C2 TV

Tuesday 7th January 2024

Tv drama
Do now 

1. 2
2. 1hour 30 minutes
3. Category of media
4. older middle class British
5. Educate, entertain and inform

Crime drama:

a genre is a style or category of media.  Sub genre's are small subdivisions of genre's and hybrid genres are mixes of multiple genres together.

The responder

Narrative: The main character is a policeman trying to be the best police officer he can

Setting: Liverpool city, Uk

Characters: The policeman and his family

Mise en scene: police car, bullet proof vest, phones

Happy valley

Narrative: Katherine is a divorced policewomen who is an expert negotiator but is put on more menial police work then she is capable with

Setting:UK city

Characters: man on fire, police women, Katherine

Mise en scene: offices, playgrounds

Line of duty

Narrative: Bomb disposal crew

Setting:Uk city

Characters:carl, baby

Mise en scene: bombs, crowbars, armouring, apartment buildings.

Similarities: all based in Uk cities, often melodramatic occurrences, gritty and realistic story, lowkey lighting, all involved police, aerial shots of police cars.

Conventions:

lowkey lighting

Narrative: story starts with a crime that has been committed usually with a victim

Protagonist: the main character is intelligent and determined to solve the crime but is flawed

Antagonist; the antagonist is also intelligent and crafty, and seems to be one step ahead of the protagonist

suspects: there are a handful of suspects with motives and a reasonable opportunity to have committed the crime

clues: there are clues and red herrings that help or hinder the investigation

narrative arc: the story has a confusing narrative arc that unfolds over multiple episodes

setting: often set in a city or urban are

Character types: there are typical character types such as villain, hero, helper and a dispatcher.

Representation: the representation of characters and themes can challenge pre conceived ideas

Media language: gritty realistic settings; handheld camera work; fast-paced; editing; diegetic sound

The impact of these conventions can cause suspense and tension throughout the story which keeps the audience on the edge of their seat compelling them to watch more.

Friday 10th January 2025

TV industry

LO: to explore the television industry and audiences

Do now

1. a mix of two or more genres

2. Luther and the Sweeney

3. Flawed character, trying to be the good guy

4. Serious tone

5. tension

Online streaming services has changed the way we watch tv dramatically. Digital technology has changed the way we consume and produce media also, the wide variety of television means audiences are spread more thinly, audience loyalty to a particular channel has decreased.

The watershed means the time when TV programmes which might be unsuitable for children can be broadcast UK 9PM

Peak time is the time in which the highest number of viewers are watching

Prime time is the time period when the television audience is largest. Friday, Saturday 8-10 PM

Public service broadcasting is high quality content made for as wide of a range of audience as possible, and for public benefit rather than purely commercial

BBC is a public service broadcaster which is funded by the tv license fee that they earn 3.8 billion from. The BBC mission is to act in public interest, serving all audiences by providing impartial, high quality programs which inform, educate and entertain. The BBC is a big corporation which covers over television and radio that spans nationally and regionally and can be accessed outside the country.

Homework

1.public service radio is radio that isnt done for profit and is usually funded by governmental fees such as a tv license which costs money to be able to watch tv and allows for that money to be used to host public service radio. Whereas commercial radio is funded as a radio show that is for profit sponsors and advertisements aired on the radio are payed for by the company for exposure giving funding to the radio station.

2.The BBC uses multiple forms of media to promote The archers radio programme, for example The archers has multiple accounts on various different platforms such as twitter which allows people to get information about the show from multiple media sources, the BBC also has multiple mobile apps allowing for people to listen to the archers on the go and at anytime, and the BBC also has a website that allows for fans to check when the next broadcast is scheduled and discuss plot points with other fans

3.audiences listen to the Archers for many reasons according to the uses and gratifications theory. One key reason is for entertainment. The Archers offers listeners many of engaging storylines and relatable characters. The drama, relationships, and plot twists create a sense of suspense which provide entertainment for listeners, as a form of escapism.

Another reason people listen is for information. Through its characters and storylines, The Archers touches on real-life topics such as farming, rural life, and social issues. Listeners can learn about these topics and learn many new things. 

