Capital: Case study blog tasks

 Capital: Case study blog tasks

Work through the following tasks to build a detailed case study for Capital. This will give you plenty of background information to use in an exam question. Remember, for this CSP the question could be on any of the key concepts: language, industries, audiences or representations.

Reviews and features

Read the following review and feature on Capital:

Guardian review by Sam Wollaston

London  it Evening Standard: five things you need to know about Capital

1) What positive points does the review pick out about Capital? What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?

The Guardian says that they enjoyed the actors' performance, especially Gemma Jones for her character Petunia, who is elderly and confused. They generally enjoy the show, however, they don't like Roger, they think that he is an idiot.

2) What references can you find in the reviews and features to the idea that Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?

Housing prices are still going up even after the recession. People can relate to the series because especially if they live in London they will see many of the same things in their own lives. The show also shows us the changes happening in London such as immigration and the government.

Trailer analysis

https://youtu.be/Ce1EKM4nKMM?feature=shared

1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?

The drama uses medium close-up shots of different characters to show the diverse people in London. The fast editing and pace tell us that London is a busy city life that never stops.

2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?

The Trailer has fast-paced editing as it tries to give us as much information about the place and the people that live on the road. The trailer has a cut to a different narrative almost every 3-4 seconds showcasing different parts of the storyline and narrative. They use stereotypes so that people at a glance will be able to understand roughly what the show is about.

Capital in Media Magazine

Issue 83 of Media Magazine has a feature exploring Capital as a media product. Read ‘We Want What You Have’ in MM83  (p10). You'll find our Media Magazine archive here - remember you'll need your Greenford Google login to access. Answer the following questions:

1) What does the article suggest about the 'state of the nation' genre and how Capital is an example of this?

The article suggests that Capital is a State of the Nation TV show. In the first episode we meet the Kamal family who owns the local corner shop and Quentina who is an asylum seeker working as an illegal traffic warden. The tension between cultures can be seen through the characters, and the costumes communicate to us the parts that they play in the show.

2) What does the article suggest regarding the setting of Capital?

The article suggests that people may have a problem with the setting as they might think the UK pays too much attention to London. The article believes that the production is detailed and always interesting. The aerial shots show large parts of the city and can then zoom in.

3) What are the major themes in Capital and what does the article suggest regarding the impact of money on communities?

Some major themes in capital are economic stability and financial earnings which are closely linked to house prices and inflation. Quintana serves as a lens into being an immigrant in the UK and how life is. The negative impact of money issues on the community resulted in the split between people.

4) What different representations in Capital are discussed in the article?

Banker Roger is irresponsible and fixated on wealth, 'What use is £30,000 to anyone?'. Furthermore, his wife Arabella is solely interested in interior design and holidays. There is Petunia, who is community-oriented but holds slightly outdated racist views, Ahmed who shares the same community spirit as the builders from Eastern Europe, and Quintana. The clash between good and bad, rich and poor, and hardworking and lazy creates a divide in the drama. The Daily Mail criticised the show for its criticism of banks and its portrayal of immigrants as always being good and hardworking.

5) What does the final section of the article suggest regarding the genre and overall message of the drama?  

At first, the drama focuses on the financial crisis. It makes the banks look like the ones at fault and how hard it is to uncover their actions because they purposely keep them hidden from the public. The first episode introduces a mysterious character who is depicted as the intentional culprit.

Capital Media Factsheet

Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or on Google Drive here (you'll need your Greenford Google login) to find Media Factsheet #194 on Capital (BBC TV Drama). 

Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What does the factsheet say about the characters on the first page?

The factsheet says that narrative is shown through each character which helps it fit the role of a state of the nation drama. 

2) Focusing on the industrial contexts, how does Capital help the BBC meet its obligations as a public service broadcaster?

The goal of the BBC is to deliver non-biased news and useful information that helps comprehend the world they live in. The BBC is committed to presenting innovative and top-notch content across a range of genres and platforms. They will accurately represent and cater to the diverse communities of the UK. Capital helps them as they can do all this in the show.

3) What do we learn about the ownership structure for production company Kudos? 

Kudos specialises in producing TV series that have the potential to be sold or remade for the American market, reflecting the trend of global media institutions. This makes Kudos a horizontally integrated company. The parent company, Endemol Shine UK, owns various TV production companies that cover a wide range of formats and genres.

4) How can David Hesmondhalgh's ideas in The Cultural Industries be linked to Capital and Kudos? 

