C2 TV
Tuesday 7th January 2025
TV Drama
LO: To explore the content and format of the unit.
Do Now:
1) There are two written media exams.
2) Each exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
3) Genre is a type of a media form, that involves a particular set of characteristics.
4) The target audience for The Archers is middle aged ABC1 women. Older, middle-class, British.
5) The BBC's remit is to 'inform, educate and entertain'.
Component 2: 'Understanding Media Forms and Products'
Written exam: 1 hour and 30 minutes, worth 60 marks.
Section A: TV Crime Drama - 'Luther' and 'The Sweeney'.
- Question 1: Media Language OR Representation
- Question 2: Media industries OR audiences OR media contexts.
Section B: Music Videos.
Crime Drama:
Genre - a type of media form that involves a particular set of characteristics.
Sub-genre - where a large genre is divided into smaller genres, each of which has their own set of conventions. For example, the genre of this unit is drama, the sub-genre that we are looking at is crime.
Hybrid genre - media texts that incorporate elements of more than one genre and are therefore more difficult to classify.
Within crime drama there are also multiple sub-genres such as: price procedural, period crime drama, forensic crime and more.
Crime Drama 1: The Responder
Narrative: Follows a police officer and opens with us seeing him and his family.
Setting: In the city at night.
Characters: Two characters are immediately established, one who is a police officer, and it seems that the other is a psychiatrist. Family is introduced.
Mise-en-scene and iconography: police uniform and car, medication.
Crime Drama 2: Happy Valley
Narrative: Police officer is immediately established as a strong female character, the introduction features small snippets of the setting and the TV show, money troubles,
Setting: In a town during the day.
Characters: police officer is immediately established, we see her with another police officer dealing with some people drinking in a park,
Mise-en-scene and iconography: fire extinguisher. lighter, alcohol.
Crime Drama 3: Line of Duty
Narrative: Opens immediately with a police car coming fast round the corner with the lights on, opens with action, a failed mission, killed the wrong person.
Setting: In the city, day time. A block of flats.
Characters: A man who looks like he's the commanding officer of the mission that is being carried out, family of man who has just been shot,
Mise-en-scene and iconography: Guns, tactical gear, controlled explosion.
Similarities between all three crime dramas:
- They all are set in cities - urban areas.
- They all have low key lighting.
- Police officers in all of them.
- All start with trying to stop a crime from happening.
- They all have scenes in offices - police offices.
- Arial views following police cars and tactical scenes.
- We as the audience are positioned to be on the police's side as we are shown the programme from their perspective.
Typical Codes and Conventions of a TV crime drama:
- Set in urban areas.
- Have low key lighting.
- The main character is a police officer or detective and therefore we are on their side as it is told from their perspective.
- Arial views are often used to follow cars and tactical scenes.
- Guns are often featured.
Narrative: The story begins with a crime that has been committed, usually. with a victim.
Protagonist: The main character is intelligent and determined to solve the crime. they are usually flawed in some way.
Antagonist: The antagonist is also intelligent and crafty, and seems to be one step ahead of the protagonist.
Suspects: There are handheld suspects with motives and a reasonable opportunity to have committed the crime.
Clues: There are clues and red herrings that help or hinder the investigation.
Narrative arc: The story has a continuing narrative arc that unfolds over multiple episodes.
Character types: There are typical character types, such as a villain, a hero, a helper, and a dispatcher.
Representation: The representation of characters and themes can challenge pre-conceived ideas.
Media Language: Low key lighting; gritty, realistic settings; handheld camerawork; fast-paced editing; diegetic sound (sound that you would hear if you were there in the scene).
The impact of these conventions can help engage the audience as they create enigmas, tension and suspense. The fact that the storyline unfolds over multiple episodes forces people to remain hooked as the previous episode is almost always left on a cliffhanger, and it makes the audience want to watch the next episode to find out who did what and whether their guesses were correct. Because of all their elements, such as the multiple suspects, TV Dramas almost always get the audience involved as they will be continuously guessing and discussing their guesses. Furthermore, the realistic settings make us feel involved like we are within the scene and storyline.
Friday 10th January 2025
TV Industry
LO: To explore the television industry and audiences.
Do Now:
1) A hybrid genre is a media form that includes elements of more than one genre.
2) We are going to study Luther and The Sweeney.
3) One crime drama convention is that they are set in urban areas.
4) Another crime drama convention is that they have low key lighting.
5) It is essential that crime dramas create tension and suspense to ensure the viewer keeps watching. Also: enigmas.
The Television Industry:
- Developments in technology have allowed audiences access to many more digital channels and ONLINE STREAMING SERVICES. This means we can watch what we want, when we want and on whatever device we want.
- Some TV programmes today achieve the status of EVENT TELEVISION and gain massive audiences.
- Digital technology has changed how we produce and circulate TV programmes, as well as how we consume them.
- The wide variety means audiences are spread more thinly than in the past.
- Audience loyalty to a particular channel has decreased.
Scheduling:
Watershed - the time when TV programmes which might be unsuitable for children can be broadcast. In the UK, this is at 9pm.
Peak time - the time of day when the most people are watching television. In the UK, this is typically between 6-10pm
Prime time - the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for television shows. Active and engaged audience, Friday, Saturday, Sunday night, 8-10pm.
Public Service Broadcasting:
- According to OFCOM, it is "high-quality content, made for as wide a range of audiences as possible, and for public benefit rather than purely commercial ends."
- The BBC = PSB (funded by the licence fee) - more about the BBC on Radio page.