The show also helps listeners create a sense of personal identity, which is one of the reasons of consuming media according to the uses and gratifications theory, as they may relate to the characters or situations portrayed, which can help people understand themselves from the experiences of other characters in the show.

Tuesday 14th January

The Sweeney
Do now

1.crime

2. luther, the sweeney

3.low key lighting

4.serious nature

5. tension

The Sweeney:

• The Sweeney was produced by Euston films- film production division of thames television 
• Thames television held the ITV broadcast licence for the London area in the 70's and 80's
• Euston films produced a range of TV dramas in the 70's and 80's
• The Sweeney was filmed on location in parts of west London which added to the realism and intensity of the programme
• series was written by Ian Kennedy Martin
• Both main actors, John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, became associated with police crime drama, again showing the importance of the Sweeney in the development of the genre.

Scheduling

• The show ran between 1975-1978
• It was broadcast at 9pm (after watershed) on weekday evenings on ITV
• narrative was structured into three sections around the two ad breaks in the show

Historical context:

• The Sweeney was groundbreaking in the 1970's as it introduced many new elements to the police/crime drama
• Earlier crime drama included far less violence and provided 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 a more dynamic and exciting experience. there is a focus on complex, violent and organised.
• The Sweeney was based on the real "flying squad" a division of the metropolitan police service which focused on violent, urban crim. they achieved many successes but were involved in a corruption case where high ranking officers in the 70's were accused of taking bribes.
• socially and politically, the 70's was a period of upheavel

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 interiors and exterior scenes

Narrative

• The episode starts with a build up to the crime

Key differences:

• All the women are not employed in very high up jobs and are most of the time wives or mothers
• men are presented as the more important gender
• Women are presented as weak
• The only women who is a police officer is low ranking and not presented as capable
• Police officers are presented as corrupt which was new for the crime genre at the team
• much clearer class divisions

Representations of ethnicity:

• there is no ethnic diversity

Friday 17th January

Luther

Do now

1.London

2.9pm

3.9pm

4.the police were presented as corrupt

5. Jack reagen, George carter

Luther:

• produced by the BBC
• written by Neil cross known for writing crime dramas such as spooks
• First series was aired on BBC one at 9pm on Tuesday may4th 2010
• it was then also avaidible on iplayer
• There have been 5 series and a netflix film to date
• the show is named eponymously, which implies that the main detective will be strong independant and central
• the writer drew on different sub genres: mystery detective/subgenre

HOMEWORK

1.Scheduling affects TV crime dramas and their viewers in several ways,for example the watershed period, after 9 PM, allows for more adult content reeling in more mature viewers. Shows aired during prime time or peak time, usually in the evening, attract more viewers. With binge-watching, many people prefer watching multiple episodes at once, changing how shows are scheduled. Also, video on demand lets viewers watch whenever they want, giving them more control over when they tune in.

2.Audiences response to crime dramas may change over time due to changes in ideas of police by people due to incidents of corruption or police brutality

3.Commercial broadcasting provides much access to alot of differnet content at a cheaper price than with governmental produced broadcasting, funded by advertising. It promotes high-quality programming, fosters competition, and ensures content that appeals to audience interests.

4. production processes such as the size of the camera being filmed on can change a crime dramas tone as a smaller camera allows for me quick camera shots in the action

5.Crime dramas are aimed at audiences by having a flawed main character such as in Luther where the character has a crumbling marriage to create a sense of empathy for the character or relatability this presents the police as people with struggles too and reels in audiences.

