c2 tv

 Do Now

Tuesday 7 January 2024 

1. how many media exams are there? 2

2. how long is each exam? 1hr 30minutes

3. what does genre mean? type of media form that involved a particular set of tropes 

4. what is the target audience for the archers? older middle-class white British women

5. whats the BBC remit? to inform, educate, and entertain

TV Drama

Crime Drama

• Genre - type of media form that involved a particular set of tropes.
• Sub-Genre - a category that is a subdivision of a larger genre.
• Hybrid genre - a literary or film genre that blends themes and elements from two or more different genres.

The Responder

Narrative: 

Setting: a bit populated city with a lot of crime

Characters: the main character is a police man and also has health problems he also has a wife and daughter 

Mise en scene and iconography: 

Happy Valley

Narrative: 

Setting: takes place in a town

Characters: main character is a 47 year old police women who lives with her sister

Mise en scene and iconography: 

Line of duty

Narrative: 

Setting: a city

Characters: 

Mise en scene and iconography: 

similarities:

• all of them took place in pretty populated areas 
• all of the main characters work in the police force
• very dim and dark lighting/shots
• starts with them trying to stop a crime
• lots of air shots of police moving around
• shown from the polices side

typical codes and conventions of TV crime genre:

• dim lighting
• involves the police
• takes place in populated areas
• police are the good guys
• begins with trying to stop a crime
• main character tends to be intelligent and determined to solve the crime but they also have a flaw
• the villain is also intelligent and crafty, and seems to be one step ahead of the main character
• there are a handful of suspects with motives and reasonable opportunity to have done the crime
• there are clues and red herrings that help or hinder the investigation
• continuing narrative across multiple episodes  

the impact of these conventions help build tension and suspense

Do Now

Friday 10th January 2025

1. a literary or film genre that blends themes and elements from two or more different genres.

2. Luther, The Sweeney

3. dim shots

4. starts off trying to stop a crime

5. suspense, tension, enigmas

The Television industry

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

watershed - a dividing line in a schedule between family-friendly content, and content deemed suitable only for a more mature audience (9pm)

peak time - ​​the time when the greatest number of people are watching television

prime time - broadcast when the greatest number of people are watching television or listening to the radio, usually in the evenings

public service broadcasting - high-quality content made for as wide a range of audiences as possible and for public benefit rather than purely commercial.

Do Now

Tuesday 14 January 2024

1. solving crime

2. Luther, The Sweeney

3. dim shots

4. starts with a crime happening

5. suspense

The Sweeney

• broadcasted in the 70s
• Euston films - film production division of thames television
• thames television held the itv broadcast licence for the London area
• produced a range of tv dramas in the 70s and 80s
• was filmed on location in parts of west London which was rare at the time
• programme used new techniques that have influenced the way TV dramas have been produced 
• it was broadcast at 9pm on weekday evenings
• in the 70s the Sweeney was groundbreaking at it introduced many new elements to police/crime genre
• earlier crime dramas had less violence and provided a reassurance that society was safe and law and order was being upheld
• 
  

Do Now

Friday 17 January 2025

1. London(west)

2. 9pm weekdays

3. the period in time when more adult shows are able to be broadcasted 

4. on site filming

5. Regan and Carter

Luther

produced by bbc

written by neil cross, who had previously written shows like spooks

first series was aired on the bbc one at 9mp on Tuesday 4th may 2010

it was then also available on iplayer

there have been 5 series and a Netflix film to date

it is one of the many crime dramas that takes its titles from the main protagonist, implying that the main detective will be strong, independent 

HOMEWORK

How does scheduling impact TV crime drama and TV audiences?

Scheduling impacts crime dramas by determining when they are aired, affecting viewership. The watershed (9pm) ensures content is suitable for adults. Peak time and prime time (evenings) are when most viewers watch, maximizing audience reach. Binge-watching allows viewers to consume episodes at once, while video on demand gives viewers flexibility to watch anytime, altering viewing patterns and preferences

What are the benefits of commercial broadcasting?

Commercial broadcasting offers broader access to content, often free-to-air, supported by advertisements. This model allows for wide audience reach and higher production budgets, which can improve the quality of crime dramas.

How do production processes influence crime dramas?