- ITV, C4 and C5 = commercial public broadcasters (funded mainly through advertising), available to all who pay the licence fee.
- All catch-up services meet PSB requirements but BBC has the strictest.
- OFCOM regulates TV, including on-demand and catch-up services through the Broadcasting Code.
The BBC:
- Funded by the licence fee, all UK households with a TV have to pay this.
- Their mission is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences by providing impartial, high-quality programs which 'inform, educate and entertain.'
- They have nine national TV channels, regional TV programmes, an internet TV service - BBC Three.
- BBC World Service broadcasts worldwide on radio, TV and online.
-BBC America is an American pay television network that is jointly owned by BBC Studios.
TV Audiences:
- Before catch-up services, TV played a much more important role in people's lives.
- Modern audiences have a much greater choice and more flexibility in their TV consumption.
- A SECOND SCREEN is using 2 devices at once. It gives the audience power as they can spoil TV shows, and can encourage or discourage other people from watching the show.
- BINGE WATCHING is when you watch multiple episodes of a specific show in one sitting or over a few days. This is appealing because you don't have to wait to see what is going to happen after a cliffhanger, it provides a sense of escapism, you can get more involved with the narrative, and there is more personal identification with the characters as they are more engaged.
Tuesday 14th January 2025
The Sweeney
LO: To explore the context of the set text.
Do Now:
1) A crime drama narrative is based around
2) We will study Luther and The Sweeney.
3) One crime drama convention is that they are set in urban areas.
4) Another crime drama convention is a police officer as the main protagonist.
5) It is essential that crime dramas create tension and suspense.
The Sweeney (1970s)
- Produced by Euston Films, which was the film production division of Thames Television.
- Thames Television held the ITV broadcast license for the London area in the 70s & 80s.
- Euston Films produced a range of TV Dramas in the 70s and 80s.
- The Sweeney was filmed on location in parts of West London, which added to the realism and intensity of the programme.
- The programme used new techniques that have influenced the way TV Dramas have since been been produced (location filming, reduced rehearsal time, quick post-production).
- Series was written by Ian Kennedy Martin.
- Both main actors, John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, became associated with police crime drama, again showing the importance and influence of The Sweeney in the development of the genre.
Scheduling (Sweeney):
- The show ran between 1975-1978.
- It was broadcast at 9pm on weekday evenings on ITV (on after the watershed).
- The narrative was structured into three sections - around the two ad breaks.
Obvious Differences:
- Fashion, haircuts, cars, etc.
- There are lots of aesthetic differences between Luther and The Sweeney, but we need to look in further detail.
Historical context:
- The Sweeney was groundbreaking in the 1970s as it introduced many new elements to the police/crime genre.
- Earlier Crime drama included far less violence and provided a reassurance that society was safe, and law and order was being upheld.
- The Sweeney includes elements of the Police Procedural sub-genre, but also codes and conventions from the action genre to create more dynamic and exciting experience. There is a focus on complex, violent and organised crime.
- The Sweeney was based on the real 'Flying Squad', a division of the Metropolitan police that dealt with serious and violent crime. They achieved many successes but were also involved in a corruption case in the 70s where high-ranking officers were jailed for taking bribes.
- Socially and politically, the 70s was a period of upheaval: economic problems from the decline of manufacturing in Britain led to increased imports; the international oil crisis in 1973 and the miners' strikes resulted in electricity shortages; other strikes occurred from postal workers, refuse collectors and ambulance personnel.
Media Language:
- It was recorded on 16mm film. The cameras were lighter and more mobile which meant they could shoot on location and include more action sequences.
- Static cameras were also used in both interior and exterior scenes: they would use multiple cameras to film the same scene from different angles.
- There is more camera movement, particularly in the fight sequences, immersing the audience in the action more.
- The use of music reflects the time period as well as the MES, underscoring the action.
Narrative:
- The episode starts with the build up to the crime (Brooker takes delivery of the guns), but the main crime doesn't occur until much later in the story. Much of the episode is spent trying to prevent the crime from taking place.
- The narrative ends with closure: the crime is prevented; the main criminal is dead, and Regan can relax with his girlfriend.
Notes from watching an extract:
Representations of ethnicity: only white people are shown, no diversity. huge under representation of any ethnicity other than white.Representations of gender: Not many women shown, if they are, it is as a girlfriend, mother or wife of a main character. The girlfriend of a main character is shown as smart, as she is resisting giving up her boyfriend. When the man grabbed her and threatened her with an iron, however, she gives up information and is shown as weak. She works as a stewardess, which is a stereotypical job for a female. Women are not shown as stupid, but they are shown as weak, vulnerable, and as having very stereotypical jobs. Female police officer, but she is the one who stays with Regan's girlfriend to ensure she is safe, and isn't high ranking: she is a uniformed officer. Men are represented as heroic (the police officers at the end of the episode), sophisticated (the main villain) and strong (the two working class criminals).
Differences in society from today: there was a very clear class structure in the episode.
Main characters: both detectives threatening the criminal with charges that he hasn't actually done, shows how they bend the rules and don't always work within the confines of the law, police men shown as people who might take bribes, working class criminals are messy and not put together, main villain shown as sophisticated through their accent, clothing and manner of conversation. Regan and Carter shown to be heroes. Downfall of main villain.
Narrative: Preventing the crime from happening.
Examples where we can see the media language from the 1970s (camerawork and non-diegetic music): non-diegetic, fast-paced (adds to the tension) music during a chase scene, multiple camera angles and movement in the same chase scene, filmed on location, non-diegetic music as soon as the action sequence starts. The movement of the camera and the camera angles.
