C2 TV

 

Component 2: TV

L/O: To explore the content and format of the unit.

Do Now

1. There are 2 media exams.
2. Each exam is 1hr 30 mins.
3. A genre is a category that a film (or any piece of media) fits under depending on their general themes.
4. The target audience for The Archers are women aged 55 or older who live in a rural location, typically white upper class.
5. The BBC's remit is to educate, inform and entertain

 

Component 2: 'Understanding media forms and products'

• Written examination
• 60 marks
• Section A: TV Crime Drama - 'Luther' and 'The Sweeney'
• Question 1: Media Language OR Representations
• Question 2: Media Industries OR Audiences OR Media Contexts
• Section B: Music videos

Crime Drama

Genre - a style or category of art, music, or literature.

Sub-genre - a subdivision of a larger genre of art, music, or literature

Hybrid genre - A literary or film genre that blends themes and elements from two or more different genres.

Within Crime Drama there are also multiple sub-genres such as: police procedural, period crime drama, forensic crime etc.

The Responder

Narrative

• Main character has trauma, takes pills - depressed?
• MC's wife has a secret
• Police's perspective

Setting

• Therapy
• Nighttime
• City

Characters

• White man, middle-aged, police officer
• Woman therapist
• MC's daughter
• MC's wife

Mise-en-scene

• Burning car
• Police outfit
• Police car
• Arial shot

Happy Valley

Narrative

• Man is drunk, threatens to set himself on fire as he is being bullied - police is trying to help
• Kevin asking for a pay rise to send his child to a good school
• Police's perspective

Setting

• Small town
• Daytime
• Office setting

Characters

• Blonde, middle aged woman, is a police officer - Catherine, 47, recuperated drug addict
• Dark haired, young woman, is a police officer
• Local town residents
• Kevin
• Kevin's boss

Mise-en-scene

• Police car
• Police attire
• Gritty, old camera style shots in the intro
• Arial shot

Line of Duty

Narrative

• Police infiltrating a block of flats for a wanted person - dangerous
• Shot a man in his home with his wife and baby there - wrong man
• Finds real place filled with writings all over the wall
• Trying to stop a crime 
• Police's perspective

Setting

• Day time
• Block of flats
• Urban areas

Characters

• SWAT team
• Police officers
• Family of 3 inside the targeted flat

Mise-en-scene

• Police car
• Police attire
• Guns
• Walkie talkie
• Case study files
• Bomb
• Arial shots

Typical Codes & Conventions of TV CRIME DRAMA

• Set in urban areas
• Includes a policeman/detective
• Arial shots
• Dark, gritty lighting
• Realistic settings
• Enigma
• Police's perspective
• Action shots
• High stakes
• Police car shots
• Internal conflict of detective
• Suspense
• Discovery of a crime - usually with a victim
• Psychological
• Protagonist is intelligent and determined to solve the crime
• Antagonist is also intelligent and crafty, and seems to be one step ahead of the protagonist
• There are handheld suspects with motives and a reasonable opportunity to have committed the crime
• There are clues and red herrings that help hinder the investigation
• The story has a continuing narrative arc that unfolds over multiple episodes
• Typical character types such as villain, hero, helper and a dispatcher - Propps
• Representation of characters and themes are often challenging pre-conceived ideas
• Diegetic sound
• Fast-paced editing
• Handheld camera work

These conventions engage an audience as the enigma would keep the viewer in suspense of 'whodunnit'.

Furthermore, the realistic setting of these dramas may also be enticing as it feels as if it is a real crime, something that could happen, as well as the use of diegetic sound. The fast paced editing also keeps us interested.

The way in which there are possible candidates for the ultimate antagonist or perpetrator of the crime may also keep a viewer engaged as it keeps them guessing and interacting with the media.

10/1/25

The TV Industry

Do Now

1. A hybrid genre is a blend of two or more different genres.
2. We are studying Luther and The Sweeney.
3. A crime drama convention is an intelligent protagonist.
4. Another crime drama convention is diegetic sound.
5. It is essential that crime dramas create enigma and suspense.

• Developments in technology have allowed audiences access to many more digital channels and online streaming services.
• This means audiences can watch what they want, when they want, on whatever device they want.
• Some TV programs today achieve the status of event television and gain massive audiences.
• The wide variety of new programmes and channels today means audiences are spread more thinly than in the past.
• Audience loyalty to a particular channel has decreased.

Scheduling

Watershed - a dividing line in a schedule between family-friendly content, and content deemed suitable only for a more mature audience, such as programs containing objectionable content. The watershed time in the UK is 9pm.

Peak time - a time of day when a lot of people are using the same service, such as the internet, phone, etc. Peak Time in the UK is the evening, 6pm-10pm.

Prime time - broadcast when the greatest number of people are watching television or listening to the radio, usually in the evenings, and are engaged in the media. The Prime Time in the UK is Friday and Saturday, 8pm-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 is public service broadcasting (funded by licence fee)
• ITV, C4 & C5 are commercial public broadcasters (funded mainly through advertising), available to all who pay the licence fee.
• All catch up meet PSB requirements, but BBC has the strictest.
• OFCOM regulates TV , including on-demand and catch up services, through the Broadcasting Code.

BBC

• A public service broadcaster funded in 1922 that is funded by the licence fee, paid by all UK households with a TV. The BBC/Gov earn £3.8bn from the licence fee.
• The BBC mission is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences by providing impartial, high-quality programmes which inform, educate and entertain.
• BBC has 9 national TV channels
• 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 and AMC Networks. It is commercial.

TV Audiences

• Before catch-up services, audiences would only watch a TV programme at the time it was broadcast and would have to wait for the next episode to see how the narrative development. 
• TV therefore played a much more important role in peoples lives.
• Modern audiences have a much greater choices and more flexibility in their TV consumption.
• A second screen is where the audience have another device as well as their TV in front of them, like their phone.
• Binge-watching is where one watches all of the episodes of a series in one sitting.
• This provides escapism
• More involved with the narrative - don't have to wait
• Personal identification with the characters as more engaged
• Instant gratification

14/1/25

The Sweeney

L/O: to explore the context of the set text

Do Now

1. A crime drama narrative is based around an unsolved mystery such as a murder case.
2. We will study Luther and The Sweeney.
3. A crime drama convention could be actualised lighting or diegetic sound.
4. It is essential that crime dramas create enigma.

