TV DRAMA

 07 January 2025

Do now

1. There are two media exams

2. Each exam is 1 hour 30 minutes

3. Genre is a type of a media form that involves a certain set of characteristics 

4. Target audience for the Archers is older middle class, white British women 

5. BBC remit is educate, inform, entertain

TV drama 

LO. explore the content and format of the unit 

Component 2: Understanding media forms and products

Section A: TV crime drama - 'Luther' and 'The Sweeney'  

Section B: Music videos 

Section A: 

Question 1: Media language OR Representation

Question 2: Media industries OR audiences OR media context 

Crime Drama

Genre: a type of a media form that involves a certain set of characteristics 

Sub genre: subdivision / more specific category within a genre

Hybrid Genre: shares the conventions of more than one genre 

The Responder

• Narrative:   opening scene trying to stop a crime, intense situation
• Setting:  office, city, home, urban areas
• Characters: white male police officer, interviewer/ colleague?, wife and child
• Mis en scene: police uniform, siren sounds, alarm clock, police car, lowkey lighting, ariel view shot types

Happy Valley

• Narrative:  opening scene trying to stop a crime, intense situation
• Setting: shop, public park, offices, urban areas
• Characters: confident female police officer, drunk rowdy young men
• Mis en scene: police car and uniform, lowkey lighting, ariel view shot types

Line Of Duty

• Narrative: police tracking down a man but accidentally shoot the wrong person, opening scene trying to stop a crime, intense situation
• Setting: run down apartment buildings, police offices, urban areas
• Characters: male police officers, crying woman and baby
• Mis en scene: police cars, siren lights and sounds, radios, guns, police protective gear (bulletproof vests), crying sounds, lowkey lighting, ariel view shot types

Similarities

Typical codes and conventions in TV crime drama: 

• Narrative: opening scene usually an intense situation involving trying to stop a crime, usually with a victim. There are clues and red herrings that help or hinder the investigation. The story has a continuing narrative arc that unfolds over multiple episodes
• Setting: Urban areas or cities
• Characters: policeman and detectives as key characters, tent to be intelligent and determined to solve the crime, but they have a flaw. Antagonist is intelligent and crafty, always seems to be one step ahead of the protagonist. Usually handful of suspects with motives and a reasonable opportunity to have committed the crime. Typical character types such as villain, hero, helper, dispatcher
• Mis en scene: Police cars and uniform, siren sounds, ariel views
• Representation: the representation of characters and themes can challenge stereotypes and con-veined ideas
• Media Language: low key lighting, gritty and realistic settings, handheld camerawork, fast paced editing, diegetic sound (as if you were there) 

Explain the impact of these conventions and how they can engage audiences in a programme.

These conventions are good for engaging audiences as they create tension through fast editing, and hand held camera work to make the viewer feel as if they are actually there. This creates a connection between the viewer and the show, additionally to the continuing narrative arc and gritty, realistic settings. This is interesting for the audience to see as they are often used to censored scenes, so this realistic perspective is intriguing  

14 January

Do Now

1. Crime drama narrative is based around

2. We will study: 

3.  one crime drama convention: police

4. one other: urban areas or cities

5. essential that crime dramas create tension

The Sweeney

LO. To explore the context of the set text 

Representation in The Sweeney

Ethnicity

• all white. no diversity.  

Gender

• all female characters are only included in relation to other male characters, women not shown as stupid but definitely shown as weak and vulnerable, very stereotypical jobs 

Difference in society from today

• clearer class structure 

Main characters

• Detective Inspector Jack Regan
• Detective Sargent George Carter 

Narrative

• 
  

Media language from the 70's 

• non diegetic music, fast paced to match tension in chase scene
• mis en scene: police officers wearing suits connoting intelligence etc, criminal in less formal clothing 

17 January 

Do now 

1. The Sweeney location based scenes were filmed in West London

2. The Sweeney was broadcast at 9pm

3. The Watershed is the time after which adult content can be shown

4. The reasons the show was so groundbreaking was on set filming, us of music, dodgy policemen

5. The Sweeney main characters are Regan and Carter

Luther

• produced by the BBC
• written by Neil Cross, who had previously written shows like spooks
• first series was aired on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 4th May 2010
• it was then also available on iplayer so they could watch it on catchup
• Luther is the name of the main protagonist, implying that the detective will be strong , independent, and central to the narrative

Homework

1. Scheduling significantly impacts TV crime dramas and their audiences by determining when and how viewers engage with content. The watershed period allows for more mature themes to be aired after a certain time, attracting an adult audience. During peak time, typically in the evening, networks showcase their most popular crime dramas to maxamize viewership. Prime time slots are crucial for drawing in large audiences, while the rise of binge-watching has changed traditional viewing habits. With video on demand, viewers can watch entire seasons at their own pace, making scheduling less rigid and allowing for a more personalised viewing experience.

