C2 TV

      07/01/25

L/O: To explore the content and format of the unit

TV Drama

DO NOW:

• There are 2 media exams
• Each exam is 1h 30 minutes
• Genre means a piece of media specific to a theme, e.g. horror, action. A type of media form that involves a particular set of characteristics
• The target audience for The Archers are older women audiences who live in rural areas White British, middle class
• The BBC's remit is to inform, educate and entertain

Crime Drama

Genre: A type of media form that involves a particular set of characteristics

Sub-genre: A category that is a subdivision of a larger genre

Hybrid genre: A media form that share the conventions of more than one genre

Crime drama codes & conventions

• Low-key lighting, gritty, realistic settings; handheld camerawork, fast-pace editing, diegetic sound
• Urban settings
• Enigma codes
• Use of illegal substances
• Story begin with a crime committed, normally with a victim
• Protagonist is intelligent and determined to solve a crime, but also flawed
• Antagonist is also intelligent and craft, seems to be one step ahead constantly
• Lots of suspects with motives and reasonable opportunity to have committed the crime
• Clues and red herrings that help or hinder the investigation
• Story has a continuing narrative arc that unfolds over multiple episodes
• Typical character types: villain, hero, helper and a dispatcher
• Representation of characters and themes can challenge pre-conceived ideas

These conventions create a high amount of tension between characters throughout the show, along with a large amount of suspense for the audience which engages viewers to see the outcome of the events. These conventions also create several enigmas continuously throughout the show, and therefore keep the audience hooked on watching each episode to discover the truth; this also allows viewers to make their own guesses at the antagonist and/or criminal subject to the current crimes, which often last throughout 1-2 episodes at a time (unless it's relevant to the narrative), in which this fast pace also helps to encourage audiences to continue watching to see the next crime.

The Responder:

Narrative

• A troubled police officer who wants to be 'normal'
• Attempting to stop a crime

Setting

• Daytime 
• Therapy
• Urban
• Aerial views

Characters

• Police officer
• Therapist
• MC wife
• MC daughter

Mise-en-scene

• Police cars
• Fire
• Sirens
• Car wrecks

Happy Valley:

Narrative

• A female police officer who has no family
• Attempting to stop a crime

Setting

• Daytime 
• Rural
• Aerial views

Characters

• Female police officers
• Katherine

Mise-en-scene

• Low-key lighting

Line of duty:

Narrative

• Attempting to stop a crime
• A group of officers attempting to shoot and arrest dangerous man
• Enter the wrong flat and shoot an innocent man next to his family
• They find the correct flat and the wanted man is gone

Setting

• Daytime 
• Block of flats
• Aerial views
• Urban

Characters

• Police officers
• Innocent man
• Wife and baby

Mise-en-scene

• Police cars
• Sirens
• Radios
• Guns
• Explosives
• Low-key lighting

      10/01/25

L/O: To explore the television industry & audiences

TV Industry

DO NOW:

• A hybrid genre is a genre that shares the conventions of multiple genres
• We are studying Luther and The Sweeney
• A crime drama convention is low-key lighting
• Another crime drama convention is urban settings
• It is essential that crime dramas create tension and suspense

The TV Industry

Developments in technology have allowed audiences access to many more digital channels and online streaming services.

• This means that audiences can watch what they want, when they want, on whatever device they want.

Some TV programmes today achieve the status of event television and gain large audiences:

• Digital technology has changed how we produce & circulate TV programmes, as well as how we consume them.
• The wide variety of programmes and channels mean audiences are spread more thinly than in the past.
• Audience loyalty to a particular channel has decreased.

Scheduling

Watershed: the time of day (9pm UK) when programs that may be unsuitable for children (over 15) can be broadcasted

Peak time: the time at which the highest number of viewers are watching

Prime time: the time at day which the audience is most active and engaged (Saturdays 8pm - 10:30pm in the UK)

Public Service Broadcasting

More notes in Radio page

• According to OFCOM, it is "high-quality content, made for as wide a range of audiences as possible, and for public benefit rather than purely commercial ends."
• The BBC = public service broadcasting (funded by licence fee)
• ITV, C4 & C5 = commercial public broadcasters (funded mainly through advertising), available to all who pay the licence fee.
• All catch-up meet PSB requirements, but BBC has strictest.
• OFCOM regulates TV, including on-demand & catch-up services, through the Broadcasting Code.