The Sweeney (1970's)

• Produced by Euston Films - film production division of Thames Television
• Thames Television held the ITV broadcast licence for the London area in the 70s & 80s
• Euston films produced a range of TV Dramas in the 70s & 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 produced (location filming, reduced rehearsal time, quick post-production)
• Both main actors, John Thaw & 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.
• The narrative was structured into 3 sections - around the two ad breaks.

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 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 miner's strikes resulted in electricity shortages; other strikes 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.
• Location filming adds to the sense of realism.
• 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.

Main Characters

• Detective Inspector Jack Regan
• Played by John Thaw, Regan is the main character and a tough, powerful detective who is unafraid to use violence. He is known for frequently bending the rules and not being afraid to stand up to authority.
• Detective Sergeant George Carter
• Played by Dennis Waterman, Carter is Regan's partner and sidekick who covers for him and provides local knowledge to help solve crimes.
• Detective Chief Inspector Frank Hoskins
• Played by Garfield Morgan, Hoskins is their boss and a senior Flying Squad officer.

Extract

Representations of ethnicity

• Only portray people of white British

Representations of gender

• All women are portrayed as inferior, and are rather insignificant to the main plot
• Regan's girlfriend is presented as vulnerable and weak - stereotypical role
• The men are all of the important roles, solving the crime and fighting
• Women are innocent of knowledge

Differences in society from today

• Britain has become a more ethnically diverse place
• Women have greater opportunities today
• Britain is a more equal society today - less obvious class system
• Society is a more dangerous place than it used to be in the 1970s
• Britain is still a patriarchy

Main characters

• DI Jack Regan
• DS George Carter
• Criminals

Narrative

• Not always working in-line with the law - threatening to frame a criminal for a crime they didn't commit
• Suggestions that the policemen could be bought/persuaded 

Media language from the 70s

• Non-diegetic, fast-paced music to add to tension + action
• Diegetic sounds such as punches and crashes
• Camera movement 
• Mise-en-scene - costumes reflect the time period, police are wearing suits, connoting intelligence and power.
• Criminals' accents - cockney etc - working class
• Rolls Royce car - connotations of wealth and class - represented in contrast to the other criminals in terms of accent, attire etc
• Weapons - typical crime drama prop

17/1/25

Luther

L/O: to explore the context of the set text

Do Now

1. The Sweeney location-based scenes were filmed in West London.
2. The Sweeney was broadcast at 9pm 
3. Watershed is the cutoff in TV between family-friendly content and mature content - typically at 9pm.
4. The handheld (light) camera work was a factor that made The Sweeney groundbreaking.
5. The two main characters are called Regan and Carter.

Context

• Produced by the BBC.
• Written by Neil Cross
• First series was aired on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 4th May 2010.
• It was then also available on BBC 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 character will be strong, independent and central to the narrative.
• The writer drew on different sub-genres: mystery/detective and psychological thriller.

Set Text - Episode 1 of Luther

Representations of ethnicity

• Main detective is black - anti-stereotypical

Representations of gender

• Female antagonist - anti-stereotypical, presents women as more strong and independent
• Main protagonist is male, stereotypical for crime genre

Main characters

• Luther
• Rose Teller
• Alice Morgan
• Zoe Luther

Narrative

• Luther is a ruthless detective who isn't always legal or moral - he leaves a criminal to die
• Luther was previously suspended from his job due to this

Crime drama conventions

• Diegetic sound
• Action sequences
• Weapons
• Intelligent protagonist

Homework

How does scheduling impact TV crime drama and TV audiences? Use these terms: Watershed, Peak Time, Prime Time, Binge Watching, Video on Demand

The scheduling of a TV crime drama impacts TV audiences in many ways. One example of this could be the 'watershed' time, being 9pm and beyond, as this is the cutoff as to when mature content begins on TV channels, so a crime drama would ultimately have to be at around this time as it is likely to contain violence and difficult themes, as per its stereotypical conventions.  Furthermore, the choices producers make as to whether the programme should release all at once on demand or slowly be released weekly also impacts an audience, as it alters their method of viewing: some audiences may prefer watching on demand as they enjoy 'binge-watching', where they view all episodes at once, instead of waiting until the next week to see the narrative developments, providing instant gratification. On the contrary, if a TV company decides to air the programme weekly, they must decide what day to broadcast it on, which is crucial as they have to think about when an audience's peak time would be and what dates there are usually no events being aired, such as prime time (Friday and Saturday, 8-10pm).

Why might audience responses to crime dramas change over time? 

Audiences responses to crime dramas may differ over time due to the desensitisation to violence in the media and the changing representations of the police - at the time The Sweeney was aired, audiences would react in a more shocked way towards the corrupt police methods showcased, as in the 1970s the police force were glorified and portrayed in media as pure and devoted soldiers who protect them. Whereas more contemporary audiences would now see this violence as expected in a crime drama.

What are the benefits of commercial broadcasting?

Commercial broadcasting has benefits for the broadcasters, as it allows them to profit from advertisements and promotions on air, and so they can fund more projects. However, non-commercial broadcasting does not have access to this profit, but may seem more appealing to viewers who do not want to sit through adverts.

How do production processes influence crime dramas?

The production processes of a crime drama influences the ultimate product as there are many choices that have to made to fit into the general conventions of a typical crime drama, such as action sequences and low-key lighting, which all have to be considered in the production of said drama. Furthermore, factors to be considered such as camera-work also portray the crime drama in a different light, as lightweight camera work may be more favourable than static in these multiple action sequences. 

Explain how crime dramas are aimed at a range of audiences. Refer to examples you have studied to support your points. 

Crime dramas can be aimed at a range of different audiences through many ways. One method might be to reflect their identities in characters, such as how in 'Luther' it contains a range of ethnicities and also strong female characters that may be attractive to a wide range of people, as it could play into the personal identity factor in the Uses and Gratifications theory. Furthermore, the many action sequences may also entice a large audience, as it would create tension for them and keep them constantly interested; the conventional enigma created in a crime drama such as a murder case like in 'Luther' also is a way in which audiences may become hooked.

21/1/25

Luther - Characters

L/O: To explore the characters of the set text.