Mise-en-scene: Suits, symbol of authority, Rolls Royce, shows wealth of the main villain (Kimble),
The Sweeney is on ITV Catchup.
Crime Drama Codes & Conventions booklet: click HERE
Homework:
How does scheduling impact TV crime drama and TV audiences? Use these terms: watershed, peak time, prime time, binge watching, video on demand.
In the UK, the watershed (the time that TV programmes that might be unsuitable for children can be broadcast) is at 9pm. Due to their gritty and mature themes, crime dramas have to be broadcast after this time, meaning that they typically fall in the end half of peak time (the time of day when the most people are watching television), which is 6-10pm. This timing means that while they still get a lot of interest and a lot of people watching, their audience is slightly more limited, due to the fact that they are unsuitable for children, and that families will be going to bed around this time. Also, while crime dramas do fall in the middle of the time range for prime watching time (8-10pm), they aren't typically broadcast on Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, as these nights are saved for event television (big shows that gain a huge audience, such as Strictly Come Dancing or Love Island), meaning that they are usually broadcast in the middle of the week, on a Wednesday or Thursday night. This means that, while a lot of people will still be able to watch it, some won't, due to the fact that crime dramas have to be shown after 9pm. However, due to video on demand, the way in which audiences can watch crime dramas has changed dramatically, and allows for people to watch the show whenever they want and on whatever devices they want. While this does create a problem with the watershed, there is usually a warning on any unsuitable programmes. Video on demand makes it easier for audiences to be flexible when watching, and means that the range of audiences is wider, as people can choose when they watch. It also allows for binge watching, and means that the viewers won't have to wait for the result of the cliffhanger of the previous episode. Video on demand has also changed the way in which crime dramas are made, as they previously would typically feature a crime per episode, but now it is usually one crime that plays out throughout an entire season. This is done as audiences no longer have to wait a full week before the next episode.
Why might audience responses to crime dramas change over time?
The style of crime dramas have changed drastically over time, as well as technology, leading to a change in audience response. Before on-demand and streaming services were available, crime dramas typically focused on one crime per episode, so that audiences wouldn't have to remember the complex storylines that we have today, and so that if they missed an episode, they could watch the one from next week while still understanding what was happening. Now that we have streaming services and live television is less popular, crime dramas typically have one crime per season, meaning that the characters can develop more and it means that audiences are constantly in the know, as if they miss an episode, they can watch it on catch up. Audience discussion has also changed due to the development of new technology, as previously conversations would occur in person about the most recent episode of a popular crime drama, whereas now, with the invention of social media, a lot of online discussions happen, often between complete strangers. Also, the themes of crime dramas have changed as society has changed. For example, in older crime dramas, the cast would be predominantly white males, sometimes with a few female characters who were usually a girlfriend or a wife of a main character, or a victim of a crime. Now, however, crime dramas have much more ethnically diverse casts, and feature more strong, independent women. Sexism may still be a theme, but while in older crime dramas this featured because it was considered normal, it is now featured as a societal problem that needs to be fixed.
What are the benefits of commercial broadcasting?
Commercial broadcasting is when advertising revenue is used to fund television. One of the benefits for it is that advertisers are able to reach a much wider audience, as they can target their adverts towards certain genres and programmes that are incredibly popular. Also, while people might not buy something based solely on an advert, when they see it elsewhere, there will be brand recognition and the sense of familiarity that it creates could convince them to choose that product over one they haven't seen before. This is very effective when it comes to brand building. Furthermore, audiences are far more likely to be engaged with the advert if it has come while watching a show they enjoy, and therefore are more likely to listen and take in the product that is being advertised.
How do production processes influence crime dramas?
Lighter cameras allow for fast-paced chase scenes, which are very typical in crime dramas, simply because of their nature. This enhances audience experience massively, as we feel as though we are part of the show. sometimes body cameras are used on the actors, making the audience feel even more involved as this camera work makes it seem as though we are the actor. Also, due to the fact that typically one episode is released a week, there is a very short window for the production process to take place, meaning all the filming has to be done quickly, along with both pre and post production stages. The episode has to be ready to air at the same time every week, as this is when audiences are expecting it. Furthermore, it is crucial that the episode goes out at the right time due to scheduling, as each programme has its specific time slot, and due to the watershed, this is limited on crime dramas, as they have a very dark and serious tone.
Explain how crime dramas are aimed at a range of audiences. refer to examples you have studied to support your points.
Older crime dramas, such as The Sweeney are aimed at a smaller range of audiences. However, newer crime dramas, such as Luther, are aimed at a variety of audiences.
The Sweeney doesn't have as wide an audience as Luther, and this is largely due to the fact that there is little diversity in it. the cast is predominantly white males in The Sweeney, and when there is the occasional female character, she is usually a love interest of a main character or a victim. Women in older crime dramas almost always have 'feminine' careers, such as being a flight attendant. Other ethnicities are hugely underrepresented in older crime dramas, and this, along with the underrepresentation of women, lead to a smaller audience as people within these groups are less likely to watch due to the fact that there are no characters they can relate to. Only white males can really relate to the characters, limiting the audience for The Sweeney and for other older crime dramas.