Tuesday 21st January 2025

Luther: characters

Do now

1. John

2.BBC

3.may 4th 2010, 9pm Tuesday night

4. mystery detective/ phycological thriller

5. dark colour template, flawed main character

props character functions:

• vladimir prop was a folklorist researcher he analysed fairytales and snow white and try to find out more about the stories and he found out that all stories have the same exact type of characters.
• the hero: leads the narrative is usually looking for something a quest, or trying to solve a mystery
• the villain: conflict with the hero to stop them from succeeding
• the donor: give the hero something, a clue, weapon, information to help them complete their quest fulfils a mentor role
• the princess: is usually a prize or a reward for the hero
• the helper: sidekick, helps the hero complete the quest
• the princess' father: an authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest, the reward might be the prize
• the false hero: the false hero may take credit for the hero's actions or look like the hero in the beginning of the narrative but becomes revealed as evil
• The dispatcher: early role who sets the main story in motion

villian: Alice morgan, Henry Maddsen

Hero: Luther

Helper: Ripley

Donor: rose teller

Princess' father: rose teller

princess: Zoe

Helper: Ripley

False hero: Mark North

Dispatcher: Henry Maddsen Rose teller

I think that Luther fulfils the role of the hero as he is central to the story and is trying to solve a mystery. However he doesn't fit that role partially as he is a very flawed human.

Ripley fulfils the role of the helper as he is the sidekick to Luther and helps him on his quest towards solving mysteries.

I think Zoe fulfils the role of the princess since she is the reward Luther wants to get by solving mysteries and proving he is capable. However she does not fit this role as she does not want to be with Luther in the series

Cast of characters:

Friday 24th January 2025

Luther: genre and narrative

Do now

1.8

2. dispatcher, helper , false hero

3.Luther is a flawed character

4.The donor gives an object or piece of information to help the hero begin their journey

5.Justin Ripley

Genre:C

sub genre:A

hybrid genre:D

codes and conventions:B

Theory: Steve Neal Genre-repetition and difference

• The idea that genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and convention, this means that there is a system of expectations by the audiences when watching a certain genre.
• Genres change ,develop and vary over time
• Genres burrow from or mix to create hybrid genres

Crime Genre conventions (The Sweeney):

• guns
• police officers
• car chases
• fights
• starts off with a crime happening
• action crime drama hybrid genre

Crime genre conventions (Luther)

• chase scene
• crimes being committed in the opening
• dark colour template
• urban location
• close up standoff scene like a western
• phycological thriller crime hybrid genre

Luther contains many familiar elements of crime drama, but it also shows the developments in the genre when compared to the Sweeney. For example conventions from the thriller genre in visual and audio codes- low key lighting and intense non diegetic music. Characters in Luther are much more complex and developed particularly the female roles and real life developments are presented in the show. Filming styles are very different because of new technology- multiple cameras for more viewpoints and angles.

Stock characters- these are typical characters you would find in particular genres; a convention of a crime drama.

Luther is a maverick detective which means he is a brilliant detective that is able to solve all crimes and understand clues that no one else can, they aren't afraid to break the rules to catch criminals. Often damaged individuals that struggle to keep together their personal lives. An example of Luther being a maverick detective is his quick understanding of the shooting, his breaking and entering to a criminals house and his emotional outburst in front of his wife.

Alice Morgan is an example of psychopathic killer which is a character that enjoys playing mind games with detectives, capable of horrific crimes and are usually deceitful characters who pretend to be normal. Examples of Alice acting like a psychopathic killer is when she kills her whole family, taunts Luther that he will never solve the crime and pretends to be normal with Luther when she is being interrogated by him.

Alice Morgan is also a representative of a Femme fatale character which is a character that is mysterious and dangerous female that uses her sexuality to get and advantaged used in "noir" subgenre in detective films.

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 that runs throughout the series

Tuesday 28th January 2024

Luther: representation

Do now

1. codes and conventions

2. unique selling point

3.maverick detective

4.a character that is expected to be found in a genre

5. femme fatale, psychopathic killer

The word representation is how and how much different kinds of people are shown in a piece of media

official definition:

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

Representations questions:

1.is the representation positive or negative?

2. are there aspects which confirm 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?

Luther has been presented as powerful, emotionally unstable, obsessive, assertive, hyper intelligent in episode 1

This is shown in his reactions when he interacts with Henry Madsen when he is slipping and asserts his power over him to solve a crime he has been obsessing over. his intelligence is shown in his instant identification of Alice Morgan as the perpetrator of his crime

He possess many masculine stereotypes because of his assertive and confident personality, he wears traditionally masculine clothes. However Luther does subvert masculine stereotypes as he is also quite empathetic and is emotionally vulnerable.