Hesmondhalgh’s ideas can be seen and linked to capital as many industries are horizontally integrated, meaning they are involved in various areas that they are not specialised in. This can be risky because they may end up losing money and connections, just like Hesmondhalgh's concept of a risky venture. One example of this is FOX and News Corps.

5) How does the factsheet suggest Capital meets the genre conventions of crime and social realism?

Capital is a captivating series that blends crime and social realism with intriguing plot twists. It brings up discussions about ethics, innocence, and guilt by presenting relatable individuals in their everyday lives. It portrays various regions of the UK, tackles social problems, and combines humour and seriousness.

6) How does the factsheet analyse the DVD packaging and what this communicates to the audience? 

The DVD cover features promotional images in media packs, websites, and press coverage, establishing a recognisable brand for viewers. The layout showcases the characters of The Kamal family and Bogdan. The use of yellow aims to differentiate it from typical crime dramas and instead reflects a representation of the nation.

7) Look at page 5 of the factsheet. Choose one of the audience theories in the table and apply it to Capital.

Blumler and Katz: uses and gratifications

The trailer connects to the financial banking crisis of 2008 showing those who didn't experience it how it affected people It also serves as a form of entertainment, with dramatised events and relatable characters that viewers can connect with. 

8) What does the factsheet suggest regarding binary oppositions in Capital?  

Capital uses binary opposition to show inequality in Pepys which might also and then raise questions about inequality in London more widely. Financial inequalities through Roger and Arabella, the audience to understand the change in society and the Pepys Road community from ‘normal’ residential streets to million-pound properties. 

Representations: close-textual analysis

Capital offers a range of fascinating representations - from London and asylum seekers to capitalism and inequality. You need to be able to confidently discuss these issues in the context of 2015 London - with reference to key scenes from episode 1. Representations include London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, capitalism, aging and more.

These notes from a lesson analysing these clips will help with this element of the case study. You'll need your Greenford Google login to access the document.

1) Write an analysis of the representations in each of the key scenes from episode 1 we studied in the lesson:

Scene 1: opening sequence 00:30 – 4.49

The house is shown from different angles which shows London's authority. gender roles can be seen in family interactions. The economic status and lifestyle of the Kamal family are presented with traditional beliefs. The impact of immigration on society and the feeling of isolation in old age are discussed.

Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10

The London Underground and public transportation are always packed with people. A drone captured an aerial view of the building. The meeting was attended solely by Caucasian males which is lacking diversity. Female representation was absent in the meeting. The main priority is generating profits. The manager is German and not British.

Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35

Roger is expected to earn money which reinforces traditional gender roles. Arabella says 'I'm no feminist' which shows a conservative ideology

Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40

The opposite part of London is packed with too many people living in small spaces. There are constant noises in the background in this area. There is a black woman who works as a traffic warden. There is also a black woman who is a lawyer. There is a problem of people being taken advantage of such as Quentina when she goes to get her money and is required to kiss the man. Also, Some people are working illegally. Zimbabwean nationals are not granted asylum in this country. 

Aerial drone footage shows the impressive buildings in London. The financial district represents power and influence in the business world. The use of a montage creates a feeling of despair. The situation is described as fundamentally unfair, emphasising that it's not about greed but about seeking justice. Roger becomes sick and vomits which shows how this situation is affecting him.

Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55

The Local convenience store is an essential part of the community. The tight-knit family of the Kamals own a store in a competitive space. Ahmed is Moving up in society

You can choose which aspects to focus on for each scene: e.g. London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, aging etc. Feel free to use bullet points for each scene - a summary of your notes is fine.

2) How does Capital use stereotypes? Do the characters and issues represented in Capital reinforce or subvert the stereotypes we typically see in the media?

Capital reinforces stereotypes like white people being more privileged, but it also challenges stereotypes by showing hardworking immigrants like Kwentina and Kamal.

Industries and Production Context

Capital was produced by the independent production company Kudos for the BBC. Look at the Kudos website and also read the Kudos Wikipedia page.

1) Who is the parent company for Kudos? What changes of ownership have there been for Kudos? This is an example of conglomerate ownership.

Banijay UK Productions was purchased by Shine Limited in 2006 and then acquired by News Corps in 2011. It was later split 50-50 with Endemol Shine Studios before being fully acquired by Banijay.

2) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced and for which channels? What awards have they won?

1. SKY has "Tin Star" and "Code 404"

2. BBC and EPIX have "SAS rogue heroes"

3. ITV has "Grantchester" and "Deep water"

4. Channel 4 has "Dead Water Fell"

5. HBO max has "Two weeks to live"

6. BBC has a "Responsible child"

7. SKY and Amazon have "Tin Star"