Newer crime dramas, however, have a wider audience due to the fact that the cast is far more diverse. For example, in Luther, a variety of different ethnicities are represented, including black, mixed race and others. The main character (John Luther) is a black male, which is anti stereotypical for this genre, as sometimes in the media, there are negative representations of black men, with them sometimes being the criminal rather than the detective, like Luther is. This positive representation is great to see, as it challenges the age old stereotypes, and reflects the diversity of the show. Gender is also represented equally in Luther, as John Luther's boss (Rose Teller) is a female, and outranks him. We see her as a strict, but fair boss, and she isn't represented negatively. In season 1 episode 1, she is on Luther's side with wanting to arrest Alice, as they all believe it was her who murdered her parents, but tells Luther he can't as they don't have enough evidence. This representation of women as strong but fair and sympathetic is also good to see within this genre, as women have previously been underrepresented, or presented in a negative way. This diverse cast attracts a wider range of audiences as it means there are more characters that more people can relate to, if they are of the same gender or ethnicity, and allows people to properly connect with the show. Furthermore, John Luther is represented as a conflicted character (which is a convention of crime dramas), making him seem more human to us as the audience and allowing even more people to relate to him, as not everyone is perfect, and seeing this on television means that people feel validated in their emotions and don't disregard them as much, as this is a perfect reminder that we are all humans who get hurt by things.
Friday 17th January 2025
Luther
LO: To explore the context of the set text.
Do Now:
1) The Sweeney location based scenes were filmed in London, on the streets and at railway stations.
2) The Sweeney was broadcast at 9pm on weekday evenings.
3) the watershed is the time when programmes that might be inappropriate for children can be shown. In the UK this is at 9pm.
4) One thing that made The Sweeney groundbreaking was location filming. Also: use of music, focus on violent crimes and dodgy police officers.
5) The names of the two main characters are Jack Regan and George Carter.
Luther 2010:
- Produced by BBC.
- Written by Neil Cross, who had previously written shows like Spooks.
- First series was aired on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 4th May 2010 (prime time for crime dramas).
- It was then also available on iPlayer.
- There have been 5 series and a Netflix film to date.
- It is one of many crime dramas that takes its title from the main protagonist, implying that the main detective will be strong, independent and central to the narrative.
- The writer drew on different sub-genres: mystery/detective and psychological thriller.
Watching the episode (season 1 episode 1) - notes:
Representations of ethnicity: the main character is of a different ethnicity than white British.
Representations of gender: female boss, main character (Luther) is male, female love interest (Zoe) for Luther, but she has a busy life and job as a humanitarian lawyer, she is having an affair with someone else,
Main characters: John Luther (married), Alice (daughter of the murdered parents, antagonist), Luther's boss, Zoe (Luther's wife),
Narrative: from chase scene (opening scene), in which the criminal fell very far, then to psychiatric ward (reinforces the idea of conflicted main character), Luther was waiting for a verdict from when he let the criminal fall instead of pulling him back up, no grounds for disciplinary action, Luther returns to work. Him and his partner are assigned a murder case, Luther is welcomed back into the office when he returns, Luther interviews the daughter who called in the murder of her parents and family dog. From the interview, Luther believes the daughter committed the crime, he deduced this from the fact that she didn't yawn after Luther did, saying that her affect is off, as yawning is contagious. He continues the interview after getting her something to drink, he confronts her about his suspicions, they have a tense discussion, in almost a debate-like fashion. They all know she did it, but have no evidence yet. Luther releases her. Luther goes to meet Zoe, and she tells him about how she has met somebody. In response to this, Luther lashes out and punches the door down. Zoe tells him to go home. Alice does a lot of research into Luther, and finds out who Zoe is through him. Luther meets with Alice at her house, and talks to her about the murder weapon (the gun). He talks to her about her compulsions, and thinks she must have kept the gun because she couldn't help herself. As he leaves, it becomes clear that him and Alice will be going after each other. Luther goes to Zoe's office and talks to her about the affair she has had, and they talk about their marriage. Alice was waiting outside Zoe's office, and threatens her with a very sharp needle. She tells Zoe that Luther did awful things to her because of Zoe. Zoe calls Luther about what happened, but he can't prove it was her again, and he realises that he is Alice's "next project". They find out she has used a plastic gun, and Luther realises that plastic melts. He thinks that Alice shot the dog 4 times so she could reach the dog's stomach, and when the dog was cremated, the plastic melted. His boss tells him that it isn't enough for a warrant. Luther breaks in and searches Alice's home anyway. He looks in the dog's ashes, sees part of the gun, and takes them. Meanwhile, Alice enters the building and he flaunts the fact that he has the ashes. She grabs a knife, and threatens him with it, and begins to outline why the gun in the urn can't be used as evidence against her. He tells her that he knows this, and that she keeps the urn as a reminder of the crime. He throws it into the Thames, and presses her against the bridge, telling her to leave Zoe alone. He walks away after throwing the gun fragments on the ground in front of her. He goes to Zoe's house, knocking on the door, but she calls the police on him. After fighting with Zoe's new love interest, he fights with the police before Zoe comes outside and he talks to her, apologising. The episode ends with Luther calling Alice and her standing outside of the criminal from the start's hospital room.
Examples of crime drama codes and conventions: conflicted main character, chase scenes, main character and his well meaning partner, music, urban area, night time.
Luther is played by Idris Elba.
Tuesday 21st January 2025
Luther: Characters
LO: To explore the characters of the set text.
Do Now:
1) Luther's first name is John.
2) The BBC produced Luther.
3) Luther series 1 was scheduled in 2010. It was aired on BBC one at 9pm on Tuesdays.
4) The two crime sub-genres that the writer incorporates are mystery/detective and psychological thriller.
5) The examples of crime drama conventions used in the episode were: conflicted main character, chase scenes, brilliant main character and helpful partner, non diegetic music, set in an urban area, a lot of night time scenes and an intelligent and crafty antagonist.