The BBC

• A public service broadcaster founded in 1922 that is funded by the licence fee, paid by all UK households with a TV. The BBC/Gov earn £3.8bn from the licence free.
• The BBC mission is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences by providing impartial, high-quality programs which 'inform, educate and entertain'.
• BBC has 9 national TV channels, regional TV programmes, an internet TV service - BBC Three - 10 national radio stations, 40 local radio stations and an extensive website.
• BBC World Service broadcasts worldwide on radio, TV and online.
• BBC America is an American pay television network that is jointly owned by BBC Studios and AMC Networks. BBC America operates as a commercial channel and includes adverts.

TV Audiences

• Before catch-up services, audiences could only watch a TV programme at the time it was broadcast and would have to wait for the next episode to see how the narrative developed.
• TV therefore played a much more important role in people's lives.
• Modern audiences have a much greater choice and more flexibility in their TV consumption.
• A second screen is watching a tv programme whilst also using another device
• Binge watching is watching an entire series over a short period of time
• Escapism 
• More involved with the narrative
• Personal identification with the characters as more engaged
• Instant gratification

      14/01/25

L/O: To explore the context of the set text

The Sweeney

DO NOW:

• A crime drama narrative is based around a protagonist (a police officer) stopping crime
• We are studying Luther and The Sweeney
• A crime drama convention is low-key lighting
• Another crime drama convention is urban settings
• It is essential that crime dramas create tension, suspense and enigmas

The Sweeney (1970's)

• Produced by Euston Films - film production division of Thames Television
• Thames Television held the ITV broadcast licence for the London area in the 70s & 80s
• Euston films produced a range of TV Dramas in the 70s & 80s
• The Sweeney was filmed on location in parts of West London, which added to the realism and intensity of the programme
• The programme used new techniques that have influenced the way TV Dramas have since been produced (location filming, reduced rehearsal time, quick post-production)
• Both main actors, John Thaw & Dennis Waterman, became associated with police crime drama, again showing the importance and influence of The Sweeney in the development of the genre.

Scheduling

• The show ran between 1975 - 1978
• It was broadcast at 9pm on weekday evenings on ITV 
• This meant it was broadcast after the watershed, allowing it to include more graphic themes and content 
• The narrative was structured into three sections - around the two ad breaks

Historical context

• The Sweeney was groundbreaking in the 70s as it introduced many new elements to the police/crime genre
• Earlier crime drama included far less violence and provided a reassurance that society was safe, and law and order was being upheld
• The Sweeney included elements of the Police Procedural sub-genre, but also codes from the action genre to create more dynamic and exciting experience. There is a focus on complex, violent & organised crime
• The Sweeney was based on a real 'Flying Squad', a division of the Metropolitan police that dealt with serious and violent crime. They achieved many successes but were also involved in a corruption case in the 70s where high-ranking officers were jailed for taking bribes
• Socially & politically, the 70s was a period of upheaval: economic problems from the decline of manufacturing in Britain led to increased imports; the international oil crisis in 1973 and the miners' strikes resulted in electricity shortages; other strikes from postal workers, refuse collectors and ambulance personnel.

Media language

• It was recorded on 16mm film. The cameras were lighter and more mobile which meant they could shoot in location and include more action sequences
• Location filming adds to the sense of realism
• Static cameras were also used in both interior and exterior scenes: they would used multiple cameras to film the same scene from different angles
• There is more camera movement, particularly in the fight sequences, immersing the audience in the action more
• The use of music reflects the time period as well as the MES, underscoring the action

Narrative

• The episode starts with the build up to the crime, but the main crime doesn't occur until much later in the story. Much of the episode is spent trying to prevent the crime from taking place
• The narrative ends with closure: the crime is prevented; the main criminal is dead, and Regan can relax with his girlfriend

Extract

Representations of ethnicity

• No diversity, white British only

Representations of gender

• Majority of characters are men
• One woman shown - Regan's girlfriend
• She is represented as weak, but not stupid, as she quickly figured out that the fake police officers were actually fake
• Very stereotypical roles
• All women in the episode are a mans girlfriend, wife or mother, or low-class workers
• One female police officer - stays with Regan's girlfriend to keep her safe

Differences in society from today

• Police threatening to attack and frame suspect
• Suggestions that police are not as 'clean' as audiences would've previously seen
• Much clearer class structure in the 70s than today
• Britain was a less ethnically diverse place in the 70s
• 
  