John Luther :

• John Luther is an interesting representation of a black male in the 21st century.
• He is a successful senior police detective with a brilliant mind for solving crime
• he also uses questionable methods to get results
• highly committed to his job
• highly regarded by his fellow officers
• complicated character who experiences anguish and passion and reacts with anger and violence, but also pain and sadness
• reflects contemporary notions of masculinity as he isn't in complete control of his life and shows vulnerability
• some stereotypical masculine traits are shown such as a lack of emotion with other men and his physical strength
• Camera work shows him in shots with much open space to represent isolation

Hegemonic masculinity:

• The dominant form of masculinity was primarily seen as being white, heterosexual and middle class in western society
• the ideals of manhood adopted by the dominant masculinity suggested a number of characteristics that men are encouraged to be or use
• These characteristics: violence and aggression, stoicism, courage, physical strength, athleticism, risk-taking, adventure and thrill seeking, competitiveness and achievement and success 

In the opening chase scene Luther is presented as hegemonically masculine because he is aggressive, courageous and physically strong this representation is further developed during the climax of the episode where Luther can be seen physically overpowering Alice Morgan at knife point where he is exhibiting physical strength and thrill seeking. However when Luther visits Zoe at home he is shown to  be emotionally vulnerable.

Representations of women

Friday 31st January 2025

Luther: representation

Do now

1. hegemonic masculinity

2. stoicism, courage, competitiveness

3. how something is presented in media

4. camera shots of him in a lot of open space

5.  minority main character in a police drama

Explain how Luther is a representation of hegemonic masculinity.

In the program Luther, the eponymous hero is a representation of hegemonic masculinity. Initially in the opening scenes Luther is represented as athletic, tough and physically strong and this can be seen when he is chasing Henry Maddsen to hunt him down for his crimes this can be seen through the use of framing and how quick the camera angles change demonstrating his quick speed and his athleticism.

Furthermore ,into the play Luther presents signs of risk taking when he breaks into Alice Morgans house to find the parts of the murder weapon of the crime he is inspecting inside of the urn to taunt her so she admits to committing the crime, this breaking of the law is a risk that could make him lose his job but confirms his idea that Alice Morgan committed the crime.

Alice Morgan is a female antagonist which is an unusual role for a women to be in.

Zoe:

• Zoe has a more stereotypical personality for a women, being more emotional and romantic.
• However Zoe is highly educated so is less stereotypical of a women for that reason. 
• Zoe is indicative of the social context of the program Luther.
• Zoe is still stereotypical as she needs Luthers protection and her stories are all about her romantic activities

Rose:

• Rose is a women in power in a male dominated sector
• she shows strength of character by believing in Luther when others doubted him
• she works hard and follows the rules
• Rose is a working mother (typical in social context)

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

HOMEWORK

Luther conforms to the system of expectations of tv crime drama by using codes and conventions such as the protagonist John Luther who follows the 'flawed hero' character archetype present in many crime dramas, the setting takes place in a urban environment which is often associated with crime based genres and a sense that moral right and wrong are blurred instead of  having a very obvious difference.

The evolution of Luther is seen in its more diverse cast than compared to older versions of similar crime dramas such as The Sweeney changing the convention of a lack of diversity being found within the police force inside of a crime drama and the evolution is also shown in Luthers presentation of hegemonic masculinity, where some crime dramas have a very stable and stoic character Luther is flawed and emotionally unstable this giving the powerful, male protagonist a more emotional impression then your average detective in a crime drama.

Luther borrows from other genres such as thriller and horror to create a more interesting form of media with a different evolution of conventions that interests differs itself from other crime dramas, these horror elements are seen with the intense gore that is found when Luther is investigating the murder of Alice Morgan's family, this more dark angle towards filming crime dramas gives a more melodramatic feel and creates a more complex narrative.