Propp's character functions:
- Propp was a folklorist researcher - he looked at old folk tales to try and find out more about the characters and stories.
- He found out something amazing - most stories have the same type of characters.
- The hero: leads the narrative, is usually looking for something (answers, a quest etc.)
- The villain: has a conflict with the hero and tries to stop them succeeding.
- The donor: gives the hero something which helps them to complete their quest. Often fulfils the mentor role.
- The princess: is usually a prize or reward for the hero. If the hero is female, there can be a prize but this is unusual.
- The helper: helps the hero complete their quest, often acts as a sidekick.
- The princess' father: an authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest (NOT ALWAYS THE PRINCESS' BIOLOGICAL FATHER). Reward could be a prize, the princess or in more modern narratives, a new car.
- The false hero: The false hero takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess. May appear heroic at the start of the narrative.
- The dispatcher: Early role who sets the story/quest in motion. Often combined with other roles like the princess' father or donor.
Applying this to Luther:
DCI John Luther: The hero.
Alice Morgan: The villain.
Justin Ripley: The helper.
DCI Ian Reed: The donor.
Rose Teller: The dispatcher, the donor and the princess' father.
Zoe Luther: The princess.
Mark North: The false hero.
Henry Madsen: The villain (less so) and the dispatcher.
How three of them fit the character type:
Henry Madsen fits both the villain character type and the dispatcher. He fits the villain character type as he is working against Luther in the opening scene of the episode, and tries to stop him from finding the girl he kidnapped. He also fits the dispatcher character type, as Luther's decision to let him fall sets up the first episode, as Luther has to have help and has it hanging over his head throughout. However, he doesn't send Luther off on the quest as there is no relation between the Henry Madsen case and the Alice Morgan case (that we know of).
Mark North fits the false hero character role in some ways but not others. He is with Zoe, and may want to marry her at some point (Zoe's character role is the princess), but he doesn't try to take credit for Luther's actions, and isn't a bad person - he just wants a relationship with Zoe.
Zoe Luther fits the princess character role in some instances but not others. She was threatened by Alice with a knife, and called Luther for help afterwards. She also had Mark's help when Luther came to her door to talk with her, however she isn't a prize for Luther, and instead stands her ground and wants to separate from him. She is an independent woman with her own life, and does fit the princess character type sometimes but does not apply to everything. Also, the princess is sometimes considered to be the damsel in distress who needs help, which is another way she fits the princess role. However, she also has an affair while still with Luther.
Friday 24th January 2025
Luther: Genre and Narrative
LO: To explore the genre and narrative of the set text.
Do Now:
1) Propp came up with eight character functions.
2) Three of Propp's character functions are: the false hero, the donor and the dispatcher.
3) Luther isn't a typical Proppian hero because he is conflicted and has done certain things, such as letting Henry Madsen fall from a height. Also: obvious flaws, weaknesses, dubious morality.
4) The donor gives the hero something to help them on their quest/mission. This doesn't have to be a tangible object, it can be advice.
5) Justin Ripley fulfils the role of the sidekick.
Genre - A category of TV programme, identified by a set of typical features.
Sub-genre - A specialist category within a broader group of TV programmes.
Hybrid genre - A genre made from a combination of two others, such as rom-com.
Codes and conventions - The typical ingredients that audiences expect to see in a particular genre.
Theory: Steve Neale Genre - repetition and difference:
- Genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions - they have a 'system of expectations' (the things audiences expect to be included).
- Genres change, develop and vary over time.
- Genres borrow from and overlap with one another - this created a hybrid e.g. crime-thriller.
- Audiences would get bored if nothing ever changed.
- Therefore, each programme must offer something new. This is known as a USP (Unique Selling Point).
E.g. Luther was the first black detective in a British crime drama.
The Sweeney opening:
Genre conventions: Non diegetic music, guns, starts with a crime being committed, police, car chases (action sequences).
Hybrid Genres: crime-action.
Luther opening:
Genre conventions: Chase scene to start, police, non diegetic music, tense action, low key lighting, foiling of an attempted murder, urban location.
Things that are different or unique about Luther compared to other crime dramas: Opening scene makes Luther look like the villain through showing Luther as calm and walking whereas Henry Madsen is running and frantic. Henry is wearing a suit, Luther is wearing a heavy coat, making it seem like he is the villain. Luther is also kept in shadow a lot. When Luther says "oh, Henry" starts to make us realise that he is the police officer. We see how Luther regrets his decision to let Henry fall, which makes it so we know he isn't a bad person, and we need to like/be intrigued/believe in him to keep watching. We question his ethics and morality from the start.
Hybrid Genres: Crime and Western (stand off, switching between the two of them). Psychological thriller.
Changes from the Sweeney to Luther: technology has changed and developed, so we see people on the phone, and there is now a greater borrowing of other genres. Also, action sequences are far more intense as camerawork and editing has improved. Due to advances in technology and editing, the title sequence has become far more developed.
Luther: Genre
Luther contains many familiar elements of crime drama, but it also shows developments in the genre when compared to The Sweeney.
There are many elements hybridised from other genres:
- Conventions from thriller genre in visual and audio codes - low-key lighting, intense non-diegetic music and dramatic cross-cutting.
- References to the horror genre - graphic shots, jump scares.
- Elements of police procedural, but with an increased focus on psychology.
-The characters are far more complex and developed, particularly female roles.
- Real life developments in forensics are reflected in the show.
- Filming styles are very different (technology) - multiple angles, far more camera movement and viewpoints.
Stock characters - the typical characters you would find in particular genres; a convention of crime drama.