Main characters

• Jack Regan
• George Carter
• Kimble

Examples where we can see media language from the 70s

• Non-diegetic music - fast paced, matches action 
• Used as soon as each action sequence begins
• Multiple camera angles and locations
• Organic camera movement
• Very new for 70s audiences, very dynamic
• MES - costumes
• Police are wearing suits - wealth, education, success
• Criminal is wearing ragged clothes - poor, less educated
• Rolls Royce car - criminal's car - iconography - shows they are different level to other petty crimes

      14/01/25

L/O: To explore the context of the set text

Luther

DO NOW:

• The Sweeney location based scenes were filmed in West London
• The Sweeney was broadcast at 9pm
• The watershed is the time where programmes that are inappropriate for children are broadcasted
• One thing that made The Sweeney groundbreaking was location filming
• The names of the two main characters are Jack Regan and George Carter

Luther (2010)

• Produced by 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
• There have been 5 series since and a Netflix film to date
• It is one of many crime dramas that takes its title from the main protagonist, implying that the main detective will be strong, independent and central to the narrative
• The writer drew on different sub-genres: mystery / detective & psychological thriller

Extract

Representations of ethnicity

• Diverse representation

Representations of gender

• Chief of police is a woman

Narrative

• Luther chases a criminal and allows him to die
• Luther is then shown in a psychiatric ward
• Luther's wife is cheating on him
• Luther is shown as an intelligent detective

Main characters

• John Luther
• Henry Madsen
• Alice Morgan
• Zoe Luther

Examples of crime drama codes & conventions

• High-paced action sequences
• Urban setting
• Low-key lighting
• Intense non-diegetic music
• Realism

Homework

How does scheduling impact TV crime drama and TV audiences? use these terms; watershed, peak time, prime time, binge watching, video on demand

Scheduling impacts TV crime dramas and TV audiences as crime dramas can only be broadcasted after the watershed, which is 9pm in the UK, as they are not suitable for children due to their high levels of violence and mature topics. This means that these crime dramas typically are broadcasted under the peak time and prime time, 8pm - 10:30pm in the UK, so that they can achieve the most audience engagement as one of the main conventions of crime dramas are enigmas, which audiences can discuss and engage with whilst watching. Furthermore, producers of crime dramas can choose whether they release episodes weekly or all at once, or releasing their series for video on demand (VOD), as some enjoy binge watching all episodes of the series in a day; this can be for several reasons, including being more involved with the narrative, personal identification with the characters as they are more engaged, or instant gratification and immediate answers to the enigmas within the series.

Why might audience responses to crime dramas change over time?

Audience responses to crime dramas may change over time due to the lack of ground-breaking forms of media due to the progression of videography and cinematography over time, for example, in the shooting of 'The Sweeney', producers used light cameras to shoot lots of action sequences for the episodes, which had never been seen before, however today, this is seen in majority of shows. This is the same for the levels of violence in crime dramas, as audiences have become desensitised to gore and violence, and it is even slightly glorified today.

What are the benefits of commercial broadcasting?

Commercial broadcasting allows producers to profit from advertisements whilst broadcasting the most popular songs and top charts to max out their listener count, providing them with the most revenue out of other non-commercial broadcasters.

How do production processes influence crime dramas?

Production processes influence crime dramas in many ways as they fit under the codes and conventions for crime dramas, for example: urban settings create a sense of realism and inflict slightly more verisimilitude, helping keep the tension, enigmas and suspense raised for audiences as crime dramas typically do. Another example of this is low-key lighting, which also raises and emphasises the tension and suspense for audiences, as these are arguably the most essential conventions for crime dramas to possess to keep audiences hooked on the narrative.

Explain how crime dramas are aimed at a range of audience. Refer to examples you have studied to support your points

Crime dramas are aimed at a wide range of audiences in several ways, for example, in 'Luther', producers include a versatile range of ethnicities in the cast to appeal to a wide range of audience; this can be linked to the idea of the Uses & Gratifications theory under the category of personal identity, as this wide range of ethnicities in the cast can make audiences relate to characters due to personal experience or simply due to ethnicity.

      21/01/25

L/O: To explore the characters of the set text

Luther: Characters

DO NOW:

• Luthers first name is John
• Luther is produced by the BBC
• Luther series 1 was scheduled at 9pm on Tuesdays
• The writer incorporates mystery / detective and psychological thriller sub-genre
• In episode 1, conventions such as low-key lighting, urban settings and high paced action sequences were involved.

