What a Fine Day for a Skate

From the collection of

North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University

Established in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about the North West of England for the education and enjoyment of the region’s people. Part of Manchester Metropolitan University Library’s Cultural Collections, and based within Manchester Central Library’s Archives+ partnership, we are a specialist resource dedicated to saving and growing our region’s rich filmed history.

What a Fine Day for a Skate

North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester
2004
Sound

Freedom of expression but not freedom of movement? How young skateboarders navigate their city centre environment.

Keen skateboarder Luke Batchelor introduces a film about the thriving skate scene in Manchester. The sport, which is growing in popularity, is praised by enthusiasts for allowing freedom of expression and individuality, the fact that it is not a regimented team sport being one of its many attractions. For those who feel that 'skating dictates our whole lifestyle', owners of specialist shops talk about the styles of clothing that go with the sport. However, even though Manchester has one of the best skate scenes in the country, it's not popular with everyone, and the film looks at some of the physical barriers introduced into the city centre environment to prevent skating. It also visits public and private purpose-built skate parks to check out their facilities.

The Kids Are Alright: Youth Culture on Screen

Teds, mods, rockers, punks, goths, ravers, hoodies, emos... The 20th Century phenomenon of ‘youth culture’ is a dynamic expression of identity, with its hands on music, fashion, language and generational change.

Since the ‘rowdy generation’ of the 1950s, teenagers and youth culture have been defined from the outside and from within. Young people proclaim their social identity through style, music and the spaces they occupy – which also makes them a visible target, and they become a bellwether (or scapegoat) for the state of the nation.

To the establishment, they are a source of anthropological curiosity and hand-wringing moral panic – as well as a key commercial audience, whether for consumer products, political movements or radio and television programming. An obsession with youth against mistrust and misunderstanding; attitudes towards the young are full of contradictions.

Today, youth culture is online, in a vast expanse of communities and identities. The internet has enabled a ‘pick n mix’ approach to music and fashion, while allowing local scenes to set trends globally, and giving young voices the platform to speak – loudly – for themselves.