Luther is the MAVERICK DETECTIVE:
- brilliant detectives, able to solve crimes and understand clues that nobody else can.
- Not afraid to break the rules if it means catching the criminal.
- Often 'damaged' individuals who struggle to hold together their personal lives.
Evidence of this:
- Brilliant detective - realising Alice Morgan was the killer from the fact that she didn't yawn after he did. Also, realising the gun was in the dog's body.
- Not afraid to break the rules - when he let Henry Madsen fall. Breaking into Alice's house (didn't have a warrant) and he takes the urn.
- Struggling to hold together his personal life - when he loses control when he talks to Zoe about her affair.
Alice is the PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER:
- Deceitful characters who pretend to be 'normal'.
- Capable of horrific crimes.
- Enjoy playing mind games with detectives.
Evidence of this:
- Pretends to be normal - calls the police freaking out and crying when she 'discovers' her family's bodies. Also, at the start of the interview scene.
- Horrific crimes - killed her parents and their dog.
- Enjoys playing mind games - she gets involved with Zoe and taunts Luther saying she's going to hurt Zoe. When Luther finds the gun and she tells him that he knows he can't use it.
Alice is also the FEMME FATALE:
- A mysterious and dangerous female character.
- Uses her sexuality to exert power over male characters.
- A character more often seen in Film Noir.
Narrative:
- BACKSTORY: pre-title sequence summarises the previous case and explains why Luther has been on leave. Madsen is shown again at the end of the episode, a continuing NARRATIVE ARC that runs throughout the series.
- INVERTED NARRATIVE: we know who the murderer is, and that Luther will catch her - but we don't know how! The ensuing psychological duel between the two characters is more engaging and exciting.
- CRIME: the murder of Alice's parents. We know that she did it - we literally see her with blood on her hands - but there is no sense of justice in the usual way. Only personal satisfaction for Luther.
- NARRATIVE STRANDS: neither the crime nor John's personal life are neatly solved by the end of the episode but there is some sense of resolution and equilibrium. These strands will be taken up again in. the next episode.
- VISUAL CODES: there are some ICONIC SIGNIFIERS used. The camerawork and editing are used to focus attention on important narrative clues.
Tuesday 28th January 2025
Luther: Representation
LO: To explore the representations constructed in the set text.
Do Now:
1) Steve Neale claims: Genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions.
2) USP stands for Unique Selling Point.
3) Luther is a maverick detective.
4) A stock character is a character that crops up in almost everything in a specific genre.
5) Alice is the psychopathic killer and the femme fatale.
Representation - The way in which people, places, issues and events are portrayed in the media.
Questions to consider when looking at representation:
1) Is it positive or negative?
2) Are there aspects which conform to traditional stereotypes in that area?
3) Are there any aspects that challenge traditional stereotypes in that area?
4) What evidence can be used to support your case?
Representation of John Luther:
- He is represented in a conflicted way: he is neither represented in a positive or a negative way. While it does lean more towards him being a good character, we see his bad side too, which is a traditional stereotype of the main detective in a British crime drama. They are almost always conflicted and have some sort of mental health issue. He is intelligent but also problematic: he doesn't always do things in the right way. His character is represented as ambiguous as he can be interpreted in multiple different ways.
- This has been constructed through him allowing Henry Madsen to fall in the opening scene, and the way he is presented as the villain at first. However, he is also a good character as he is shown as a brilliant detective and a kind person in other scenes.
- His character conforms to some stereotypes of masculinity but not others. For example, we see him as emotional in some scenes, which is anti stereotypical. However, we also see him fighting with Mark and he breaks Zoe's door, which is a stereotype of masculinity. Ways he conforms to stereotypes: he is assertive, he wears a suit, aggression. Ways he subverts stereotypes: he is sympathetic, he isn't emotionally strong.
- He is an interesting representation of a black male in 21st century Britain.
- He is a successful senior police detective with a brilliant mind, but he uses questionable methods to get results. He is highly committed to his job, almost obsessively so.
- He is highly regarded by fellow officers (Ripley asked to be put with him persistently, Rose Teller wants to keep him in her team).
- He is a complicated character who experiences anger and passion and reacts with anger and violence, but also pain and sadness. He reflects contemporary notions of masculinity as he isn't in control of his life and shows vulnerability.
- Some stereotypical elements of masculinity shown: physical force, lack of emotion with other men etc.
The camera often frames Luther surrounded by a lot of empty space. This could be because he is lonely, or he is independent. It could also indicate an emotional void, and his isolation (whether this is a choice or it happens because he is always one step ahead).
Hegemonic Masculinity
- In Western society, the dominant form of masculinity or the cultural ideal of manhood was primarily reflective of white, heterosexual, largely middle-class males.
- The ideals of manhood adopted by the dominant masculinity suggested a number of characteristics that men are encouraged to be or use.
- These characteristics include: violence and aggression, stoicism (emotional restraint), courage, toughness, physical strength, athleticism, risk-taking, adventure and thrill-seeking, competitiveness and achievement and success.
Representations within different scenes:
In the opening scene, Luther is represented as the villain due to the fact that he follows Henry Madsen calmly, his face is obscured from the camera for the majority of the scene, and he is wearing a large puffer coat, rather than a suit. Midway through the scene, it is revealed that he isn't the villain, but he is represented in a negative way, as he lets Henry Madsen fall, and doesn't have much of an emotional reaction afterwards. We see him represented as aggressive (letting Henry Madsen fall and when he's interrogating him about the other children), tough, fearless and risk-taking (he has no backup when confronting a murderer).
