acts, speaks, dresses and shows his feelings all fit in with the way characteristics of this stereotype.
He is normally dressed in scruffy(ish) clothes, as if he is always ready to get messy, wearing clothes that are old and he doesn’t mind being ruined. He also wears lots of bright colours which was very fitting to the ‘new rave’ fashion that was very popular around the time of the first series being released.
He is not the type of person to where his heart on his sleeve when it comes to emotions, he tends to look on the bright side of life and not let anything get to him.
His storylines all seem to feature drugs, sex, alcohol and parties, other than the hard hitting one featured in the first series where his mum abandons him and he loses his house.
He is pretty much the opposite of Tony, who is seen to be the intellect, who is very much in control of his life, well dressed and well spoken.


Cook from Skins Series 3
Cook is the opposite of Chris, however he still fits into the Party Animal stereotype as he has that one distinctive feature that sets party animals apart, none of them look or appear to be alike. Their only common feature is how they act alike, which is where Cook is recognisably inspired by the character of Chris.
His appearance is different to that of Chris’ as he dresses in brands and expensive clothing lines. He also takes care with styling his hair too.
He too does not show any emotion and does not appear to be able to become attached to any of the girls he has flings with.
His storylines are similar to Chris’ as they all involve sex, drugs, girls and alcohol. However he too has had to deal with abandonment but from friends not family.
He is the opposite of Freddy, as Freddy has a deeper personality and seems to believe in doing the right thing. He is also more dependant on other people and forms emotional bonds with them, rather than having flings with them.