2. Audience responses to crime dramas might change over time due to shifts in societal values, cultural context, and advancements in technology. As society evolves, viewers may develop new expectations for how crime narratives reflect real-world issues, such as justice, morality, and mental health. 

3. Commercial broadcasting offers several benefits, including a wide range of programming options that cater to diverse audience interests. It also provides funding for content creation through advertising revenue, allowing for higher production values and more engaging shows. 

21 January 2025

Do Now

1. Luthers first name is John

2. The BBC produced Luther

3. Luther series 1 was scheduled at 9pm on a Tuesday 

4. Two crime sub-genres included: mystery/detective, psychological thriller

5. Crime drama conventions used in the episodes: Police, detectives, murder, use of guns, urban setting, intense non-diegetic music, low key lighting, realism

Luther Characters:

     

Propp's character functions

• Vladimir Propp: He was a folklorist researcher (looked at old tales like cinderella). Found all/most stories have the same types of characters. There were 8 character types...
• 1. Hero: leads the narrative, usually on quest or looking for something
• 2. Villain: has a conflict with hero and is trying to stop them from succeeding 
• 3. The Donor: they give hero something e.g clue, knowledge, special power. Often fulfil the role of a mentor
• 4. The Princess: usually a prize or a reward for the hero. If the hero is female, there can be a prize but that is unusual
• 5. The Helper: helps the hero complete their quest, often like a sidekick/ best friend. Don't have the same heroic qualities as hero usually
• 6. The Princesses Father: an authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing the quest, that reward might be a prize, a princess or in the more modern narrative maybe a new car. 
• 7. The False Hero: takes credit for the heroes actions or tries to marry the princess. May appear heroic at beginning of narrative but turns out not to be 
• 8. The dispatcher: Early role who sets the story/quest in motion. Often combined with other roles like princesses father or donor 

Propp & Luther: 

• Luther: Hero
• Villain: Alice Morgan, Henry Madsen
• The Donor: Ian, Rose, Justin
• The Princess: Zoe
• The Helper: Justin
• The Princesses Father: Rose
• The False Hero: 
• The Dispatcher: Rose, Henry

I think that Rose fulfils the Propps role of the Dispatcher, who sets the story in motion as she gives Luther his job back in the beginning of the series.

I think that The Princess would be Zoe because the hero, Luther, is trying to win her back as they had split up.

 

24 January

Do Now

1. Propp came up with 8 character functions

2. Princess, Princess's father, The false hero

3. Luther is not a typical Proppian hero because he has obvious flaws and weaknesses/ dubious morality

4. The Donor gives the hero something e.g a clue, knowledge

5. Justin fulfils the role of sidekick

Genre and Narrative

sub genre: a specialist category within a broader group of TV programmes

hybrid genre: a genre made from a combination of two or more other genres

Theory - Steve Neale

Genre - Repetition and Difference

• genre is dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions, they have a system of expectations
• genres change, develop and vary overtime 
• genres borrow from and overlap with one another, this creates a hybrid e.g rom-com,            crime-thriller

• each programmes 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) E.g. Luther was the first black detective in a British crime drama

differences in Crime dramas: 70's - now

• advanced technology means broader shot types, better quality
• more diverse

Luther: Genre developments when compared to The Sweeney

• many elements hybridised from other genres- conventions from thriller genre in visual and audio codes - lowkey lighting non-diegetic music & dramatic cross cutting
• References to the horror genre- graphic shots, jump scares
• elements of police procedure, but with an increased focus on psychology 
• The characters are far more complex and developed, particularly female roles
• Real life developments in forensics are reflected in the show
• Filming styles are very different (technology) - multiple angles far more camera movement & viewpoints

Stock characters: these are typical characters you would find in particular genres; a convention of crime dramas