Propp's Character Functions

Vladmir Propp, a folklorist researcher, created this theory

• The Hero
• Luther - Leads the narrative, is usually looking for something - a quest, trying to solve something, does not have to be male
• The Villain
• Alice Morgan - Has a conflict with the hero and tries to stop them from succeeding
• The Donor
• Rose Teller - Gives the hero something - a clue, a talisman, a special power - helping them complete their quest, often fulfils a mentor role
• The Princess
• Zoe Luther - Usually a prize or reward for the hero; if the hero is female, there can be a prize but this is unusual
• The Helper
• Justin Ripley - Helps the hero complete their quest, often acts as a sidekick
• The Princess' Father
• Rose Teller - An authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest; that reward may be a prize, a princess or in more modern narratives, a new car; this does not always have to be a biological father
• The False Hero
• Mark North - Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess; may appear heroic at the start of the narrative
• The Dispatcher
• Henry Madsen - Early role who sets the story / quest in motion; often combined with other roles like the Princess' Father or Donor

Propp's Characters

Henry Madsen - The Villain and The Dispatcher

• Madsen has a conflict with the hero as we see where Luther ( the hero ) is willing to let him die and does, however Madsen does not die from the fall. Madsen is also the dispatcher as series 1 episode 1 opens with a chase scene between him and Luther, including enigmas to the narrative and storyline, setting the narrative for the rest of the series for audiences to be hooked on. However, this role is typically combined with the Donor, which Madsen is antithetical to.

Justin Ripley - The Helper

• Ripley helps Luther throughout the series solving crimes and acting as a sidekick loyally

John Luther - The Hero

• Luther is evidently the hero as he is the protagonist and the narrative revolves around him; he is constantly solving crime throughout the series, following the codes and conventions of crime dramas.

      24/01/25

L/O: To explore the genre & narrative of the set text

Luther: Genre & Narrative

DO NOW:

• Propp has 8 character functions
• Some of Propp's character functions are: princess, helper and dispatcher
• Luther is not a typical Proppian hero as he allowed someone to die dubious morality
• The donor gives the hero something to help them on their quest
• Justin Ripley fulfils the role of a sidekick

Steve Neale Genre Theory

Repetition & Difference

• Genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions - they have a 'system of expectations' ( the things audiences expect to be included )
• Genres change, develop and vary over time.
• Genres borrow from and overlap with one another - this creates a hybrid i.e. crime-thriller

We understand genre through recognisable conventions which are continually repeated e.g. crimes scenes, weapons, urban locations

• However, audiences would get bored if nothing ever changed
• Therefore, each programme must offer something new or provide something which makes it different to 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

Luther: Genre

• Luther contains many familiar elements of crime drama, but it also shows developments in the genre when compared to The Sweeney
• There are many elements hybridised from other genres:
• Conventions from thriller genre in visual & audio codes - low-key lighting, intense non-diegetic music & dramatic cross-cutting
• References to the horror genre - graphic shots, jump scares
• Elements of police procedural, 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 for more camera movement and viewpoints

Stock Characters

These are typical characters you'd find in a particular genre; a convention of a crime drama

• Luther is The Maverick Detective
• Brilliant detectives, able to solve crimes and understand clues that nobody else can
• Not afraid to break the rules if it means catching the criminal
• Often 'damaged' individuals who struggle to hold together their personal lives
• We see Luther shown as The Maverick Detective through:
• His dubious morality - allowing Henry Madsen to die
• His mania when it comes to his personal life
• His high intelligence when analysing clues

• Alice Morgan is The Psychopathic Killer
• Deceitful characters who pretend to be 'normal'
• Capable of horrific crimes
• Enjoy playing mind games with detectives
• We see Alice shown as The Psychopathic Killer through:
• Her act of being distraught over her parents death
• Her killing her parents brutally
• Her becoming involved with Zoe and taunting Luther over their relationship

• Alice Morgan is also The Femme Fatale
• A mysterious & dangerous female character
• Uses her sexuality to expert power over male characters
• A character more often seen in Film Noir - hybridity

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 through the series
• Inverted Narrative: we know who the murderer is, and that Luther will catch her - but we don't know how. The ensuing 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 see her with blood on her hands - but there is no sense of justice in the usual way. Only personal satisfaction for Luther
• Narrative Strands: neither the crime nor Luther's personal life are neatly solved by the end of the episode, but there is some sense of resolutions & equilibrium. These strands will be taken up again in the next episode
• Visual codes: there are some iconic signifiers used. The camerawork and editing are used to focus