Tuesday 4th February 2025

Industry and audience

Do now

1. Alice Morgan
2. stoic, competitive, daring
3. emotional control
4. Alice Morgan
5. named after the main character

Luther production:

• Produced by the BBC
• Shown on BBC1: the primary channel. which offers a range of programme types and genres and aims to appeal to a very wide audience
• BBC1: to create a high proportion of original programmes and to reflect the diversity of the uk
• 2016-2017 BBC 1 aim to exhibit "some or all the following: high quality, engaging ,original and should nurture UK talents
• Important of bbc drams should include: talkability topicality and relevance to audience and britishness and reflecting the diversity of life in britain 

Luther  reflects diversity in the range of ethnicities in the cast. Luther also reflects talkability through its dramatic and very discussable events within the episodes.

Luther distribution and scheduling:

• Series one was broadcast in may 2010 (BBC1, 9PM, )
• Also available on Iplayer (catch-up)
• It was re-commisioned following the first series (5 series)
• in 2012 BBC America started co producing the show
• Luther broadcast on BBC America: broadcasts a mixture of US and UK programs
• BBC America is part of the BBC studios (commercial aim of the BBC, not funded by the Uk licence fee)
• Crime drama is a large part of the BBC's revenue

A good reason for Luther's popularity is because Idris Elba is the main character and he is a global celebrity so people may want to watch for him. Additionally there is an interest in British culture from other countries.

Luther Audience appeal:

• The marketing of series one was important to reach audiences
• a trailer was released on the 16th of 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

Engaging with Luther:

• The website features clips, episodes, interviews, links to carious social media and articles written by the writers
• This is appealing as it increases the amount of Luther based media for fans to consume

Programme appeals:

• Genre: crime drama is really 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 though provoking drama
• representations: the range of complex male and female characters such as Alice Morgan and Luther appeals to different audiences to be intrigued by

Audience response Luther:

• First episode received mixed reviews but many positive responses
• The complex features could generate both positive and negative responses they might admire Luther's crime solving skills but disapprove of the methods and violent 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 but be disappointed by the lack of closure.

Audience response The Sweeney:

• characters from series one were appealing-audiences could relate to many of them
• police officers were shown as flawed although they still caught the criminals.
• modern audiences respond positively to the retro feel they have a lot of nostalgia and affection for the Sweeney
• Sweeney was massively succsessful (up to 19 million per episode)
• led to the Eustein developing many more TV dramas and two spin off films 
• DVD box set (rated 15) of all episode released in 2004 ( offered nostalgia for older audiences and new younger audiences.

Friday 7th February 2025

Context

Do now 

1. reflect the diversity of the uk and promote UK talent

2.BBC America

3.Website, trailers, exclusives done by the actors

4.Genre appeal, star appeal

5.The very traditional gender roles shown in the series

Streaming has had a massive change to how we watch television. When the Sweeney was on television, there was no way to pause or rewatch 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 the 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.

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 whole series at a time. Smartphones, Laptops and tablets have further enabled this as we no longer need to be at home, in the living room, looking at a 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 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 of understanding multi strand media

Historical context 1970's (The Sweeney):

• Less gender equality- reflected in the structure of the police force. One police women who is reduced to being a male officers's wife's babysitter
• Britain was becoming more racially diverse and multicultural, but racial discrimination was high and minority ethnic groups were under-represented. No diversity within the entire episode
• The Sweeney was based on a real police unit that was created to deal with highly violent crimes, the actual "flying squad" in real life was involved in a highly publicised corruption scandal. The detectives threatened to frame the criminal, not afraid to break the law to protect it
• 1970's was a period of upheaval: strikes, shortages and economic problems. Set in London centred around a criminal element.

Contemporary context 2010's ( Luther):

• 1980: 90 female detective constables to 1400 males
• 2017: 30% of all police officers in England and wales are female
• The name Luther might be a reference to Martin Luther King as he was the first black detective in a crime drama

Representations of gender:

• The Sweeney reflects 1970's values in relation to gender, especially gender roles in the work place - the flying squad 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, (Luther's boss is female, his wife Zoe is a successful lawyer. Alice is highly intelligent astrophysicist).
• However, these females are not all represented positively or as being totally independant- Alice is a narcissistic murderer.

Representations of ethnicity (Luther):

• The Sweeney represents British society as a completely white culture- there is no ethnic diversity.

