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 interviews, reviews and features on Capital:
Guardian review by Sam Wollaston
Telegraph review by Ben Lawrence
London Evening Standard: five things you need to know about Capital
Behind the scenes filming Capital from the Daily Telegraph
1) What positive points do the reviews pick out about Capital?
The Evening Standard: Capital offers a microcosmic metaphor for London at large, but it also feels real in the portrayal of its characters, from the financially-sound to the economically-struggling.
2) What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?
One criticism that was made about the TV drama is that certain topics were only touched and wasn't really focused on throughout the series.
3) How does the TV drama change the time period and location for the story in comparison to the original novel?
The original novel was set when London was in recession/ financial crash (2008) whereas, the TV Drama was only released 4 years ago.
4) In the Telegraph 'behind the scenes' article, what does the writer say about the London housing market?
"House prices are still rocketing skywards, the wealth gap yawns wider than ever and nothing much has changed."
5) What references can you find in these reviews and features to the idea Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?
Peter Bowker’s new TV adaptation shifts the action to the present day, post mis-selling and banker bashing. It’s a wise move and this drama shows an eternal London, riven by inequality and quickened by diversity.
Textual analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
The Capital trailer starts of with medium close-ups of the people that live on Pepys Road. It illustrates the multi diversity within London. It also shows the day to day life of the people that live on Pepys Road.
2) What does the camera movement when characters are initially introduced suggest about the drama and its London setting? Pick out one or two shots in particular.
The camera movement highlights that the community is lively and happy. One of the shots that connote that the community is lively and happy is when Quentina Mkfesi was introduced. The way she was walking connotes she is joyful. Another shot that shows the community is jubilant is when Ahmed Kamal was introduced and the shot that was used was a medium-close up which allows the audience to see the emotions on Ahmed's face which in this case was happiness.
3) How does the trailer use mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama?
The clothing that is used such as casual clothing when the Ahmed brothers are speaking and when Roger and his wife is talking she is wearing a bathrobe. The locations that were used are inside the homes which is automatically associated with family element.
4) Bastille's 'These Streets' is used as the soundtrack for the trailer. What does this communicate to the audience and why is it effective?
The sound track starts with the lyrics "These streets are yours, you can keep them" which immediately creates enigma codes as is someone going to take over the street that these innocent people are living on?
The soundtrack also has a joyful aspect to it as the trailer shows what the characters are going through on their daily lives.
5) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
The trailer does this so the audience has an idea of what the narrative is and the enigma codes are there to interest the audience and make them question themselves as to what may happen next.
Watch the Episode 1 preview for Capital:
1) What does this preview clip suggest about the potential sub-genres for Capital?
Some of the potential sub-genres for Capital could be mystery and crime. This is because the post card situation has been escalated to the police and is under investigation. There is tension building up throughout the clip.
2) What elements of the clip might suggest this is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama?
Capital focuses on recession, financial crash along with the price of houses in London rapidly increasing and immigration .
3) Analyse the mise-en-scene in this clip. How does this provide realism and familiarity for audiences?
Mise-en-scene included props, scenery, costume, lighting and many more elements.
The costume that the police man was using highlights realism as many people associate policemen in formal clothing.
4) What audience pleasures are provided by this scene?
One of the audience pleasures that are provided by this scene is enigma codes. This keeps the audience questioning what action will be taken? Will the person that keeps taking photographs get caught?
5) How is the audience positioned to respond to the different characters in this particular sequence?
The audience are positioned to sympathise because all the Ahmed's are trying to do is get on with their daily lives but they are being threatened with these post cards which makes them feel extremely uncomfortable.
Watch the Episode 2 preview for Capital:
1) How does this clip represent upper-middle-class family life?
This clip represents upper-middle-class family lives as stressful and not easy. Towards the end of the clip you can see Rogers wife rudely intruding into the kitchen while the kids were singing and she was demanding for her phone as she had lost it. This shows that despite having the money they're still not happy with what they've got.
2) What narrative strands are suggested in this sequence?
The narrative strands that are suggested in this sequence is that it seems as if Roger and his wife aren't on good terms and there seems to be a hint of romance when Roger was speaking to the babysitter which seemed a bit flirtatious.
3) How is the audience positioned to respond to Roger Yount, the main character (banker and father to the two boys)?
The audience is positioned to sympathise with Roger as he is a hard working man and father but it seems to be that his wife does not understand how hard he works.
Representations: close-textual analysis
Capital offers a range of fascinating representations - from London and Islam to the issues of asylum seekers 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, aging and more.
1) Write an analysis of the representations in each of the key scenes from episode 1 we studied in class:
Scene 1: opening sequence 00:30 – 4.49
The opening sequence starts with a birds-eye of Penny road panning up so the audience can see the beautiful scenery of London. In London, especially Penny Road the prices of the houses are increasing significantly.
The opening sequence then follows up with flashbacks on how the old lady has lived in the house for a very long time, it shows when she got married, gave birth, took her child to school, her child growing up and moving out and her husband passing away. Then it focuses on how the old lady is in her local corner shop, she suddenly falls down and the male shopkeeper helps her up. This reinforces the stereotype that the men are strong. When the shot changes to the old lady walking downstairs to collect her letter it is a top-down
Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10
Scene 2 starts with the overcrowded busy train during the morning commute. As Rodger leaves the train station the audience can hear police sirens on the streets of London. There is also a birds-eye view of the business district in central London which is fetishised by the tall big buildings. The scene then goes onto how the wife is spending her husbands money on organising the house while her husband is at work. In terms of ethnicity, the British white male works in the city and has a good professional job. The people that are renovating the house are foreigners.
Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35
The scene starts with enigma codes when the hooded male is taking pictures (POV Shot) and the music used creates suspense for the audience. As the scene goes on the wife is in lingerie while the husband is in bed using the laptop/doing work. The wife is a modern middle class woman. As she gets into bed it is very clear that she is dominant when she rejects her husband for sex. In terms of ethnicity it is clear that the white British family is wealthy.
Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40
Scene 4 starts with a top down/ birds eye view of the houses. Then focuses on how the black female who is illegal is going to get her money cashed out however she is financially and sexually exploited. This reinforces male dominance as the man is exploiting her e.g. asking for a kiss. In the corner shop a white police officer turns up as the asian family has made a complaint for the post cards they've been receiving. The stereotypes that is reinforced in this shot is a typical asian shop keeper and the typical white police officer. Another stereotype that is reinforced in this scene as a whole is that black people are involved in dodgy business.
Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00
This scene starts with a birds eye view of London which connotes that London is the financial business district. Rodgers wife is flirtatious with Rodger as it is the day where Rodger gets his bonus from work and he is expecting more than usual. Rodger is a white British male working in the city in a modernised office. When he finds out he only earns a £30K bonus there is a element of cross cutting of him being shocked, sick and furious because he has made only £30K.
Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55
Scene 6 shows the audience how diverse London is. The diversity is reinforced because the Asian family own the corner shop whereas, the British are working in the city. Rodgers wife goes to the corner shop to get some coriander which is going to be used for cooking. This reinforces that woman are the one who are always doing the house work such as cooking and decorating.
You can choose which aspects to focus on for each scene: e.g. London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, aging etc.
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?
One stereotype that Capital uses is
Industries and production context
Capital was produced by 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? Endemol Shine Group is the parent company for Kudos.
2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002? It came to international attention with the BAFTA Award-winning spy drama Spooks, which debuted on BBC One on 13 May 2002.
3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won? Kudos produced: Apple tree yard, Broadchurch (Best drama series, Best crime drama 2017), Gunpowder, Tin Star, Troy, Humans, The Tunnel: Vengeance, The Boy With The Topknot, Man In An Orange Shirt.
4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer?
The showreel suggest Kudos productions have a wide range of
Marketing and promotion
Read the BBC Press Pack for Capital.
1) How does the programme information on page 3 make Capital sound interesting to audiences?
Page 3 makes Capital sound interesting as it tells the audience some of the awards the actors have won which tells you that the show is going to be immaculate. It also goes on to explaining the narrative in Capital which intrigues the audience and leads them to watching Capital.
2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?
This was does to tell the audience the actors are experienced and they know what they're doing along with reassuring the audience that Capital is going to be performed outstandingly.
3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?
Kudos commissioned Capital for BBC
4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?
Toby Jones says: "Roger isn’t an evil banker, he’s a slightly complacent banker. He’s become used to a certain way of life and has a self-imposed pressure to live that way. He spends a lot of money on things that other people don’t spend money on – for example fixtures and fittings - but that is normal to him and his wife. He is not totally in charge of his life or his work."
5) Read the interview with Adeel Akhtar (page 10). What does he suggest Capital says about the fictional Pepys Road and the sense of community (or lack of it) in London?
Adeel Akhtar says: "We’re living in a strange time now. I think we’re at a crossroads and a lot of things are slowly happening, socially, economically and culturally. Pepys Road is a manifestation of this. It’s an example of what is happening on a lot of roads in London and Britain."
6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain?
Shabana Azmi says: "I think so. If you look at the subject of Capital, and the number of communities that are being represented, there’s awareness that the world is shrinking, and becoming a global village. We are absorbing cultures, and understanding them, or at least trying to understand them within their own paradigms."
7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?
Peter Bowker's favourite scenes were: Christmas morning where Roger has been abandoned and left to look after his two children.Roger realises that his life is changing but it’s done with such comedy! It is one of those glorious Basil Fawlty moments where the farce is working at one level and the emotional farce is working at another. I also love the Kamals’ chaotic family meals. They are quintessentially archetypal family scenes that everybody lives through, but played with great comedic panache.
8) Read the interview with Derek Wax, the Executive Producer for Kudos (page 16). Why did he produce Capital and what does it say about the way we live now?
The reason he produced Capital was because The novel really spoke to me as it has a sweeping Dickensian ambition to it, all life in one street.
What it says about the way we live: It definitely speaks to me about where London and the country is now. The obsession with property, the fact that London house prices have risen extraordinarily, has only intensified the sense of a society of haves and have-nots. Your home becomes the thing by which you are defined at some level, and in Capital we go from Bogdan's bedsit to Petunia's home untouched for 60 years, to Roger and Arabella with their multiple homes and constant refurbishment, which is a fascinating way of entering the psychology of these characters. Everyone’s connection to money is explored but then the novel expands to ask what life’s real value is, and it does this with a very deft, light touch.
DVD packaging
Look at the DVD packaging for Capital. There are many marketing techniques employed here.
1) How does the packaging use other critically acclaimed TV dramas to promote Capital?
This packaging has a tagline alongside the name of the series which creates numerous enigma codes.
There are also reviews which attracts customers to watch the series.
2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?
It tells the audience that it is clearly about the multi diversity in London in the recent years and may go onto talking about news thats been happening in the recent years.
3) How are review quotes used on the cover and what do they suggest to the audience about sub-genre, narrative and audience pleasures?
The review quotes used clearly tell us that it is an outstanding drama. The use of London in black could tell us not everything is as expected in London.
4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?
Tells us that there are many ethnic minorities and London is very diverse.
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