      28/01/25

L/O: To explore the representation constructed of the set text

Luther: Representation

DO NOW:

• Codes and conventions
• Unique Selling Point (USP)
• Luther is The Maverick Detective
• A stock character is a type of character you would find in a specific genre
• Alice is The Psychopathic Killer and The Femme Fatale

Representation

The way in which people, places, issues & events are portrayed in the media

• Can often look at: age, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexuality
• Is the representation positive or negative?
• Are there aspects which conform to traditional stereotypes in that area?
• Are there aspects which challenge to traditional stereotypes in that area?
• What evidence can I use to support my case?

Representation of John Luther

• Luther is represented anti-stereotypically in terms of ethnicity, as most British crime dramas cast mainly white actors, especially for the protagonist. Luther is also represented anti-stereotypically as while he is the Hero in terms of Propp's theory, he demonstrates his immoral actions despite fighting for justice; for example, we see this where he allows Madsen to fall down from the bridge, essentially killing him. However, in terms of gender, Luther is represented stereotypically, as he is a man which is stereotypical for detective roles, along with being the protagonist of a crime drama.

• His character conforms to the stereotypes of masculinity through several things: his attire constantly consists of a suit, holding connotations of wealth and status which we stereotypically see as a man in the media. Furthermore, his intelligence enforces his masculinity, as throughout media, no matter the genre, it is stereotypical for a man to be far more intelligent than women; this is emphasised through his wife, Zoe Luther, as she also conforms to the stereotypes of her gender, seen as unintelligent and susceptible to the dangers of society, and requiring her husband, Luther, to protect her, adding to his masculinity. More to this, he displays his aggression and physical strength through where he destroys Zoe Luther's door out of rage, which while is a masculine stereotype, he also subverts these stereotypes as it also portrays his lack of mental strength, further emphasised through his therapy.
• An interesting representation of a black male in 21st century Britain
• 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 - almost obsessive
• Highly regarded by his fellow officers - those above and below his rank respect him
• 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'y in complete control of his life and shows vulnerability
• Some stereotypical elements of masculinity shown: physical force, lack of emotion with other men, etc.

Camera Frames of John Luther

The camera often frames Luther surrounded by a lot of empty space

• He works alone 
• He has an emotional void
• He is isolated
• He doesn't allow people in
• Others cannot keep up with his intelligence
• His demonstration of emotion scares others away

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
• Luther is a clear example of hegemonic masculinity, however, he is not white or stoic

In the opening scene, Luther is represented as: Ambiguous, villainous, immoral, injustice, masculine, aggressive, courageous, tough, stoic

In the final scene, Luther is represented as: Violent, stoic, courageous, risk-taking, thrill-seeking, achievement and success

When he visits Zoe at home, Luther is represented as: violent, aggressive, physical strength, competitiveness

Representations of women

• Alice Morgan is represented as The Psychopathic Killer and The Femme Fatale, she is deceptive and cunning
• Zoe Luther is represented as 
• Rose Teller is represented as masculine through her job and appearance, e.g. her hair

      31/01/25

L/O: To explore the representation constructed of the set text

Luther: Representation

DO NOW:

• Hegemonic masculinity is the dominant form of masculinity
• Physical strength, stoicism, courage
• Representation is the way in which people, places or themes are portrayed in the media
• Luther's isolation is often shown through empty camera frames
• Luther's USP was a black protagonist

Explain how Luther is an example of hegemonic masculinity

In the programme Luther, the eponymous hero is a representation of hegemonic masculinity.

Initially, in the opening scenes Luther is represented as aggressive and risk-taking; this can be seen through the use of the immediate action sequence that the show opens with, as the audience can clearly see his aggression due to his violent body language when he is chasing Henry Madsen, along with how Luther slams him into the metal, destroying the bridge beneath him. More to this, we see his risk-taking qualities as he allows Madsen to hang from the bridge before there was any confirmation on the victims whereabouts, allowing Madsen to suffer without any answers yet. Furthermore, throughout the entire encounter between Luther and Madsen, Luther creates a bold impression of stoicism, not displaying any emotion to Madsen, however the moment he falls he becomes far more vulnerable, visibly portraying his stress and relief over finding the victim, illustrating his strong sense of morality; this juxtaposes the previous encounter, as while he has found the victim, his dubious morality is highlighted by letting Madsen fall.