Explain how crime dramas reflect a time in which they are made?

The main differences between older crime dramas such as The Sweeney in the 1970's and more modern crime dramas such as Luther in the 2010's is the diversity of the cast in each episode and the structure of the series in each episode.

One of the key differences between Luther and The Sweeney is in the representation of gender. In the 1970's there were 90 female constable officers to 1400 male officers, this lack of female representation in the forces was presented in the lack of presence that female officers have in The Sweeney, there being only one officer who was in charge of protecting one of the male officers girlfriends, this presents women as more subservient to men even when working the same job and is very standard for the patriarchal society that was present in the 1970's

HOMEWORK

1. In television genres do not remain the same over time but in fact, according to Steve Neale's genre theory, change over time this is because audiences would get bored if they watched a genre with the same genre codes and conventions over and over again propelling writers to create new shows in the same genre with different codes and conventions  to create a unique selling point to convince people to watch the show for example Luther as the first black detective in a crime drama genre.

Firstly the eponymous Luther is shown to demonstrate some typical stereotypes for a male main character in a crime drama this representation is best shown through his characterisation as a flawed character that has troubles with authority and will do whatever he can to catch a criminal even if it is a corrupt action, this characterisation is known as the maverick detective and is a stock character for crime dramas. However Luther also shunts the typical hegemonic masculinity within the usual male main character of a crime drama as whilst he is competitive and physically fit he has problems with emotional control and restraint which is not typical for the genre.

Secondly, Alice Morgan is also very stereotypical for a crime drama employing both the stock character traits of the femme fatale, as a mysterious and dangerous female character, and the psychopathic killer, being capable of murdering without restraint and liking to play mind games with detectives. However Alice also has the anti-stereotypical property of being a female antagonist within a crime drama, she is additionally presented as very powerful and independent which is a jump from crime dramas previous representations of women in the genre.

Finally, Zoe is a complex character that both contributes to stereotypical properties of women such as being fought over by men, being presented as weaker than Luther, and is used as a "damsel in distress" when Alice Morgan threatens her, this presents Zoe as stereotypically feminine and less strong than other male characters, this is quite usual for the crime drama genre. However Zoe has a very high paying job as a lawyer and is very intelligent which is anti-stereotypical for the presentation of women within crime dramas.

Overall, the characters in Luther are both stereotypical and not stereotypical of the crime drama genre having small variations from their original stock character archetypes. The conventional characters are Luther and Alice Morgan. However, less conventional characters would be Zoe.

Tuesday 11th February

Do now

1. mise en scene, camerawork, editing, sound

2. shot type, angle, movement

3. sound that would be heard in the scene

4. when the editing is cutting between two scenes happening simultaneously 

5. how a shot is composed; decision about where to place a subject in a shot.

your first viewing you have two minutes to read the questions then to take notes on the three minute extract. 6 minutes inbetween both viewings

Technical codes: camera shots, angles, movement and editing

audio codes: diegetic vs non diegetic sound, dialogue, music, sound effects

visual codes: mise en scene, framing, lighting

camerawork and editing:

• cinematography is a language - so how does it make meaning? We need to ask ourself these questions what is being communicated with this shot, what has been included, has anything deliberately been left out and what are we as the viewers being asked to focus on

Notes camera work and editing:

• shot reverse shot with a long shot of Luther and Henry to imply that they are at a standoff, implies that both of them are at an impasse and builds tension between the two of them
• birds eye angle of Henry running from Luther which makes Henry seem small and like prey to Luther
• Extreme close up on Luther when he catches Henry at a dead end, implies that Luther is hyper focused on catching Henry

Friday 14th February 2025

Media language

Do now

1. editing, mise en scene, camera work, sound 

2. movement

3. sound that would not be heard if you were in the scene

4. editing cutting from someone looking at something and then that thing

5. when the camera angle is on its side

Tuesday 25th February 2025

extract analysis: representation

Do now

1.medium long shot

2. camera movement

3. mise en scene

4.conversations      

5. an camera shot that is at an angle

• Luther is central in the camera shot which implies he is the most important in the shot even though he is in Zoe's office
• Luther is inside of Zoe's office and is standing by three chairs which implies Zoe was talking to multiple people from her desk at once and that she is powerful in her job
• Zoe's office is large and individual which implies she holds power at the company she works for
• she has a crowded desk which implies that she works very hard
• frosted glass walls are expensive and suggest that Zoe is worth a lot of money to the company

Visual codes are the connotations of what settings, props and costumes can tell us about a story.

