Quadrophenia Research Tasks

What are the defining characteristics of the Mods?

The defining characteristics of the Mod’s were Motor Scooters, they held scooter rally‘s and at the weekend drove to seaside resorts such as Brighton, they were also defined by their fashion (often tailor-made suits and anoraks for when riding their scooters). They were also defined by their music, such as R’n’B, British beat music and Jamaican Ska. Bands like The Who and The Small Faces were big with the Mod’s. Drugs were big with the Mod’s as well, especially amphetamine (Blues/Speed), these drugs helped fuel the Mod’s for the all-night dancing at clubs, another defining characteristic.

The Mod’s focus on fashion and music and partying at the weekend was a release from the "humdrum of daily existence" at their jobs, as most Mod’s worked at semi-skilled jobs. However the mass media had a huge role in the public perception of the Mods having a leisurely club-filled life-style, when in reality few young Mod’s would have the time or money to go to clubs every night. The Mod’s were defined for their need to be unique and be somebody different from their parent’s. This need to be unique often led to a low opinion of authority figures, the Mod’s had no respect for The Police or, as they would have been described ‘Upper-Class Snobs’, they rejected the British Culture around them, which to them was class-obsessed and repressive, they felt the class-system had gotten their father‘s nowhere. They rejected the 50’s pop music with sappy love songs, they embraced anything new, exciting and controversial. Another characteristic of The Mod’s was the Mini Cooper

How Is This Attitude Shown in Film

Quadrophenia shows this attitude by having scenes where the Mod’s are fighting the Police and breaking into the pharmacy. There is also a brilliant shot where Jimmy is sitting in-between two Upper-class Gentlemen on the train.

Also the scene where Jimmy is being sick in the toilets with two gentlemen ignoring him and carrying on their conversation. The scene where Jimmy quits his job’s show that Jimmy has no respect for his boss, and that his boss has no respect for him. Also the scene Jimmy is watching The Who on TV and his Dad lectures him on his taste in music shows that the older generation did not understand the Mod’s culture, something that is still relevant today.

How does the film illustrate the collective identity of the Mod Culture?

The film illustrates this collective identity by showing all the Mod’s riding together on their scooter’s to Brighton.

Also when a Mod got beaten up by some Rocker’s they all rode off together to hunt them down. Also all the Mod’s dancing together at the party’s and clubs, and when they all gate crash a house-party. The most powerful scene which shows the collective identity of the Mod’s is when they are parading down Brighton beach chanting ‘We are the Mod’s’

They also chant this when they are surround by Police, jumping up in protest and chanting ‘We are the Mod’s’.

How does Jimmy change during the film? What does this change symbolise?

I feel Jimmy during the film starts to pull away from the Mod’s, he begins the film wanting to be a Mod to feel unique, and then as everything is taken from him he realise that being a Mod does not make him as unique as he thought. I feel this change symbolises Jimmy growing up, and leaving the Mod’s behind, especially after seeing that his idol (Ace face) is just a mere bell boy, nothing special. Jimmy realises how artificial the Mod’s are, that it is all about the look, not about the individual people. I feel Jimmy is the only character to develop, as most of the other characters stay Mod’s, they do not change.

Could you do a modern day version of Quadrophenia?

Yes, as the Mod look is still relevant today. Also you cold remake Quadrophenia with Chav’s being the main subculture as they are equally ‘menacing’ and victimised by the media.