Production processes, like scripting, directing, and editing, shape crime dramas' tone, style, and pacing. The choice of location, casting, and budget also impacts the storytelling, determining whether the drama feels realistic or stylised, influencing audience engagement.

Explain how crime dramas are aimed at a range of audiences.

Crime dramas target a range of audiences through varied formats. Some, like Sherlock, appeal to intellectuals with complex plots, while others, like CSI, offer action-driven stories for broader appeal. Ratings and themes are tailored to demographics, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

Do Now

Tuesday 21 January 2025

1. john

2. bbc

3. Tuesday 9pm 

4. mystery / detective

5. dark dim shots, close up shots, a crime happening, realism, intense music

Characters

Propp's character functions

all stories have the same types of characters

there are 8 character types

• the hero - leads the story
• the villain - conflicts with the hero
• the donor - give the hero something
• the princess - usually the prize for the hero
• the helper -  heroes sidekick
• the princess parent - offers the reward for completing quest
• the false hero - takes credit for the heroes actions or look heroic at the start
• the dispatcher - early role who sets the story/quest in motion, often combined with other roles

hero - Luther

villain - alice morgan

the donor - rose teller

the princess - Zoe Luther

the helper - Justin Ripley

the princess parent - rose teller

the false hero - Luther

the dispatcher - henry Madsen, rose teller

Luther fits the hero role the reason i think he fits the hero role is because he's the main character we fellow throughout the episode / series and he's the one who's solving everything trying to stop this crime. The reason i don't think Luther fits this role is because yes we see him do good and solve crimes but at the same time he doesn't do it in the most morally correct way like breaking into Alice's home to steal the evidence or letting Henry fall and putting him into a coma

Henry fits the dispatcher because him and his actions at the start of the episode is what started all of this him falling led to Luther leaving his job for a bit to get help which led to his wife leaving him and Henry falling lets Alice get inside Luthers head and use that as leverage to try and frame him. The reason i don't think that Henry fits the dispatcher role is because his actions aren't the whole reason that what has happened has happened like Alice didn't murder her parents because of Henry she just did it because he wanted attention.

 

Do Now

Friday 24 January 2025

1. 8

2. dispatcher, anti hero, the helper

3. he does a lot of bad not hero like things like letting henry fall 

4. gives the hero something

5. the helper / Justin Ripley

Genre and Narative

Genre - a category or 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 2 or more genres 

Codes and Conventions - 

Theory: Steve Neale

genres is dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions they have a system of expectations

genres change, develop, and vary over time

genres borrow from and overlap with one another - this creates hybrids

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 phycology

the characters are a lot more complex and developed, mainly female roles.

real life development in forensics are reflected in the show 

filming styles are very different technology - multiple angles far more camera movement

stock characters - these are typical characters you would find in particular genres a convention of crime dramas

the maverick detective

brilliant detectives that are able to solve most crimes and understand clues no one else can

they aren't afraid to brake the rules to stop the crime

they are also damaged individuals who struggle to hold together their personal life

example of Luther being a maverick detective:

1. steals from Alice Morgan and lets Henry fall

2. is able to tell that Alice did the crime by the fact she didn't yawn when he did

3. his wife has left him for another man while he was away

The Psychopathic killer

deceitful characters who pretend to be normal

capable of horrific crimes

enjoy playing mind games with detectives 

1. Alice killed her family

2. she pretended to be normal by "grieving" and being "sad" after he family's death

3. plays with Luther knowing that Luther knows she did it but dosent have the evidence to do anything

 

The Femme Fatal

a mysterious and dangerous female character 

uses her sexuality to the exert power over male characters

a character more often seen in film noir

the pre title sequence summarise 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

we know that she is the killer and that Luther will catch her but we dont know how the ensuing phycological dual between the two characters is engaging and exciting 

Do Now

Tuesday 28 January

1. the repetition of codes and conventions they have a system of expectations

2. unique selling point

3. maverick detective

4. typical characters you would find in certain genres

5. psychopathic killer, the femme fatal

Luther representation

how we perceive a character

representation - the way in which people, places, issues and events are portrayed in the media

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 i use to support

John Luther

hes represented as smart, quick, tough but also challenged and problematic

Hegemonic Masculinity - the dominant form of masculinity or the cultural idea of manhood was primarily reflective of white, straight, largely middle class males

these ideals of manhood adopted by the dominant masculinity suggest a number of a characteristics that men are encouraged to be or use

these characteristics include: violence and aggression, stoicism, courage, toughness, physical strength, athleticism, risk-taking, adventure and thrill-seeking, competitiveness and achievement and success.