Do Now

1. Luther's first name is John.
2. Luther was produced by the BBC.
3. Luther series one was scheduled every Tuesday at 9pm.
4. The writer incorporates police procedural and forensic. Mystery/detective and psychological thriller
5. Crime drama conventions used in the episode were: faced-paced, diegetic sound, enigma, police

Propp's Character Functions

• Hero - Luther - trying to solve a mystery, on a quest, leads the narrative
• Villain - Alice Morgan, Henry Madsen - has a conflict with the hero, wants to stop them succeeding
• The Donor - Rose Teller -gives the hero a weapon or special power that will help them complete their quest
• The princess - Zoe Luther - a prize or reward for the hero
• The Helper - Justin Ripley - helps the hero complete their quest, acts as a sidekick
• The princess' father - Rose Teller - authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest, might be a prize, a princess.
• The false hero - Mark North - takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess, may appear heroic at the start of the narrative
• The dispatcher - Rose Teller - early role who sets the quest in motion, often combined with other roles e.g Princess' father or donor

Luther fits the role of the hero, as he is the main protagonist who is trying to solve a mystery and leads the narrative, but he doesn't always fit this role of "goodness", as he takes to violent and illegal actions to solve these enigmas.

Zoe Luther fits the role of the princess, as she is Luther's "prize" for solving these crimes and becoming a better person, she is who he is trying to win back over.

Rose Teller fits the role of the dispatcher as she is the character who helps Luther in getting back into the police force and gives him his main mission in the beginning, setting him out to solve the enigma.

24/1/25

Luther: Genre & Narrative

L/O: to explore the genre and narrative of the set text

Do Now

1. Propp came up with 8 character functions
2. The helper, the princess, the princess' father are examples of Propp's functions
3. Luther is not a typical 'hero' as he does not always take the legal, moral route to solve crimes.
4. The donor gives the hero something that will help them on their journey
5. Justin Ripley fulfils the role of the sidekick

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 the audiences will expect to be included)
• Genres change, develop, and vary over time
• Genres borrow from and overlap with one another - this creates a hybrid i.e. crime-thriller
• To avoid audiences getting bored, each programme must offer something new or provide something which makes it different to the others in that genre. This is known as a USP (unique selling point)

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 timing.
• 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 than The Sweeney, 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 

- typical characters you would find in particular genres; a convention of crime drama

The Maverick Detective 

• Brilliant detectives, able to solve crime and understand clues that no one 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

Luther is an example of a Maverick detective:

1. He immediately believes that Alice is the murderer - just from her not yawning - introspective
2. He lets the criminal (Henry) suffer to get information out of him, breaks into Alice's house to obtain evidence
3. He has mental problems - psych ward - and struggles to keep his wife

The psychopathic killer

• Deceitful characters who pretend to be normal
• Capable of horrific crimes
• Enjoy playing mind games with the detective

Alice Morgan is an example of a psychopathic killer:

1. She pretends to be completely unaware of what happened to her parents, acts as though she is traumatised and scared when she isn't
2. Kills her parents
3. Enjoys teasing Luther with her crime, gets involved with Zoe and threatens to hurt her to taunt Luther

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

Alice Morgan is also an example of a Femme Fatale.

Narrative

• Backstory: the 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 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. 

28/1/25

Luther: Representation

L/O: to explore the representations constructed in the set text.

Do Now

1. Steve Neale claims that genres are dominated by the repetition of conventions.
2. USP stands for unique selling point
3. Luther is a police detective Maverick
4. A stock character is a typical character you would find in a genre
5. Alice is Femme Fatale and the psychopathic killer.

Representation is the way in which people, places, issues and events are portrayed in the media. 

• Can often look at age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality
1. Is the representation positive or negative?
2. Are there aspects which conform to traditional stereotypes in that area?
3. Are there aspects which challenge traditional stereotypes in that area?
4. What evidence can I use to support my case?

John Luther

• Luther is represented as a ruthless, justice-seeking, morally ambiguous maverick detective in the first episode - he does whatever it takes to get justice, even if it involves illegal methods to achieve such results
• Highly committed to his job - almost obsessed
• Highly regarded by his fellow officers - Ripley demanded to be put with him, Rose constantly defends him and seeks him out to keep Luther on the team
• Reflects contemporary notions of masculinity - he isn't in complete control of his life and shows vulnerability.
• Some stereotypes of masculinity shown: physical force, lack of emotion with other men etc.
• He conforms to masculine stereotypes in the fact that he is presented as extremely introspective and intelligent - which also conforms to the stereotypes of a Maverick Detective within the crime genre. Furthermore, he wears conventionally masculine attire - a suit, which conforms to masculine stereotypes as they were typically seen as sophisticated and fashionable. He is also physically strong. 
• He subverts masculine stereotypes in the fact that he does not necessarily possess a mental strength - he has to visit a therapist to deal with his trauma, but this may also play into the conventions of a typical protagonist in a crime drama, as they stereotypically have some internal conflict or struggle to uphold personal relationships. Another way in which he subverts masculine stereotypes could be how he seems to not be a model husband - his wife no longer wants to be with him. 

The camera often frames Luther surrounded by a lot of empty space, could be to show... 

• Independence
• Devoid of emotion
• Isolated - Won't let people in? Intellectually isolated?

Hegemonic Masculinity

• In Western society, the dominant form of masculinity or the cultural idea of manhood was primarily seen as being white, heterosexual and largely middle class.
• 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, courage, toughness, physical strength, risk-taking, adventure-seeking, athleticism, competitiveness, achievement and success.
• Luther fits this concept - all but stoicism. 

In the opening scene, Luther is represented as merciless in the name of justice, but before we meet him he was largely represented as the criminal - he was always in the shadows, wearing a black hoodie, a large man, his ethnicity. But then, these conventions are diverted when we realise he is in fact the protagonist, as he uses brute force to encourage information out of Henry. We can also see an example of hegemonic masculinity as he is presented with strength, violence, risk taking etc. 

This representation is further developed during the end of the episode where Luther can be seen arguing with Alice, where he is represented as aggressive, competitive, with physical strength and risk-taking.

During the climax of the episode, where Luther visits his wife and finds out she loves someone else, Luther is portrayed as aggressive, but subverts hegemonic masculinity in the fact that he is not stoic, he loses control and batters a door. 

31/1/25

Luther: Representation

L/O: to explore the representations constructed in the set text.

Do Now

1. The dominant form of masculinity is known as hegemonic masculinity.
2. Three character traits of this is stoicism, aggressive, toughness.
3. Representation is the way in which people, places, issues and events are portrayed in the media.
4. Luther's isolation is shown through the large space around him in each shot.
5. Luther's USP was the fact that he is the first black British detective.