"The Maverick Detective":

• extremely intelligent detectives able to solve crimes and understand clues that nobody else can.
• Not afraid to break the rules if it means catching the criminals
• often 'damaged' individuals who struggle to hold together their personal lives 

Evidence of Luther being Maverick detective: Instantly knowing that Alice killed her parents with no evidence (clues nobody else could put together) , breaking into Alices apartment (breaking rules),  ends up in a psych-ward and loses his temper with his wife (struggle to hold themselves together)

"The Psychopathic Killer":

• deceitful characters who pretend to be 'normal'
• capable of horrific crimes
• enjoy playing mind games with detectives

Evidence of Alice being The Psychopathic Killer: Alice pretends to be upset about her parents death in the interview(pretend to be normal), She murders both her parents and dog (horrific crime),  taunting Luther by threatening his wife (mind games)

"The Femme Fatale":

• a mysterious and dangerous female character
• Uses her sexuality to exert power over male characters
• A character more often seen in Film Noir

Narrative

• Backstory: pre title sequence summarises the previous case and explains why Luther has been on leave. Madsen is shown again at the end of the episode, a continuing Narrative Arc that runs throughout the series
• Inverted Narrative: we know who the murderer is, and that Luther will catch her, but we don't know how. The ensuring 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. 
• Narrative strands: neither crime nor Johns personal life are neatly solves by the end of the episode, but there is some sense of resolution

28 January

Do Now

1. Steve Neale claims: Genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions

2. USP = unique selling point

3. Luther is 'The Maverick Detective'

4. A stock character is typical character you would find in particular genres

5. Alice is The Psychopathic killer and The Femme Fatal

Luther: Representation

Representation means the way in which people/ groups/places has been portrayed in the media

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?

Representation of John Luther

• Intelligent, ambitious, rebellious, highly committed to his job, highly regarded by his fellow officers, brilliant mind for solving crime but also uses questionable methods to get results
• Luther conforms to traditional masculine stereotypes as he dresses formally in suits showing his intelligence, he shows a lack of emotion with other men  
• He challenges masculine stereotypes as he is empathetic and not very head strong /is emotional
• camera often frames Luther surrounded by lots of empty space: this is ambiguous as this can be perceived e.g as loneliness or independence

Hegemonic masculinity:

In Western society, the dominant form of masculinity or the cultural ideal of manhood was primarily reflective of white, heterosexual, largely middle-class males

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

These characteristics include: violence and aggression, stoicism(emotional restraint), courage, toughness, physical strength, athleticism, risk-taking, adventure and thrill-seeking, competitiveness, and achievement and success  

In the opening scene, Luther is represented as confident and tough as he is calmly chasing after the criminal on his own, showing he is confident in his ability to do his job successfully. His heavy footed pace and shouting during the face off with the Henry Madsen show he has aggressive traits that play into hegemonic masculinity. 

Luther is aggressive and violent towards Alice, takes risks and is courageous as she has a knife but he still doesn't give in and doesn't feel threatened, also takes risk because he threw away evidence 

The scene between Luther and Zoe conforms with the idea of hegemonic masculinity as he gets aggressive and violent and it shows his physical strength, but it also challenges the concept as he gets very emotional. 

Alice: Represented as deceitful, intelligent, psychopathic

Zoe: Represented as 

Rose: represented as 

31 January 2025

do now

1. The dominant form of masculinity is known as hegemonic masculinity

2. Three character traits of this would be aggressive, competitive, risk taking

3. Representation means the way in which people/ groups/places has been portrayed in the media

4. Luthers isolation is often shown by the camera framing Luther with lots of empty space around him

5. Luthers USP was that he was the first black detective in a uk crime drama

Representation

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 dialogue, when he raises his voice out of anger towards Henry Madsen, and allowing him to dangle high in the air with the risk of falling. This interrogation shows that Luther is taking risks as due to his physical strength he could have easily saved Henry and guaranteed getting an answer, however he took a risk to establish himself as the one in control of the situation. Furthermore, at the climax of the episode Luther is represented as competitive during his face off with Alice Morgan. 