1. hes shown as intimidating, strong, determined, aggressive  

2. assertive, strong, risk-taking, violence

3. 

Alice: lacks emotions, has a lot of power, very intelligent, both antagonist and femme fatale, ruthless, violent

Zoe: very successful career, powerful and independent which is shown through her representation as a layer, mix race, she's still shown needing protection from Luther, all of her storyline are concerned with relationship

Rose: gets Luthers job back, stand up for Luther, is Luthers boss, works hard follows rules, a working mother, short hair, no makeup, 

Do Now

Friday 31 January 2025

1. Hegemonic Masculinity

2. violence, courage, aggression 

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

4. him being alone in a lot of shots

5. first black detective in uk crime drama

Luther Representation

Explain how Luther is a representation of hegemonic masculinity.

Luther is a representation of hegemonic masculinity by his risk taking which we see in episode one when Luther has caught up to Henry and dose not pull him up from dropping at the very start, there was a risk that henry would've fell before he was able to tell a Luther were the girl was but still Luther let him hang there until henry told him

Another example of how Luther is a representation of hegemonic masculinity is 

How far are the characters of Luther typical of the genre. [12]

HOMEWORK

Neale’s genre theory suggests that genres are defined by "repetition and difference," meaning they follow familiar conventions while also evolving over time. Luther supports this theory by both conforming to and subverting crime drama conventions.

Luther conforms to the ‘system of expectations’ of TV crime drama by using codes and conventions such as a morally complex detective, a central crime to be solved, and a dark, urban setting. The show features investigative procedures, tense interrogations, and psychological battles between the protagonist and criminals, all of which are typical of the genre.

Luther also shows change by presenting a protagonist who does not always follow the law and struggles with his own morality. Unlike traditional crime dramas where detectives uphold justice, Luther often bends the rules and engages in morally ambiguous actions, making him an anti-hero rather than a conventional crime-solver. The show also places heavy emphasis on his personal struggles, adding depth to the character beyond the standard detective archetype.

Luther borrows from other genres such as psychological thrillers and neo-noir. The show incorporates horror-like elements, especially in its depiction of serial killers, and uses dark, shadowy cinematography reminiscent of film noir. Additionally, Luther’s intense personal relationships and emotional turmoil add elements of drama, making the show more character-driven than a typical procedural crime series.

By blending traditional crime drama elements with unique twists, Luther exemplifies Neale’s idea that genre evolves by balancing familiarity and innovation.

Do Now

Tuesday 4 February 2025 

1. Alice

2. strong, violent, courage

3. emotional restraint

4. Alice

5. 

Industry and Audience

Production:

• created by BBC
• shown on BBC1
• 2016-2017 BBC aimed to exhibit some or all of the following high quality, original, challenging innovative and engaging, and it should nurture uk talent
• important features of BBC drama included:
• talk ability
• topicality and relevance to audiences
• britishness and reflecting the diversity of life in Britain

the website lets people interact with the Luther series on different platforms such as twitter, facebook and instagram the website also lets people see graphic novels of the show

Programme Appeals:

• Genre - crime genre is very popular and it includes familiar conventions along with interesting hybridisation and unconventional elements.
• 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.
• Representations - The range of complex male and female characters appeals to different audiences- either to identity with or to be intrigued by.

first episode had mix reviews but mostly positive, the complex features could generate both positive and negative responses:

• Might admire Luthers crime-solving skills but disapprove of the methods and violent responses
• might respond positivity to Alice and find her intelligence and resourcefulness appealing but respond badly to femme fatal 

The Sweeney:

• people might relate to some of the characters
• police officers where shown as flawed and human
• modern audiences might like the 'retro vibe'

• was really successful - up to 19 million per episode
• led to Eusten developing many more TV dramas and two spin off films
• DVD box set rated 15 of all episodes released in 2004
• re runs broadcast multiple times over years 
• 
  

Do Now

Friday 7 February 2025

1. originality, high quality

2. BBC America

3. trailers

4. genre, narrative

5. the representation of women

Context

One of the biggest changes in how we watch TV was streaming

When the Sweeney was on TV there was no way to pause or re watch TV 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 that audiences did not have to remember week to week what had happened and they missed an episode they wouldn't have missed any important details