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 risk-taking; this can be seen through the use of the fast-paced editing and action that immediately foregrounds the episode, highlighting our protagonist's physical strength and violent tendencies, as he swiftly trails the criminal and battles him with calculated ease. This portrays the epitome of hegemonic masculinity, as he is agile and merciless, qualities that submit to the characteristic. Moreover, we can further distinguish his calm risk-taking when he lets Henry Madsen dangle from the platform so that he would admit to his crimes, which, if he had fallen before he confessed where the missing girl was, would have left her to die in an unknown place. This is another example of this paradigm of masculinity, as he was presented as dauntless and confident in his risk-taking. 

Furthermore, at the climax of the episode, Luther is represented as successful and competitive. Here, the way Luther wins against Alice when he tells her that, instead of never being able to solve the crime and letting it become an enigma, which Alice would revel in, he would frame someone else for it and close the case if she came near his wife. This represents his competitive nature that rules out the law, as he would be willing to commit an illegal act in order to beat Alice and make sure she never gets the satisfaction of her parent's murder; ultimately submitting to the conventions of hegemonic masculinity as not only is he competitive, but he is also successful as he wins against Alice.

However, Luther is also represented as rather perturbable in the scene where he visits his wife, Zoe, and discovers that she has been having an affair, having a rather aggressive catharsis and beating down her door. This somewhat subverts the stereotypical conventions of hegemonic masculinity in the sense that, in this scene, he is not stoic and is unable to control his emotions. 

Representations of women 

Alice Morgan

• A complex character who is both antagonist (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, violent. 
• She subverts many female stereotypes but she is attractive and uses her femininity to taunt and flirt with Luther.

Zoe Luther 

• Zoe is a less convention character for crime drama.
• She is indicative of the social context of the programme Luther.
• She is powerful and independent, as shown through her representation as a lawyer. She is also the one who ends her relationship with Luther. These could be seen as positive representations.
• 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 despite being a lawyer, her storylines are all concerned with love. These aspects of her representation could be considered more stereotypically feminine. 

Rose Teller

• Rose is a woman of authority in a male dominated sector.
• She shows strength in character by believing in Luther when others doubt him.
• She works hard and follows the rules.
• They mention her family - a working mother.
• She has more masculine traits in terms of how she looks

Homework

Explain how ‘Luther’ supports Neale’s genre theory?

Luther supports Neale's genre theory for multiple reasons. First of all, Neale's genre theory is the way in which genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions, and this leads to a system of expectations within an audience; these genres will vary over time as producers aim to avoid audiences getting bored, so search for a unique selling point to differentiate themselves from others in the genre. Luther supports this theory as, although it fits many crime conventions of the genre, such as the maverick detective and a multitude of action scenes, Luther was the first black British detective on TV, which is a strong unique selling point that definitely was utilised to break typical conventions of crime drama, ultimately enticing audiences as it brings a fresh addition to the genre. Furthermore, it supports this theory as it does conform to this system of expectations, offering many stereotypical features within the crime genre that audiences would most definitely expect to see. Another way in which this occurs is how Luther is also a somewhat hybrid genre, where two different genres are blended together to form one, as one could argue that it is a crime-thriller or psychological crime drama, and this is mentioned in Neale's theory as it is yet another factor that producers weaponise to bring something new to the genre, without repeatedly overusing the same tropes. 

4/2/25

Industry & Audience

L/O: to explore industry and audience in the two set texts.

Do Now

1. Alice Morgan is not a conventional female character.
2. Stoicism, athleticism and physical strength are examples of hegemonic masculinity.
3. Luther often does not show stoicism.
4. Alice Morgan has many traits more associated with men.
5. Eponymous means the protagonist's name is the title.

Luther: Production 

• Produced by BBC
• Shown on BBC1: corporation's primary channel. It offers a range of programme types and genres and aims to appeal to a very wide audience.
• BBC1 remit: to create a high proportion of original programmes and to reflect the diversity of the UK.
• 2016-2017, BBC aimed to 'exhibit some or all of the following: high-quality, original, challenging, innovative and engaging, it should nurture UK talent'
• Important features of BBC Drama include:
• Talk-ability
• Topicality and relevance to audiences
• Britishness and reflecting the diversity of life in Britain

We can see examples of these features in Luther:

• Luther creates enigma and tension within its episodes as it is a crime drama, and incites viewers to discuss their theories and predictions for future episodes, so permits talk-ability and engagement.
• It also reflects the diversity of life in Britain as he is the first Black British detective, which is a good representation of different ethnicities within media.
• Challenging - subverts stereotypes around the police being black and white - good and bad. Also challenges the stereotypes of women always being delicate and unintelligent, as she is powerful and manipulative.
• Nurtures UK talent as the entire cast is British, and it is set in London.

Luther: Distribution & Scheduling

• Series 1 was broadcast in May 2010 (BBC1, 9pm, Tuesdays)
• Also available on iPlayer
• It was re-commissioned following the first series (5series)
• In 2012, following the success of the first 2 series, BBC America (co-owned by BBC and AMC) started co-producing. 
• Luther broadcast on BBC America: broadcasts a mixture of US and UK programmes.
• BBC America is part of BBC studios (commercial arm of the BBC, not funded by the UK license fee)
• Crime drama brings in a large part of BBC's revenue and Luther has been distributed to many parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. 
• It is also available on Prime Video and as a DVD box set.

Luther may have been so popular and successful globally as crime drama is a very liked genre as audiences enjoy the enigma, but also the star factor of Idris Elba attracts audiences. 

Luther: Audience Appeal

• The marketing of series 1 was important in reaching a range of audiences.
• A trailer was released on the 16th April 2010 on BBC's YouTube channel.
• A longer preview was shown at the end of April showing the scene where Luther and Ripley meet.
• Additional footage and behind the scenes footage for each episode were released on the website giving 'exclusive' insights.
• An inside look video was produced for BBC America when launched in the US.

Luther Webpage

• There are many preview clips of scenes from episodes
• Links to social media like Facebook and Twitter
• Character pages with descriptions of each character
• Graphic novels of each episode 
• Links to episodes
• Behind the scenes of the writers and filming

This is all appealing as it offers many pathways for audiences to interact with the media. 

These features aim to engage fans and offer them opportunities to become active producers of content, some of which has been included in the programme. 

The further sharing of this user-generated content on fans' own social media helps extend the programme's market and audience further.