The setting is a psychiatric hospital which starts off with the connotation that Luther is a mentally ill person. DCI Ian Reed is dressed up in a suit which implies he is a functioning member of society and has a job where he needs to look formal. Whereas Luther is in very casual clothes because he is a patient at the hospital and doesn't have a job. Ian reed is leaning forward Luther is leaning back and seems uncaring as if Luther doesn't want to reconnect. Both men are playing chess which gives the impression that even though Luther is in a psych ward he is intelligent. Once Ian beats Luther he remarks it is the first time he has ever beat him which furthers the notion that Luther is smarter than him. When Ian leaves Luther leans back forward possibly to see if their was a way he could win the chess game, which implies that Luther only cares about chess but not to be a police officer.

Representations of gender:

• masculine fight over a women very stereotypical
• male dominated scene by population
• Luther kisses Zoe in front of her boyfriend to demonstrate his love for Zoe
• Zoe calls the police, requires help, weakness
• Hegemonic masculinity in the male characters.
• Zoe is emotional talking to Luther
• women stereotypical negative
• men stereotypical negative
• at the end she stops all the violence by herself possibly giving herself the power

Representations of race

• black police officers
• black man arrested for a crime
• police officers swarm Luther and assume he is the criminal possibly racism within police force

Friday 28th February 2025

Extract analysis and exam style question

Do now

1.Stereotypes

2. props, costumes and settings

3.twice

4. 2

5.three paragraphs

1b wants you to make a judgement
Costumes:

• Most people are in usual office-wear with ties and blazers, Alice is using a hat pin without a wearing a hat that she uses to threaten Zoe, Alice is trying to blend in with the rest of people whilst still weaponising herself. Zoe is wearing high heels and dark clothing. 

Genre:

• urban setting of London, police precinct, office of main characters wife which is a law firm, highly typical

1a. Zoe is wearing high heels and dark business clothing which has the connotations that she is a very business savvy women that demands power yet still conforms to the standard expectations of women's clothing within society and conforms towards the male gaze. Alice Morgan is shrouded in very large black clothing which helps her almost blend into the surroundings until she needs to start threatening Zoe, this has connotations that she wants to blend in with humans and not be caught, Alice is also using a hat pin to threaten Zoe even though she is not wearing a hat, this furthers the idea that Alice is removed from humanity since she doesn't have a regular human ideas of what accessories will be used for and how they are stored. Alice's predication towards wearing more bulky and less form fitting clothing shunts the rules of the male gaze theory which states if women are shown in media it is to be looked at and not to be understood.Most people aside from Alice are wearing regular, brightly coloured office based clothing, furthering the idea that Alice is different from your regular person. 

The people around Luther are all in brighter colourings of the same clothes frequently seen paired is the colours blue and yellow such as Ripley's yellow tie and his blue blazer or Rose tellers blonde hair and her powder blue top. This colour pairing is synonymous with the police force and gives the idea that many of the detectives that Luther interacts with are police officers to the core of their heart, however Luther is only seen in either grey or charcoal black clothing, this could imply the idea that Luther is not as stereotypically a police officer as other detectives on the force and furthers the notion of him being a maverick detective that takes policing in a more rule bending, new direction.

Both Luther and Alice have a tendency to dress the opposite of the people around them which highlights them against all other people and denotes their importance not only to the show but also how different they are from the average human. It is stated many times that Luther is a genius but is also a bit of a misanthrope and this is shown in his difference to his co-workers wardrobe, Luthers wardrobe could also be very dark as to blend in with urban surroundings highlighting the idea that he is a very well thought out, intelligent man. Alice is also shown to dress differently from those around her and to try and blend in with her surroundings which forces us to draw parallels towards her and Luther.