Representations of Women

Alice Morgan

• a complex character who is both antagonist (unusual for a female) & femme fatal
• 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 & flirt with Luther

Zoe Luther: 

An unconventional character

• Zoe is less conventional character for crime drama 
• She is indicative of the social context of the programme Luther
• however her representation is quite complex
• 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 aspects of her representation 
• whats more as a mixed race woman she is from a social group less likely to be represented positively on prime tie television

Rose Teller

a modern woman?

How far are the characters in Luther typical of the genre? 

04 February

do now

1. Alice and Zoe are not conventional female characters 

2. hegemonic masculinity: aggressive, risk taking, physically strong

3. Luther often does not show stoicism (emotional restraint)

4. Alice has many traits often associated with men

5. Eponymous : the show is named after the main character

Industry and Audience

Luther: Production

• produced by BBC 
• shown on BBC1: corporations primary channel, offers range of programme types and genres and aims to appeal to a very wide audience 
• BBC1 remit: create a high proportion of original programmes and to reflect the diversity of the UK
• 2016-17 BBC1: aimed to exhibit some or all of the following: high quality, original, challenging, innovative and engaging, nurture UK talent
• important features of BBC drama include: talk-ability, topicality and relevance to audience, Britishness and reflect the diversity of life in Britain

We can see these elements in Luther with its diverse range of ethnicity and gender in the cast, reflecting the diversity in the UK. It also challenges the stereotypes of morality surrounding the police. The main antagonist challenges stereotypes being a psychopathic female. Represents British life as its set in London. 

Distribution and Scheduling 

• series1 broadcast May 2010(BBC1, 9pm, Tuesdays)
• also available on iplayer for catchup
• re commissioned following the first series (5 series)
• in 2012, following the success of the first two series, BBC-America started co producing and broadcasting
• Luther broadcast on BBC America: broadcasts a mixture of UK and US 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 studios revenue and Luther has been distributed to many parts of Europe Africa and Asia
• also available on prime video and as a DVD box set 

Luther : Audience Appeal

• marketing of series one was quite important in reaching a range of audiences
• a trailer was released on 16 April 2010 on BBC youtube channel 
• A longer preview was shown at the end of April showing the scene where Luther & Ripley meet
• Additional footage and behind the scenes footage for each episodes were released on the website: used Idris Elba for the star appeal for these extra bits, as he's such a well known actor 
• an 'Inside look' video was produced for BBC America when launched in the US

Luther on BBC website:

• social media links: twitter, instagram, facebook
• episodes and key moments clips
• interviews and BTS footage
• Graphic novels
• find out about different characters from past/ current series

Programme Appeals

• genre: crime drama is popular and it includes familiar conventions along with interesting hybridisation and unconventional elements, e.g unconventional elements of Luther are female antagonist and flawed main character(hero/ protagonist)
• Star Appeal: Idris Elba is well known and popular. He is an attractive and potentially aspirational persona, appealing to both male and females, who could both find him attractive
• 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: range of complex male and female characters 

Audience Response

How could an audience react?

• first episode received mixed reviews but were mostly positive 
• the complex features could generate a mix of responses: might admire Luthers crime-solving skills but disapprove of the methods and violent responses. Might respond positive to Alice and find her intelligence and resourcefulness appealing, but respond negatively to the femme fatal conventions
• may agree that the ending reflects reality (not all criminal convicted) 

Audience Response: The Sweeney

• characters from series one were appealing audiences could relate to many of them 
• massively successful, up to 19million viewers per episode 
• led to Euston developing many more TV dramas and two spin off films
• dvd box set (rated 15) of all episodes released in 2004, offered nostalgia for older audiences and something new for younger audience
• Re-runs have been broadcasted several times over the years, Nov 2017, ITV4 broadcast all episodes of the drama on the ITV hub for catchup
• available on prime
• can be seen to have influenced many other police dramas: lead to genres changing over time (e.g flawed police officers has now slightly become a convention)

7 February 2025

Do now

1.  BBC1 needed to show originality, high quality, challenging, innovative & engaging in their programming 

2. Luther was broadcast on BBC-America 

3. They marketed Luther with interviews, trailers & previews, a youtube channel

4. Two of the programme appeals of Luther were Star Appeal and Genre

5. Modern audiences might respond negatively to lack of representation, violence and misrepresentation of women in The Sweeney

Context

The Sweeney has a closed narrative in each episode, however Luther has several narrative strands and an overall narrative that stretches over the whole series. This is because of the change in viewing conditions. Streaming has made a massive change to the industry. In the 70's during the broadcast of The Sweeney, programmes would be shown once a week, on the same day, at the same time, meaning you had to be there when it was on. Therefore, you had to have closed narrative episodes incase audiences missed the viewing time, and missed that part of the narrative. 