Programme Appeals

• GENRE: Crime drama is popular and includes familiar conventions along with interesting hybridisation and unconventional elements e.g. the anti-stereotypical female character of Alice Morgan
• STAR APPEAL: Idris Elba is well-known and popular. He is an attractive and potentially aspirational persona, appealing to both male and female viewers. 
• NARRATIVE:  The Morgan murders and the ongoing Madsen case are engaging for the episode and the series. A female killer is unusual and appealing to those who prefer thought provoking drama. 
• REPRESENTATION: the range of complex male and female characters appeals to different audiences - either to identify with or to be intrigued. E.g. Alice Morgan is an intriguing female character.

Audience Response: Luther

• First episode had mixed reviews but many positive responses
• The complex features could generate both positive and negative responses.
• Might admire Luther's crime solving skills but disapprove of the methods and 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 get convicted) but be disappointed by the lack of closure. 

Audience Response: The Sweeney

• Characters from series 1 were appealing - audiences could relate to many of them
• Police officers were shown as flawed and human, although they still caught the criminals (could be seen as a negative representation of the police.
• Modern audiences respond positively to the retro feel - they have a lot of nostalgia and affection for the show
• Some might respond negatively to the violence, patriarchal attitudes, lack of diversity etc.
• The Sweeney was extremely successful (up to 19 million per episode)
• Led to Eusten developing many more TV dramas and 2 spin off films
• DVD box set of all episodes released in 2004 (offered nostalgia for older audiences and new younger audience)
• Re-runs have been broadcast several times over the years
• Available on Prime
• Can be seen to have influenced many other police dramas : leads to genres changing over time. 

7/2/25

Context

L/O: to explore the context and its impact on the two set texts.

Do Now

1. BBC1 needed to show relevance to the audience and reflect British talent.
2. Luther was broadcast on BBC America.
3. They marketed Luther using star appeal of Idris Elba in preview clips of each episode.
4. Two programme appeals could be: genre and narrative.
5. Modern audiences might respond negatively to The Sweeney due to the negative representations of the police being flawed, the patriarchal views etc.

Changing Viewing Conditions

• One of the biggest changes in how we watch television has been the introduction of streaming.
• When The Sweeney was on television, there was no way to pause or re-watch television - you had to be there when it was on.
• Programmes would be shown once a week, at the same time.
• Because of the long gap in between episodes, they contained closed narratives, where all elements of the story were wrapped up by the end of the episode. 
• This meant audiences did not have to remember week to week what had happened, and if they missed an episode they could still watch the next week and the programme would make sense. 

Contemporary Viewing Conditions

• Modern services, such as BBC iPlayer, where Luther is shown, allow audiences to watch on demand. 
• This has changed how we watch television, with viewers now able to binge-watch a whole series at a time. 
• Smart phones, laptops and tablets have further enabled this, as we no longer have to be at home to watch television.
• This has led to far more open narratives in crime dramas, where parts of the story will unfold over several episodes.
• This allows for far more complex storytelling and character development. 
• Contemporary audiences can also be relied upon to have a greater knowledge of a programme and are more adept at understanding multi-strand narratives.

Historical Context: 1970s

• Less gender equality - reflected in the structure of the police force. 
• There was only one woman police officer in the show, who is used for unserious matters.
• Britain was becoming more racially diverse and multicultural, but racial discrimination was high and minority ethnic groups were under-represented.
• There was no racial representation within the Sweeney, only white.
• The Sweeney was based on the real 'Flying Squad' which had been involved in a highly publicised corruption scandal.
• The main detectives in The Sweeney are morally ambiguous, often open to accepting bribes and taking to illegal methods to catch criminals.
• 1970s was a period of upheaval: strikes, shortages and economic problems.
• Set in London and centres around the criminal area of London - high crime rates link to this upheaval.

Contemporary Context: Luther

• 1980: 90 female detective constables to 1400 male
• 2017: 30% of all police officers in England and Wales are female. 
• There is an increased gender equality within Luther - his boss is a female, the powerful antagonist is a female, his wife has a high paying job etc
• The name 'Luther' could link to Martin Luther King - deliberately choosing a black lead detective, actively showing more diversity.
• Far better racial equality as the protagonist is black, the whole cast is diverse.
• London is represented through many arial shots of landmarks like the Shard and the city - cosmopolitan, financial city

Representations of Gender

• The Sweeney reflects 1970s values in relation to gender, especially gender roles in the workplace - The Flying Squad in is male-dominated, patriarchal and characterised by a stereotypical macho culture of drinking, violence etc
• This reflects gender roles within society at the time, particularly within the police force where women in the UK Police force had a different rank structure to men.
• Luther reflects some degree of gender equality in contemporary society in the representations of strong, powerful females.
• However, these females are not all represented positively or as being totally independent - Alice is a narcissistic murderer, Zoe is only involved in the narrative due to her relationship and her boyfriend protects her etc.

Explain how crime dramas reflect the time in which they are made?    [10]

There are a plethora of differences in the representations of groups between The Sweeney (1970s) and Luther (now). An example of this could be seen in the portrayal of gender. At the time of The Sweeney, there was still a very rigid patriarchal society in which women were expected to fulfil their traditional roles - this meant that they were mostly unable to achieve the same jobs and positions that men could, no matter how hard they tried. This is heavily reflected in The Sweeney as in just the first episode there is only one female police officer represented, who was not even a big part of the plot, she was only there for the minor, emotional duty of looking after Regans's girlfriend, another overtly stereotypical female character who relies on the men to 'save' her. This illuminates how....

Homework

How far are the characters in Luther typical of the genre?            (12)

I would say that some aspects of each characters are typical of the genre, due to a plethora of reasons. To begin, his repetition of character tropes occur as Neale's genre theory is the way in which genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions, and this leads to a system of expectations within an audience; these genres will vary over time as producers aim to avoid audiences getting bored, so search for a unique selling point to differentiate themselves from others in the genre. Therefore, it is expected that characters will fit certain stereotypes for the genre in order to be in-line with the system of expectations, but also that they will subvert some of these in order to keep the programme fresh and interesting. 