1b.Luther has a very typical setting for a crime drama genre. Luther takes place in the city of London many times in its most cramped and urban environments, this is standard for a crime drama since the city of London is Infamous for its relatively high crime rates. Luther constantly dots between the streets and his police precinct which is also a stereotypical for a crime drama to involve the police as a main combatant to high crime rates and to be presented as the good guys.

However, we don't see much of Luther's house which is not stereotypical, it would be assumed that in a crime drama the main characters house would be shown as they live their and is the most important character in the series. This isn't stereotypical for a crime drama and instead shunts its stereotypes. According to Steve Neale's genre theory in which he states that genres conventions always change as new series' in that genre create unique selling points which end up becoming staples of the genre of done well.

2. Digital technologies such as streaming services have had a massive impact on how we watch television. For example before streaming services TV shows had to be watched as they aired or you would miss the show and you couldn't keep up with the stories, the fight for "prime time" airing, when everybody was watching television, was very competitive and was highly sought after. However, now with streaming services new episodes of shows can be watched whenever on many different devices. This convergence of media makes prime time a lot less valued nowadays and it much easier for viewers to consume the media

The internet has also made a huge impact from sites like social media, For example the Luther social media accounts and its many forums online, which allows viewers from all over the world discuss media and fulfil one of the uses and gratifications theories reasons for consuming media which is social interaction, this high interaction of fans helps bring new people to the show and allows for quick and cheap promotion of a show to new audiences. Social media can be accessed on a range of devices that can also easily consume media such as television so the whole process of consuming media is streamlined to be as easy to find and as available as possible

Webpages for specific also are updated frequently 

Unfinished

HOMEWORK:

1a. Luther wears clothes that are simple, practical and dark on purpose which represents the seriousness of his job and the respect he commands as he is a representative of hegemonic masculinity.

Firstly Luther's coat is not flashy, his overcoat gives an impression of him being imposing and serious This reflects his status as a senior detective but also imposes the weight of responsibility he carries, particularly in the morally complex world he navigates. The colour palette of Luther’s costumes mostly dark and lacking in colour reflects his possible internal conflict. The repetitive nature of his wardrobe suggests a ignorance towards taking care of himself which emphasizes his obsession with solving cases and his inability to move beyond his emotional scars, such as the guilt over his wife’s death.His costume choices make him look like a man who is always on the working himself to the bone, tough and hardworking. The lack of colour and style in his wardrobe reflects his personal struggle and sets him apart from the more stereotypical, heroic figures in crime dramas.

1b. John Luther is quite typical of your average TV crime drama since he is an emotionally flawed character which can fit into the "anti-hero" Propp's character type because of his previous trauma where his wife is divorcing him and his intentional manslaughter of Henry Maddsen, this feeds into the idea that Luther doesn't work into a standard hero archetype as he has common struggles as anyone else. He also struggles to contain his emotions, for example when he destroys his wife's door in a fit of rage, this instability in his mind not only sets him apart from a regular hero but also creates a sort of bad impression in Luther's actions that connotes him being an antihero

Another trope of the crime drama genre is the detective who is very good at solving crimes but struggles with emotional or psychological issues. Luther like many classic detectives is often able to make connections that others miss, demonstrating his great intelligence. His unconventional methods, however, sometimes put him at odds with the law or his superiors, which is a common conflict in crime dramas, thus feeding into the stereotypical idea of Luther being a maverick detective that is not afraid to break a couple rules to catch a criminal.

Like many protagonists in crime dramas Luther is physically tough and is presented with a brooding, stoic demeanour. This "tough guy" persona helps with his stereotypical representation of a TV crime drama male detective since he represents many of the principles of hegemonic masculinity, especially how he faces dangerous criminals or deals with high-stakes situations. Luther’s masculine personality and ability to put himself in harm’s way for the sake of justice. These are traits shared by many crime drama lead protagonists. He’s frequently shown engaging in physical confrontations or putting his life on the line, which mirrors the traditional hegemonically "tough man" that police detectives would be expected to be.