In the scene when Alice confronts Luther with a knife after he has taken the urn, Luther is represented as aggressive (when he holds Alice by her throat over the bridge), tough (as Alice holds the knife to his stomach, he only flinches slightly) and as stoic (he didn't drop Alice, and he doesn't lose his temper with her). He is also courageous when Alice holds the knife to his stomach, and as successful because he was right about the gun (Alice proves it), and when he threatens her by saying he will arrest someone else for the murder of her parents, and she won't get any of the credit: she will be forgotten and the mystery surrounding her will disappear. He does this to make her stay away from Zoe.
In the scene when Zoe tells Luther about her affair with Mark, Luther shows an element of violence but not towards Zoe. He is emotionally vulnerable when he kicks and punches a door down in her house. He allows his emotions to get the better of him.
Eponymous - his name is the title of the series.
Representations of women:
Alice: Intelligent, malicious. Subverts stereotypes of femininity.
Zoe: independent, strong. Subverts some stereotypes of femininity but conforms to others.
Rose: respectful, strong. Subverts some stereotypes of femininity.
Friday 31st January 2025
Luther: Representation
LO: To explore the representations constructed in the set text.
Do Now:
1) The dominant form of masculinity is known as hegemonic masculinity.
2) Three examples of character traits for this are: violence, physical strength and competitiveness.
3) Representation is how people places and things are portrayed by the media.
4) Luther's isolation is often shown through the use of negative (empty) space around him.
5) Luther's USP was that they had a black male detective as the main character.
Explain how Luther is a representation of hegemonic masculinity.
In the programme Luther, the eponymous hero is a representation of hegemonic masculinity.
Initially, in the opening scene Luther is represented as aggressive and as a risk-taker. This can be seen through the use of his decision to allow Henry Madsen to fall from the platform. This was not only an aggressive action, as it seriously injured Madsen, but it was also an incredibly risky move, as Luther was interrogating him about where the girl Madsen kidnapped was, and if he had fallen before telling Luther, the girl would have died. Luther also displays aggressive characteristics while interrogating Madsen, as he is shouting at him, and his foot is close to Henry's hands, almost threatening to stand on them and force him to fall. Arguably, the decision alone that Luther made was a risky move, as in the opening scene, we see him following Madsen through a dark building alone - he has no backup, especially considering we know that Ian Reed and Rose Teller (both people who work with Luther) are at Madsen's house looking for the child he has taken. If something had gone wrong, it could have cost Luther his life.
Furthermore, at the climax of the episode Luther is represented as successful and stoic. Here, the use of Luther's ability to control his emotions and not lose his temper shows how he was stoic in this scene. Also, when he's holding Alice by her neck over the bridge (which is a sign of aggression, another trait associated with hegemonic masculinity), he doesn't drop her and kill her; he pulls her back over. He also shows a lot of emotional constraint when Alice is holding a knife to his stomach, and continues to do so as she presses it harder against him. He may have controlled his emotions here to not give Alice the satisfaction of a reaction, arguably showing his success over her as well. Furthermore, Luther is also represented as successful when he was right about the gun (Alice proves this), but also when he threatens her. He says that if she goes near Zoe (Luther's ex wife) again, he will frame someone else for the murder of Alice Morgan's parents. This shows his success as he knows she loves the mystery that surrounds her and wouldn't do anything that might jeopardise them. He also turns his back on her and walks away at the end of the scene, not only showing his success but also his stoicism.
However, Luther is also represented as emotionally vulnerable when Zoe tells him about her affair with Mark North. This is because he lets his emotions take control and he punches/kicks the door down in her house after receiving the bad news. He is also shown as violent in this scene, but not towards Zoe, and Zoe is clearly not scared of him, just of his actions.
Representations of women:
Alice Morgan:
- A complex character who is both the antagonist (which is unusual for a female) and femme fatale.
- She has considerable power and agency as her actions drive the plot.
- She displays many traits stereotypically associated with masculinity: unemotional, highly intelligent, ruthless and violent.
- She subverts many female stereotypes but she is attractive and uses her femininity to taunt and flirt with Luther.
Zoe Luther (An unconventional character):
- Zoe is a less conventional character for a crime drama.
- She is indicative of the social context of the programme Luther.
- She is a powerful and independent, as shown through her career as a lawyer. She is also the one who ends her relationship with Luther. These could be seen as positive aspects of her representation.
- What's more, as a mixed-race woman, she is from a social group less likely to be represented positively on prime-time television.
- However, she is still shown needing Luther's protection from Alice and despite being a lawyer, her storylines are all concerned with love. These aspects of her representation could be considered more stereotypically feminine.
Rose Teller (A modern woman?):
- Rose is a woman in authority in a male-dominated sector.
- She shows strength of character by believing in Luther when others doubt him.
- She works hard and follows the rules.
- They mention her family - she is a working mother.
- She has short hair, and wears a suit. She wears no makeup. Arguably, these things make her less feminine, and maybe she has to have more masculine traits to make it in her career.
How far are the characters in Luther typical of the genre? (12 marks)
Homework:
Explain how 'Luther' supports Neale's genre theory.