Modern services such as BBC iplayer, where Luther is shown, allow audiences to watch on demand

this has changed how we watch TV with viewers now able to binge-watch whole series at a time

smart phones laptops have further enabled this as we no longer need to be at home in living room to watch tv

this had led to far more open narratives in crime dramas where parts of the story will unfold over several episodes

this allows far more complex storytelling and character development

Historical context 1970s

less gender equality - reflected in the structure of the police force

Britain was becoming more racily diverse and multicultural but racial discrimination was high and minority ethnic groups were under represented - there is no representation of other genders or ethnicity

the Sweeney was based on the real 'Flying squad' which had been involved in a highly publicised corruption scandal - they tried to frame one of the criminals

1970s was a period of upheaval: strikes, shortages, and economic problems - there seemed to be a lot of high crime rates at the time

Contemporary Context

1980: 90 female detective constables to 1400 men

2017: 30% of all police officers in England and wales are female

a lot more female characters with main roles

Luthers boss is a women

the antagonist is a women

Zoe has a very high important job (lawyer)

the name Luther could be connected to martin Luther king, someone who fought for black rights

the main protagonist is black

most of the cast in Luther is diverse

lots of shots of the city and important landmarks / buildings

The Sweeney reflects the 1970s values in relation to gender especially gender roles in the workplace - The Flying squad is male dominated, patriarchal and characterised by a stereotypical macho culture of drinking, violence, ect    

this reflects gender roles within society at the time particularly within the police force where women in the UK police force had different rank structure to men

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

one of the ways crime dramas reflect the time in which they are mad is with the diversity of the cast, for example with the Sweeney the is a significant lack of diversity in the show with most if all of the main police force being white males and even outside the police force just most of the people we see in general are white males which reflects the lack of diversity in shows in the 1970s which is when the Sweeney was made

Do Now

Tuesday 11 February 2025

1. camerawork, sound, editing, MES

2. shot types, angles, movement

3. sound you would hear if were in the world of the text

4. when the editing cuts between 2 scenes happening at the same time

5. framing is how a shot is composed: where to place a subject in a shot

Extract Analysis

1. close up

2. mid shot - low angle

3. extreme close up

4. canted angle

paper 2 section A

will need to answer a question based on an extract from Luther

Section A is made up of 2 questions (stepped) will ask you to answer EITHER media language or representations in an extract

Part A - basic analysis questions

Part B - analyse and make a judgement

Question will be on TV audiences, industry, or contexts

technical codes - camera shots, angles and movement, editing

audio codes - diegetic sound v non diegetic sound , dialogue, music, sound effects

visual codes - mise-en-scene, framing composition, lighting

the camera stays on Henry face for most of the shots we see him in making us think hes the good guy / main character while Luther is shown a lot from the back in the chase making us think hes after Henry and is the bad guy

lots of shots going back and forth between the 2 men really showing the frantic and fear of Henry

Do Now

Friday 14 February 2025

1. camerawork, sound, editing, MES

2. movement

3. added sound that isn't in the world of the text

4. when the editing cuts from someone looking at something to what they are looking at

5. a slanted shot

Media Language

Do Now

Tuesday 25 February 2025

1. mid long shot

2. camera movement

3. mise en sence

4. to show a interaction between 2 people 

5. a shot thats at a tilted

Extract Analyse

gender

• mark had to come out and talk to Luther and try to get rid of him instead of Zoe coming out herself to talk to Luther
• men represented as physically strong
• the 2 guys fought over Zoe like she was a object
• all of the police were male
• when she tells the police to stop they stop showing she still has power

ethnicity

• mainly white police men came to stop Luther when Zoe called the police

HOMEWORK

 

John Luther’s costume often features a tailored suit and dark overcoat, reflecting professionalism and authority the sharp cut suggests competence while the darker tones symbolise the moral ambiguity he faces as a detective his slightly rumpled appearance hints at the emotional toll his work takes on him revealing that while he is outwardly in control he is deeply affected by the crimes he investigates the monochrome palette signifies isolation and the inner darkness Luther grapples with highlighting his role as a loner in the narrative

 