The first character addressed will be Luther, who upholds many of the typical stereotypes of a leading protagonist in a crime drama. Most importantly, Luther is the epitome of a Maverick Detective, the stock character for every crime drama; this is immediately portrayed in how he swiftly picks up that Alice is deceiving them in the interrogation, he recognised minuscule clues that no one else can, thus representing him as a brilliant and introspective detective. Furthermore, this is perpetuated in the way in which Luther takes to illegal methods in order to solve the crime, and doesn't actually care Alice gets convicted or not, but wants to display his surpassed intelligence in their competition; we can see this in the climax scene where he tells Alice that he will just frame someone else for her crime, implying that he is indifferent to that aspect of the case, and just desires to know he is right. This also fits the stock character as it shows how he is not afraid to break the code he is obliged to abide by if it means he can catch the criminal, and prove himself right. Lastly, he fits this due to the fact that he suffers with a sense of internal anguish, and we can see this in how he has to attend therapy, but also that he struggles to uphold personal relationships due to his wife leaving him as he is so obsessed with his occupation. All of these traits portray how he is the paradigm of a Maverick Detective, so it very typical of the genre. Male protagonists of the crime drama are also typically an example of hegemonic masculinity, as they are always the best of their field and possess all of the typical characteristics of this term, and I would say that Luther fits this too, except for stoicism, which I believe is typical for this genre due to my previous analysis of the Maverick Detective as rather perturbed. All of these aid the show in upholding the audience's system of expectations, as this is a very conventional, staple character in every crime drama. Although Luther is all of these stereotypical aspects, I would argue that he is anti-stereotypical in one manner, the fact that he is black; he is the first black, British detective, which was atypical for the genre at the time as all of the protagonists would have been white. This could have been used as the show's unique selling point, in order to differentiate themselves from the rest of their competitors. 

Another character that is both typical and atypical is Alice Morgan. We can see that her personality is very conventional for a crime antagonist due to the fact that she fits the stock character of the Psychopathic Killer, as the show promptly reveals that she is capable of horrific crimes, obviously as she murders her parents in cold blood, all so that she can create a kind of 'enigma' - an unfeeling and ridiculous reason to murder one's own parents. Furthermore, she is represented as a deceitful character who pretends to be normal, which is a stereotypical trait of the Psychopathic Killer, as she pretends to be completely unaware of what happened to her parents (which we know is untrue as she was the perpetrator), but also acts as though she is traumatised and horrified of what has happened. Lastly, she fits this stock character as she enjoys playing mind-games with the detective, which we can see in how she not only teases Luther with the fact he can't prove her guilt, but also how she gets involved with Zoe and threatens to hurt her in order to taunt Luther. All of these that prove her to fit under the Psychopathic Killer character also portray how she is typical of the genre, however, the way in which she challenges stereotypes is how she is a woman, as this insane and murderous antagonist would usually be a male - this may be due to the impression that women are weak and delicate, which Alice completely subverts. This also may play into Propp's Theory, as she is the typical antagonist of the narrative, who Luther, the hero, is constantly trying to outsmart and put a stop to. On the other hand, Alice also could be seen as another stock character, the Femme Fatale, which actually portrays her in a more stereotypical way in terms of being a female, as she uses her sexuality as a ploy to exploit. I would say this then introduces the male gaze theory, as she is now more objectified and sexualised rather than solely intelligent and strong, which I would say is a negative representation of women and thus quite stereotypical of crime drama. 

All points considered, I would say that Luther and Alice are both stereotypical characters for their genre, due to their constant conformity of their respective stock characters - the one thing that I find is the most anti-stereotypical about them are their appearances rather than their personalities. 

11/2/25

Extract Analysis

L/O: to revise audio-visual codes and how they create meaning.

Do Now

1. Media language is split into: camerawork, mise-en-scene, editing, sound
2. Camerawork covers shot type, angle and movement.
3. Diegetic sound is sound that is produced within the scene.
4. Cross-cutting is where the editing cuts between two scenes happening simultaneously.
5. Framing is the position the camera is in to frame a subject how a subject is composed: decision about where to place a subject in a shot.

1. Close up
2. Mid Shot - low angle
3. Extreme close up
4. Medium long shot - canted angle   

Analysis

• In the exam, Component 2 Section A, you will need to answer questions based on an extract from Luther.
• Question 1 (stepped) will ask you to analyse either media language used or representation in an extract (approx. 3 mins)
• Part A will be a simple analysis question.
• Part B will ask you to analyse and make a judgement. 
• Question 2 will be on TV audiences, industry or contexts.

Taking Notes

• Take an example from the text and analyse it using a grid 
• Technical codes - camera shots, angles, movements, editing.
• Audio codes - diegetic vs non-diegetic sound, dialogue, music, sound effects
• Visual codes - Mise-en-scene, framing and composition, lighting

Camerawork & Editing

• Cinematography is a language - it creates meaning
• What is being communicated with this shot?
• What has been included or deliberately left out of the shot?
• What are we (the audience) being asked to focus on?

Luther Opening Scene 

1. High aerial shots - establish the location of each of the characters and their situations, immediately creates tension as it portrays their speeds - it is clearly a chase. Makes Henry look small, like prey, perhaps implying he is the victim
2. Constant low behind mid shots of Luther, never showing his face, handheld may portray the manner of his walking as quite aggressive, obscures his identity - creates enigma, is he the villain? Creates tension
3. Low close up shot of Luther to establish how Luther is above Henry - he holds the power
4. Shot reverse shot of extreme close ups of their eyes - portrays their opposition, tension between the two

In the sequence there is a low angle shot which shows a piece of panelling falling to the floor in the factory. This connotes how high up the platform is and makes it seem dangerous, which helps to represent Luther as a brave and fearless character.

14/2/25

Extract Analysis: Media Language

L/O: to practise analysing extracts for media language and representation.

Do Now

1. Media language is split into: camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene and audio
2. Camera shots, angles and movement.
3. Non diegetic sound is sound that would not be heard inside the universe of the film.
4. An eye line match edit is where the camera switches between the eyes of two people. Where the editing cuts from someone looking at something to what they are looking at
5. A canted angle is a camera that is slightly rotated.

Extract

The amount of shots of Alice and Luther and the height level shows their equal intelligence and power dynamic through the use of shot reverse shots.

The moment Luther says the word "suspect", Alice's whole attitude changes and the camerawork zooms in slowly on her face. 

Close up onto her tea just as Luther asks if it is hot, showing that he knows it is too hot, perhaps a metaphor for him gaining power over her, he knows she is the murderer. 

When he yawns, the camera deliberately crosses over the 180 degree rule and focuses on Luther's perspective of Alice and how it is changing.