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 being able to binge watch a whole series at a time. Smart phones, laptops, tablets (digital convergence) has further enabled this. This has led to far more open narratives in crime dramas, where parts of the story will unfold over several episodes. This allows for crime dramas now, in comparison to the 70's, to be far more complex in terms of storytelling and character development. 

Historical Context: 1970's

• Patriarchal society: Less gender equality. Reflected in the structure of the police force 
• - In the entire show there is only one female police officer seen 
• No diversity in The Sweeney: Britain in the 70's was far more racially diverse and multicultural, but racial discrimination was high and minority ethnic groups were under-represented
• - The entire cast is white, no diversity
• Sweeney was based on a real 'Flying Squad' which had been involved in a highly publicised corruption scandal. 
• - The officers are slightly corrupt: threaten to frame someone giving the implication the police are not squeaky clean 
• 1970s was a period of upheaval: strikes, shortages and economic problems
• - He had his car stolen, showing high crime rates which is common in times of upheaval

Contemporary Context

• Luther displays improved gender equality with a lot more predominant female characters, even Luthers boss being a woman representing women's authority.
• Luthers name might stand some relevance to people, as it subtly reminds audiences of Martin Luther King 
• Racial equality has clearly changed since 1970, as the protagonist is a black male and the rest of the cast is pretty diverse (e.g Zoe)
• How is London represented: Lots of ariel shots of landmarks, representing it as a cosmopolitan/ financial/ modern city

Representations of Gender:

• Sweeney reflects 1970s values in relation to gender especially gender in the workplace: the flying squad is male dominated, patriarchal and characterised by a stereotypically 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 representation of strong powerful females (Luther boss is a female, his wife Zoe is a successful lawyer Alice is a highly intelligent astrophysicist)
• however the females are not all represented positively or as being totally independent - Alice is a narcissistic murderer 

Representations of ethnicity

• the Sweeneys represents British society as a completely white culture - there is no ethnic diversity at all 

Explain how crime dramas reflect the time in which they are made? (10)

Britain in the 1970's, and particularly London, was a multicultural place which homed lots of racial/ ethnic diversity. However these minority ethnic groups were extremely mis-represented in the media: for example, the 70's hit crime drama The Sweeney featured no ethnic diversity with an all white cast. This was a result of the high rates of socially accepted racial discrimination at the time. 

14 February 2025

Do now

1. Media Language: camera work, sound, editing, mis en scene

2. camera shots angles & movement

3. Non diegetic sound are any sounds that have been added on and not in the world of the text 

4. An Eye-line match edit is where the editing cuts from someone looking at something to what they are looking at. 

5. Canted angle is when the camera is tilted/ not straight 

Extract Analysis: Media Language

• Shot Reverse Shots: show dialogue or an interaction between two people 
• The equal amount of shot reverse shots between Luther and Alice show the equal power dynamic
• 180 degree rule

• Luthers costume of a shirt and tie connotes his official status and authority as a police not only this but. his jacket is stereotypically seen on detectives
• the dark colours on his outfit represent his dark side

25 February 2025

do now

1. Medium long shot

2. Tracking is an example of camera movement

3. Lighting comes under mis en scene

4. Shot reverse shots are normally used to show dialogue or an interaction with 2 people

5. A Canted Angle is when the camera is tilted/ not straight 

Extract Analysis: Representation

Media language being used to create meaning in Luther:

• desk full of paperwork & computer show she's hardworking
• Zoe having her own office shows she is good at her job/ has a high up position
• both characters standing with desk physically separating them, showing the divide between them 
• both standing showing the situation as a bit more tense or heated
• glass separating walls show urban setting, modern

• Luthers body language, laid back, slouching. Costume: informal, comfy clothes, not professional. Facial expression: Luther frowning, he's frustrated, confused, lost - let himself go a bit. Lack of eye contact also shows he doesn't want to reconnect
• Ian leaning forward suggesting he cares wants to reconnect, Luther leaning back showing he is trying not to reconnect
• setting: psychiatric hospital, Luther is damaged mentally not physically after the accident, shows he has a conciseness and isn't completely morally corrupt
• lowkey lighting sets a sad tone, bright on outside and dark on inside
• chess on the table: intelligence, dialogue "finally been able to beat you" reinforces his intelligence 
• blinds resemble bars on the window, like he is trapped