Alice Morgan’s sleek dark clothing with luxurious fabrics like velvet showcases her intelligence sophistication and danger the tailored nature of her outfits combined with the darker colours reflects her calculated controlling nature while hinting at the criminal tendencies beneath her poised exterior Her costume contrasts with Luther’s symbolising her chaotic unpredictable character It also underscores her ability to manipulate and deceive using her beauty and intellect to mask her sinister intentions

 

John Luther fits the traditional "hero" role in crime drama driven by a desire to solve crimes and deliver justice His sharp intellect persistence and leadership in solving cases are typical of genre protagonists However Luther is an unconventional hero Unlike the usual detective, he struggles emotionally with a complicated moral compass and deeply flawed character His attachment to dangerous figures like Alice Morgan shows his vulnerability, deviating from the "perfect" detective archetype His ethnicity as a Black British man adds complexity to his interactions highlighting a more modern nuanced portrayal of a detective in the genre where personal and societal issues influence his role.

HOMEWORK

TVD characters

In television genres are not static but evolve over time as they adapt to audience expectations and societal changes

Firstly the eponymous Luther is very stereotypical as a Maverick detective a stock character for crime drama This representation is best shown through his dogged pursuit of justice often breaking the rules to solve cases Furthermore Luther also struggles with personal demons making him a more complex version of the typical flawed hero

Secondly Alice is also a very stereotypical character for crime drama in her representation as a femme fatale This is shown primarily through her intelligence manipulation and moral ambiguity Furthermore Alice also adds an unpredictable dangerous element to the narrative typical of the femme fatale archetype

In contrast Zoe is a more complex character that both conforms to and challenges stereotypical femininity She is represented as emotionally supportive but also independent and strong-willed This is shown through her complicated relationship with Luther and her refusal to be defined by him

Overall the characters in Luther are very conventional for a crime drama with some small variations The conventional characters are Luther and Alice However less conventional is Zoe who challenges traditional gender roles in the genre

Do Now

Friday 28 February 2025

1. stereotypes/ is it positive or negative representation

2. props, lighting, setting, lighting, blocking

3. 2

4. 2

4. 3-4

Extract analysis: EXAM STYLE QUESTIONS

1a) costumes create meaning in this extract by showing us what the characters personality is and their importance for example Zoe is shown wearing a nice solid colour suit which shows that she's a very important and high ranking person in her job as a lawyer which is a very high important job to have and her neat tide back hair and suit reflect this also the fact that she's a lawyer is very anti stereotypical with lawyers being typically male rather then female

Alices costume is comprised of a lot of dark colours and it covers most of her body showing her mysterious personality and-unfinished

1b) the locations showed in the extract are very typical in the genre with most scenes of crime genres taking place in the actual police station and the detectives office rather then outside and in extract most of it other then Alice attacking Zoe takes place back in Luthers office inside the police station where he has all of the evidence laid out on his desk

another reason the locations shown are typical is because when Alice attacks their in this massive open area inside the city with buildings towering over them and them being outside one of those massive buildings themselves the reason this is typical for the genre is because in a lot of crime dramas they make sure to show off the city and get a lot of shots of the city streets and the towering buildings even if they don't intend to do it on purpose the city will still be seen and shown off

2) digital technology has changed the way in which audiences have changed have consumed television by the way digital technology has also changed over the pass years for example TVs use to only have around 4-5 channels and you had to tune into the watch and since they were being broadcasted if you didn't watch it at the right time you would tune in half way through the episode unable to rewind to the start but as TVs adapted to the forever changing technology they were able to have millions of different shows across millions of different channels and shows didn't have to be broadcasted you could just watch it where and when ever u wanted and be able to rewind or replay any part you had missed which made it much easier for audiences to consume television

another way digital technology has changed is the advancement in mobile phones which let audiences watch shows where ever they wanted whenever on a much more compact and smaller screen which is easier to cary and with phones other useful capabilities phones became very common for people to own to a lot more of the population had phones and used them on a daily bases-unfinished  

it takes place and shows multiple different types of offices in different buildings such as zoes office to inside the police station

the costume which is a suit shows Zoes power and importance in her job

Alices costume is mainly comprised of black and other dark colours to help hide herself and seem mysterious

Luther is wearing a smart but also casual outfit showing how he takes his job seriously but can also remain calm and collected most of the time

the shot were Alice had attacked Zoe is comprised of mostly close up shots