Costume

• The costume in crime dramas is very carefully chosen.
• It is used to communicate important ideas about characters and to get you an insight into what they are like
• Luther:
• Suit suggests professionalism, stereotypical for a traditional male expectation, but also plays into the stereotypes of a typical detective, authority as a police detective
• He looks rather unkempt due to his beard and mismatched suit, lack of care and appearance
• Undone top button and loosened tie connotes he is not conventional and does not conform to rules
• Detective coat stereotypical of the Maverick Detective
• His old car indicates he doesn't care for style or status and more for functionality
• Dark colours signify the dark side of his character and link with the idea of a maverick cop
• Alice:
• Her red hair connotes that she is volatile and dangerous and possibly sexual. Contrasts with her short, messy hair at the beginning when she is pretending to be innocent.
• Wearing a smart jacket, gives her a business like appearance which connotes she is an efficient and ruthless criminal.
• Lipstick is stereotypical of femme fatale.
• Costume is feminine but classic: functional and in no way striking. She knows how to look good without drawing attention to herself - sociopathic nature

25/2/25

Extract Analysis: Representation

L/O: to practice analysing extracts for media language and representation

Do Now

1. Medium Long Shot
2. Tracking is an example of camerawork / movement
3. Lighting comes under mise-en-scene
4. Shot reverse shots are usually used in conversation
5. A canted angle is a tilted shot

• She has her own office - represents her as a successful businesswoman, unconventional
• Luther is wearing a suit - stereotypical for a man and maverick detective
• Amount of papers on her desk suggests how much work she has, hardworking 
• The desk physically separates Luther and Zoe, portraying their current divide 
• Glass walls suggests urban and modern environment, high status company
• Red ribbons around papers portraying how she is a lawyer, legal briefs 
• Zoe is wearing a suit - anti-stereotypical for women, shows her high status

Visual codes 

Nothing is in the frame by accident. Setting, props and costumes suggest many things.

We need to ask ourselves these questions:

• What does the setting connote?
• What props have been included - why?
• What do the costumes and body language connote about the characters?
• How are the characters positioned? What does this suggest about their relationship?

Ian Reed and Luther scene - explore how mise-en-scene creates meaning in this clip.

• Urban setting - still in London
• Hospital psychiatric ward - indicates Luther's mental anguish, typical maverick detective trait
• Chess game - intelligence, mind games 
• He is in scruffy clothing, opposite to Ian who is in a suit, showing Luther's unstable mindset, miserable 
• Monotonous lighting and colouring in the ward, portrays his despondency 
• Luther has his hand to his mouth, perhaps in deep thought, another place in his mind, disconnected from Ian 
• Ian is leaning forward, Luther is leaning back, portrays their mental disconnect, interest vs disinterest 
• Luther is suffering mentally because of what he did to Madsen, portraying that he isn't morally corrupt and has a conscience 
• The blinds resemble bars, idea that he is trapped physically but also mentally
• Hand on Luther's shoulder connotes that Ian cares about him 
• Doesn't respond to Ian, one-sided conversation

1a) Explore the representations of gender in this extract. (10)

Male 

• Luther is presented as strong when he rebels against police -- hegemonic masculinity, stereotypical
• Stereotypical clothing of Luther, conventional suit for a man
• Mark is represented as as protecting Zoe, stereotypical for male, fights Luther 
• All the police officers were male - stereotypical 

Female

• Zoe is represented quite stereotypically as her main story is associated with men and relationships
• Mark speaks for her and tries to protect her - princess (Propp's), weak, stereotypical
• Men fighting over Zoe - stereotypical, objectifies her 
• Stereotypical clothing for Zoe, a skirt and tight-fitted top
• Alice is wearing anti-stereotypical clothing for a woman, but stylish, typical of femme fatale
• Zoe is shown as emotional - stereotypical
• Zoe tells them to stop, they listen - anti-stereotypical, she holds power

1b) How stereotypical are the representations of ethnicity in this extract? (10)

Stereotypical

• Luther (black) represented as violent, police are after him, criminal 
• Most of the policemen are white

Anti-stereotypical

• Luther's rank is above that of the police

28/2/25

Extract Analysis: Exam Style Question

L/O: To analyse extracts for media language and representations.

Do Now

1. When analysing representations, you can look at stereotypes and if it is positive or negative
2. Mise-en-scene includes lighting, costume and props.
3. You will be shown the extract 2 times in the exam.
4. 2 questions will be based on the extract.
5. You should write 3-4 paragraphs for a 10/12 mark question.

1a) Explore how costumes create meaning in this extract. (10)

NOTES

• Justin is wearing a suit - stereotypical of men, but also detectives, sophisticated
• Zoe is wearing a skirt, stereotypical
• Alice is wearing dark attire, portraying her covert intentions, short hair also is anti-stereotypical of women, subverts male gaze 
• Luther is wearing a shirt and tie - typical of men and detectives as look important 
• Rose is wearing police attire - anti-stereotypical of women as they are seen as weak, portrays her dominance , also has short cut hair 
• Hat pin that Alice holds to Zoe's ear - small, concealed, intimate method of murder, portrays how she is experienced in this but also that she enjoys the suffering as it requires her to be physically close to them - calculated 
• Zoe's outfit looks expensive - earrings, classy outfit - indicates her success 

In the extract, costumes are used as mise-en-scene to create a plethora of meanings, indicating not only the genre (crime drama) but the characteristics of each role. 

For example, at the beginning of the extract we see Luther and Justin, both dressed in suits, which display them as sophisticated due to the formality of the attire, also submitting to stereotypes of masculinity: the man is the important breadwinner who is rich and stylish. Furthermore, these outfit choices also portray their job roles, as they are both detectives, and suits are very typical of the crime drama genre, as they represent these detectives as purposeful and of importance. Conversely, an atypical representation of characters is also used through costume, due to Rose Teller's attire; police outfit, short pixie-cut hair. These are not typical of the genre or of female stereotypes, as women are often objectified in the media, so this subverts the 'male gaze' theory that women are solely represented in the media for the pleasure of men. Furthermore, this representation of rose is different for crime dramas as well, due to the way in which she is portrayed of having a higher rank than Luther - our protagonist - as she wears converse attire, and in this genre it is typically the men who are in the police force, not women. 

Moreover, we can see stereotypical representations of women within this extract too, as Zoe is wearing feminine attire such as a skirt and jewellery, which plays into female stereotypes that display women as caring for fashion. Perhaps the clothing directors chose this for Zoe as they intended to portray her as more vulnerable, as she is targeted by Alice, and females are typically presented as such within the media, in need of protection from a man. However, Zoe also subverts stereotypes as she is wearing not only feminine attire but also business, as she has a formal coat on, portraying her important job as a lawyer, and she also is seen in expensive earrings, maybe displaying her wealth due to her high-paying job which she dominates. This is atypical of stereotypes of women, as she is seen to be a hard-worker and affluent as a result, not in need of a man to make money for her. Alice is represented typically for an antagonist in her attire, as she is dressed in dark, covert clothing, and holds a hat pin to Zoe's ear. This hat pin is a small and concealed but intimate method of threatening someone, it perhaps portrays how she is experienced in this or that she even enjoys this suffering as it requires her to be extremely physically close - portraying her as calculated. 