1. Gender

Male

• confident, aggressive, physically strong - Luther fighting Zoes boyfriend - hegemonic masculinity
• emotional, persistent
• defensive against Zoes bf and other officers
• all police officers were male, showing them as strong/ authoritative, traditional stereotype

Female

• needs protecting by a man from another man (boyfriend protecting her from Luther), also phoning for help, show her as weak?
• she is a prize/ object, they are fighting over her 
•  emotional: Zoe crying, stereotypical
• Zoe stopping the officers and Luther shows she has power as they actually do stop, anti stereotypical

2. Ethnicity

Stereotypes

• not very diverse
• aggressive

Antistereotypes

• ethnic minority in a higher position of power 

28 February 2025

do now

1. two things to always look at with representation: stereotypes and is it positive/ negative

2. Mis en scene: costumes, setting, body language, lighting, props, blocking

3. shown the extract twice in the exam

4. questioned on it 2 times

5. 10/12 marks is 3 or 4 paragraphs

Extract Analysis Exam style questions

Component 2 Section A

• Question 1: analyse either media language or representation in an extract
• Q1a: simple analysis question 

1a) costumes

• Zoe: skirt suit shows her as professional
• Alice: scene where she attacked Zoe she was in a disguise, darker hair and we can see her darker clothes in ariel shot clothes as usual
• Luther: shirt tie, undone button on shirt and loose tie reflects his slightly rebellious nature, the darker tones he wears represent his dark side
• Rose: also in a suit, short hair, slightly masculine. stereotypically a mans job so unsurprising they dressed her in masculine clothing to show her role - femininity isn't professional/ doesn't connote leadership and authority

1a) In this extract, we can see that a lot of the women are dressed very similarly. For example, Rose who is Luthers boss is dressed in a suit with a waistcoat, which may be a personal preference in this day and age, but paired with her shorter haircut represents her as a slightly masculine figure. Seeing as her position at work is often seen as a mans job, it is unsurprising that they have chosen to dress her this way to maintain some of that male superiority. If it was not for this, her role as Luthers boss may not be so distinctive to audiences as feminine authority figures are not heavily represented in the media. Additionally, her masculine traits could send a message that says femininity does not connote leadership and authority and is not professional. Furthermore, Zoe is seen in a skirt-suit at work showing that she is also being presented as a strong female character who is professional and put together. Her still wearing a skirt contrasts Rose, and shows that femininity does not represent an absence of intelligence and success.  

In this scene, Alice Morgan is not in her usual style, as she is disguised to attack Zoe. In the close up shots of her and Zoe, we see she is wearing a dark coloured wig, which is quite a contrast from her natural red hair. This paired with her dark long jacket shows audiences she is in disguise, showing her cunning ability to be deceitful and lie. The dark colour palette of her disguise also connote that she is acting on behalf of her dark side when attacking Zoe. 

Finally, Luthers outfits in this extract are very similar to throughout the rest of the series. The monotone colour palette of his clothes, such as his black tie, grey shirt and black trench coat all represent Luthers dark side, as he is not always completely within the law or rules. However the dark trench coat is also a very common stereotype for crime dramas detective outfits, showing that among his faults Luther is still a detective who is driven by determination for his work, showing him as reliable. As seen in the extract, Luthers clothes are often creased, or his top button and tie are almost always undone and slightly loose. This is representative of Luthers rebellious nature as he often bends the rules, not wanting to conform to them and makes his own path and decisions. 

1b) location

• crime drama: stereotype is urban areas 
• is in a city (urban area) which is stereotypical for crime drama as higher crime rates here etc
• ariel and long shots show the contemporary buildings
• zoe leaves the glass modern building in comparison to other older brick buildings on street
• ariel shot shows the hidden corner alice attacks zoe looks smaller and more confined, intimidating compared to open street
• Luther has his own office at police department showing importance as all other people we have a shared space

1b)  In this extract, location is very stereotypical of the crime drama convention. Luther is filmed in London, which is an urban city; statistically this is where the highest rate of crime is committed, so has become a very recognisable stereotype for this genre. We can see this in the throughout the whole extract, like in the opening few seconds when a wide shot is used to show the street that they are on. It has a contrast of both old and contemporary buildings beside each other, showing the diversity within the city. Zoe leaves the more modern, glass building which we can identify as her workplace: this reinforces the idea that Zoe is a successful and professional business woman as works within the higher end of the street. 