Luther conforms to the 'system of expectations' of TV crime drama by using codes and conventions such as having a protagonist who, while being highly intelligent and determined, is also flawed. The eponymous hero of the programme is very conflicted, and an example of this is when he allowed Henry Madsen to fall from the platform in the opening scene of series 1 episode 1. We also see him breaking into Alice's (the main antagonist of the show) flat, trying to find the fragments of the gun she murdered her parents in inside her dead dog's urn. This also shows how Luther is highly intelligent, however, as he figured out that Alice had killed her dog and then stuffed the gun fragments inside its dead body. This also shows his determination, as he was willing to break the rules and moral codes of being a police officer to find the evidence he needed to prove himself right. 'Luther' also has an antagonist who is intelligent, crafty and one step ahead of the protagonist. This is Alice Morgan, who killed her parents, then made it so she can never be arrested, despite Luther knowing she's guilty. She is arguably more intelligent than even Luther, who is known for his extraordinary mind. She knew that the gun fragments that Luther found in her apartment could never be used as evidence against her, even if it had been obtained legally. Finally, 'Luther;' also opens the first episode of the first series with a crime, as we see Luther chasing down Henry Madsen, a kidnapper. After the opening credits, we see another crime, the one that is the main focus of the episode: Alice Morgan killed her parents, and Luther has to try and prove it was her. This is a typical convention of crime dramas, as it gets the audience excited for the episode to come.
Luther also shows change in the genre, as it is vastly different from previous crime dramas, where things such as different ethnicities and women are underrepresented. In 'Luther', the main character is a black male, which was the show's unique selling point (USP) as it was the first UK crime drama to have this. Zoe, Luther's ex wife, is mixed race, showing how ethnicity in 'Luther' is far less underrepresented than in historical crime dramas, such as the Sweeney. Also, Zoe has a very high-power career, representing her as independent and strong, and showing differences in the genre as women aren't typically represented like this: they are usually shown as victims, or the main character's girlfriend/wife. Luther's boss, Rose Teller, is a woman, and doesn't show much femininity (almost as if she has to display masculine traits to make it in her male-dominated workplace), which is different to other crime dramas in the genre.
Luther borrows from other genres such as mystery/detective and psychological thriller to ensure the show stays fresh and different to other crime dramas. We see multiple conventions of a psychological thriller in 'Luther', such as plot twists (Luther's realisation that Alice is the murderer) and complex characters (we see how conflicted and complex Luther is, as well as the antagonist, Alice), which all add to the intrigue and suspense of the show. We also see conventions of the mystery/detective genre, such as the use of different clues (Luther realising Alice is the killer from the fact that she didn't yawn after he did, and the gun he found in the dog's urn that can't be used as evidence), and the unexplained event of the murder of Alice's parents, as when she is first interviewed, she is interviewed as a victim.
Tuesday 4th February 2025
Industry and Audience
LO: To explore industry and audience response in the two set texts.
Do Now:
1) Alice Morgan is not a conventional female character.
2) Violent, competitive and stoicism are character traits of hegemonic masculinity.
3) Luther often doesn't show stoicism (emotional restraint).
4) Rose Teller has many traits more often associated with men. Alice Morgan.
5) Eponymous means the series is named after a character, usually the main one.
Luther: Production
Anything written in pink is how these relate to Luther.
- Produced by the BBC.
- Shown on BBC 1; the corporation's primary channel. It offers a range of programme types and genres and aims to appeal to a very wide audience.
- BBC 1 remit: to create a high proportion of original programmes and to reflect the diversity of the UK. Luther reflects the diversity of UK, there is a range of ethnicities in the cast in S1 E1.
- 2016 - 2017, BBC 1 aimed to 'exhibit some or all of the following: high-quality, original, challenging, innovative & engaging, and it should nurture UK talent.' Luther challenges the stereotypes of the genre as the main character is a black male, which hadn't happened before. It also challenges the stereotypes that police are good and criminals are bad with the grey morality surrounding Luther. It also challenges the stereotype of an antagonist, as Alice is female, and gets away with the crime. The cast is British, nurturing UK talent. It is a crime drama, and therefore very engaging and appeals to a wide audience for this reason along with the fact that it has a lot of diversity.
- Important features of BBC Drama include:
- Talk-ability. Luther is very easy to talk about.
- Topicality and relevance to audiences.
- Britishness and reflecting the diversity of life in Britain. It is set in London, and therefore shows the different aspects of life in Britain.
- Might admire Luther's crime-solving skills but disapprove of the methods & violence responses.
- Might respond positively to Alice and find her intelligence and resourcefulness appealing, but respond negatively to the femme fatale conventions.
- Might agree that the ending reflects reality (not all criminals are convicted) but be disappointed by the lack of closure.
- Part a will be a simple analysis question.
- Part b will ask you to analyse and make a judgement.
- Alice Morgan's long red hair connotes that she is volatile, dangerous and sexual. It contrasts with her short, messy hair at the beginning of the episode when she is pretending to be innocent.
Fantastic notes so far.
ReplyDeleteHOMEWORK:
This is all brilliant! Every response is detailed, accurate and supported with clear examples. Well done!
Again, fantastic notes.
ReplyDeleteHEGEMONIC MASCULINITY: fantastic answer with specific examples to support your ideas.
CONTEXT: not finished but a great start.
HWK - Genre theory: excellent. You clearly understand the theory and can support with examples.
HWK: TVD Characters 12/12:
WWW: you clearly explain your ideas and link to theory with specific examples from Episode 1 to support your points.
HOMEWORK: EXAM STYLE Q
ReplyDelete1a) 8/8
1b) 12/12
Amazing - I have nothing. Not sure why you need me...
EXTRACT QUESTION
ReplyDelete1a) 9/10. Excellent!
WWW: you've identified clear examples and explained their connotations with detail
EBI: link ideas to Propp/enigma codes
1b) 5 /10
WWW: great start - good detail and some explanation
EBI: focus on analysis of location - look at use of MES for example
2) 4/10
WWW: some good general ideas supported by case studies
EBI: more of the same!