1b) How typical of the genre are the locations used in this extract? (10)

NOTES

• An office of police - typical for crime drama as it indicates investigation and formality 
• Arial camera shot over a dark corner of Zoe's law firm building, urban setting, typical of the genre 
• Typical in general as urban setting and offices are very standard crime drama locations 
• Zoe in her office
• Luther messy office - maverick detective, typical as he is searching for an answer, pictures from crime scene scattered over his desk 

Locations in this extract are mostly typical of the crime drama genre as there are a range of urban and office locations. Firstly, the large, main police office is typical for the genre as it shows the central location for the police force, a stereotypical and crucial element of crime drama. Furthermore, within this police office there is Luther's personal office: this is conventional for a crime drama as it portrays how Luther is the maverick detective, he is certainly important and of a high rank as he possesses his own room to do his research in. Moreover, his office is littered with evidence from the recent crime scene, also playing into conventions of the maverick detective as it seems his mind is never at rest until he can find the culprit. Alternatively, his scattered office could also play into the maverick detective stereotype that is typical of the genre as it might display his potential internal anguish - he is constantly wrapped up in his cases that he has the inability to form personal relationships - and we do not see any personal life souvenirs of his in his office, perhaps reinforcing this notion that he struggles to uphold such relationships. 

In addition to this, I would say the urban setting in general - London - is typical of the genre, as it connotes that there is constant crime happening, thousands of people on every street. This is typical for the genre as it creates a sense of chaos within the show, displaying the enigma and constant plot twists that happen within the crime drama genre. Furthermore,

2. Explain how digital technologies change the ways in which audiences consume television. (10)

Digital technologies have altered the ways that audiences consume television; this is evident in The Sweeney and Luther. Firstly, when The Sweeney was first broadcast in the 1970s, audiences would not be able to record the episode, so would be inclined to watch it the exact moment it comes on - this is due to the primitive technology of the decade, as television was still developing. This is different to the audiences today who are able to watch on demand, such as Luther on BBC iPlayer, or record each episode if they are unable to watch it at the time. Moreover, the technological convergence that has occurred today means that audiences can view Luther on any device such as their phone or laptop, whereas audiences of The Sweeney could only watch it on their television. 

Unfinished

 

Homework

1 (a) Explore the connotations of the costumes of two characters in the BBC Crime Drama Luther. (8) HINTS! Write two DEL paragraphs – one per character There should be a brief description of the costume Your analysis should pick the costume apart, discuss connotations – what do the connotations ‘signify’ or symbolise about the character?

In 'Luther', costuming is utilised to create many meanings, as a method of mise-en-scene. This can be firstly portrayed in the attire of our crime drama protagonist, Luther, who is seen to be wearing a shirt and tie, very stereotypical formalwear that detectives in such a genre are expected to wear (system of expectations). Not only does this create the impression that he is of importance, but displays Luther's character as somewhat intelligent, as a suit typically exudes intellectual affluence. Furthermore, this choice of outfit is typical for a crime drama protagonist, as it plays into the Maverick Detective trope. However, just because Luther wears a suit does not immediately mean he is 'perfect', as we can see that his clothes are mismatched, perhaps indicating that he has a lack of care for his appearance, but also may portray how he has internal anguish, as it makes him seem rather unkempt and as though he has many other thoughts weighing on his mind. 

Furthermore, another character's attire used to create meanings could be Zoe; she is wearing feminine attire such as a skirt and jewellery, which plays into female stereotypes that display women as caring for fashion. Perhaps the clothing directors chose this for Zoe as they intended to portray her as more vulnerable, as she is targeted by Alice, and females are typically presented as such within the media, in need of protection from a man. However, Zoe also subverts stereotypes as she is wearing not only feminine attire but also business, as she has a formal coat on, portraying her important job as a lawyer. Also, she is seen in expensive earrings, maybe displaying her wealth due to her high-paying job which she dominates. This is atypical of stereotypes of women, as she is seen to be a hard-worker and affluent as a result, not in need of a man to make money for her. 

1 (b) Explain how the character John Luther is typical of the TV crime drama genre. (12) HINTS! What character type from ‘Propp’ is Luther? Is he a stereotypical hero? What makes him conventional as a detective for crime drama? What makes him unconventional as a detective for crime drama? Write about gender and ethnicity!

The characterisation of Luther is typical of the crime drama genre for a plethora of reasons. Firstly, the fact that he is the typical Propp's "hero" of the narrative plays into conventions of the genre as he is the main protagonist, fighting for the justice of others, the leader of the story. However, though he has the stereotypical "hero" role, he does not always submit to it, due to the way in which he tends to go about illegal, sometimes immoral methods of investigation in order to succeed in his cases, though this could be seen as a trait of the "Maverick Detective" trope: a brilliant detective able to solve impossible cases who is not afraid to break the rules if it means catching the criminal. An example of when we can see Luther submit to this is when he firstly recognises that Alice is lying just from her not yawning, but then in the climax scene when he displays that he has no care for the legality of his actions, more for out-competing Alice, as he tells her he will simply frame another for her crime to spite her. Luther could also be seen as playing into this trope due to the fact that he is mentally perturbed; he has to visit therapy but also struggles to uphold his personal life (his wife left him), another element of the trope. This makes Luther a prime example of a crime drama protagonist as he submits to all of the general archetypes of the protagonist.

In addition to this, male protagonists of the crime drama are also typically an example of hegemonic masculinity, as they are always the best of their field and possess all of the typical characteristics of this term, and I would say that Luther fits this too, except for stoicism, which I believe is typical for this genre due to my previous analysis of the Maverick Detective as rather perturbed. We can see Luther's strength and aggressiveness (two aspects of hegemonic masculinity) in just the opening scene as he is chasing Madsen, and is extremely harsh on him; ruthless. All of these aid the show in upholding the audience's system of expectations, as this is a very conventional, staple character in every crime drama. Although Luther is all of these stereotypical aspects, I would argue that he is anti-stereotypical in one manner, the fact that he is black; he is the first black, British detective, which was atypical for the genre at the time as all of the protagonists would have been white. This could have been used as the show's unique selling point, in order to differentiate themselves from the rest of their competitors.