During Alice Morgans attack on Zoe, they have used a shot type to show the space they are in. It shows the small confined space they are in comparison to the wide open street. This has been done to exaggerate the size of their space in comparison to the open street, showing how claustrophobic and intimidating it may be, showing the idea that there is 'trouble around every corner'. This shows the city quite stereotypically as

unfinished 

HOMEWORK due 04/03/25

1 (a) Explore the connotations of the costumes of two characters in the BBC Crime Drama 

Luther. (8)

The lack of a police uniform helps us to understand that Luther is a detective that may go undercover, often putting himself in dangerous situations or circumstances where he has to conceal his identity. Instead, Luther is seen almost always with un ironed shirts and a loose tie. This messy look communicates Luthers rebellious nature to not conform to societal norms that shape a formal image, instead he makes his own decisions and does not care to appeal to others and the rules. This could show that he is being represented as a corrupt officer, which has become a common convention of the crime drama genre as it’s developed over the years. However the presence of the tie still shows the good and true nature of what he is doing and presents him as intelligent. He is clearly comfortable and secure within himself to wear a status symbol of intelligence with little care. Furthermore, the monotone pallets of Luther’s costumes, such as his long trench coats, trousers and jackets all represent both his dark side and the dark crimes he deals with. They connote the serious nature of his job and the authoritative, determined attitude he has towards it, therefore representing him as hardworking and admirable.

The women’s costumes in Luther reinforce stereotypes within both the crime drama genre, and a lot of the media industry. For example, Luther’s boss Rose has been dressed in a trousers suit with a waistcoat and collared shirt, which are all very formal - they also hold very masculine connotations as throughout history suits have stereotypically been for ‘men’. This could show that she is being represented as what the media perceives as a strong and authoritative figure, however this image has been constructed from the basis of masculine stereotypes. Rose also has a short haircut. These together could communicate the message that traditional femininity isn’t capable of holding power and doesn’t connote success or a high level role. Alternatively, this decision could have been made as feminine traits within this job role unfortunately would not be distinctively recognisable due to its under representation within the media. 

1 (b) Explain how the character John Luther is typical of the TV crime drama genre. (12)

John Luther is a stereotypical character within the TV crime drama genre, embodying several key traits commonly found in this type of narrative. Firstly, Luther is characterized by his complex personality, which often includes a blend of brilliance and personal flaws. This duality is a distinctive feature of many crime drama protagonists, who are typically shown as highly skilled detectives or investigators conflicted by their personal troubles. Luther's hard work often leads to moral ambiguity, as he sometimes bends the rules, reflecting the genre's exploration of the grey areas in law enforcement. 

The portrayal of Luther's relationships adds depth to his character and aligns with genre conventions. Crime dramas frequently show the personal lives of their main characters, showcasing how their work impacts their relationships with friends and family. Luther's interactions with his colleagues and his complicated romantic entanglements highlight the stress and emotional toll that his job takes on him which is a common theme in crime dramas. This personal struggle not only humanizes him but also creates tension that drives the narrative forward.

In terms of ethnicity and gender, Luther’s character is particularly significant. As a Black male lead in a predominantly white genre, Luther challenges traditional representations in crime dramas. His character challenges the stigma surrounding racist beliefs of the relationship between crime and race; Luther challenges this by being on the right side of the law. This sends an empowering message to audiences that have faced struggles with these racist stereotypes, establishing Luther as an admirable role model. Gender has been represented both stereotypically and not, as Luther shows traits or hegemonic masculinity with his aggression, physical strength, intelligence and more. However he also possesses some opposing characteristics, as he gets very emotional in some scenes like his fight with Zoe. This adds a more meaningful portrayal of a detective by showcasing the duality of both strength and vulnerability. Overall, John Luther is a typical yet innovative character within the TV crime drama genre, embodying complexity and a reflection of contemporary social issues.