Furthermore, at the climax of the episode Luther is represented as stoic and striving for achievement and success. This is portrayed when Luther has his final encounter of the episode with Alice Morgan on the bridge outside of her apartment; Despite how Alice presses a knife to his stomach, Luther displays no emotion, emphasising his stoicism to the audience, however this allows another enigma into the episode as previously we see multiple times where Luther allows his emotions to get the better of him. More to this, his stoicism is also portrayed when he throughs the urn into the river, containing the evidence for the case, as he again displays no emotion throughout the entire scene, despite the threat to his life. Additionally, Luther is characterised as striving for achievement and success, as the encounter between the two is almost a metaphor for their battle of intelligence, which Luther ultimately wins, as he manages to figure Alice out and take away her pride. 

However, Luther is also represented as violent, but very emotional in the scene where he visits Zoe, as we see his stoicism falter when he discovers Zoe is cheating on him, and he becomes very violent and aggressive, destroying Zoe's door. However, this violence is only taken out on her door and not Zoe herself, and while he destroys it, he manages to take control over himself and his actions, possibly in fear of hurting Zoe. Although, the camera frame utilised displays Zoe, who has no fear or fright in her expression, only sadness for Luther, telling the audience that he would never hurt Zoe despite his lack of control over his emotions. This is relatively anti-stereotypical for a character that represents hegemonic masculinity.

Representations of women

Alice Morgan

• Complex character who's both antagonist (anti-stereotypical for females) & femme fatale
• 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

• Zoe is a less conventional character for a 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
• What's more as a mixed-race woman, she is from a social group less likely to be represented positively on prime-time television
• However, she is still shown needing Luther's protection from Alice and despite being a lawyer, her storylines are all concerned with love. These aspects of her representation could be considered more stereotypically feminine

Rose Teller

• Rose is a woman in authority in a male dominated sector - contemporary representation
• She shows strength of character by believing in Luther when others doubt him
• She works hard and follows the rules
• They mention her family - a working mother
• She is represented as masculine through her appearance and roles

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

Homework

Luther conforms to the 'system of expectations' of TV crime drama through the use of codes and conventions such as low-key lighting, creating tension and unease, and urban settings, enforcing the realism of the show; these are both very stereotypical for a crime drama programme, and so this links to Neale's genre theory: genres are dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions. This makes a crime drama, a crime drama, and so these codes and conventions are essential for creating a programme of the genre. However, repeating each of these conventions would create a monotonous cycle of programmes, and therefore producers require a unique selling point: while Luther conforms to stereotypical roles in the crime drama, such as maverick detective or hegemonic masculinity, Luther was the first black detective in a British crime drama. This would have been a huge change for crime dramas when Luther was released, and so it would have attracted many people and hooked them onto the show with the constant enigmas and suspense throughout the series. More to this, Luther also borrows from other genres, merging into one to form a hybrid-genre, as we see that throughout the show codes and conventions are displayed typically found in mystery / detective, crime-thriller or psychological thriller programmes; this also is found within Neale's genre theory: genres borrow from and overlap with one another, creating a hybrid, This demonstrates that Luther supports Steve Neale's genre theory.

      04/02/25

L/O: To explore industry and audience responses in the two set texts

Industry & Audience

DO NOW:

• Alice Morgan or Zoe Luther is not a conventional female character
• Character traits in hegemonic masculinity include: aggression, stoicism, violence
• Luther often does not show stoicism
• Alice Morgan has many traits more often associated with men
• Eponymous means the name of the media form is the protagonists name

Luther: Production

• Produced by BBC
• Shown on BBC1: corporation's primary channel. It offers a range of programme types and genres and aims to appeal to a very wide audience
• BBC1 remit: to create a high proportion of original programmes and to reflect the diversity of the UK
• 2016-2017, BBC1 aimed to 'exhibit some or all of the following: high quality, original, challenging, innovative & engaging, and it should nurture UK talent'. 
• Important features of BBC Drama include:
• Talk-ability
• Topicality & relevance to audiences
• Britishness & reflecting the diversity of life in Britain

Luther reflects these points through:

• Challenging - his grey morality as police have been represented as good, moral people throughout media historically
• Innovative & engaging - the continuous tension and suspense, paired with enigmas and cliffhangers allows for audiences to be hooked onto
• Diversity - John Luther was the first black detective and protagonist in a UK crime drama, along with just episode 1 containing many different ethnicities
• Nurturing UK talent - the characters are all British

Luther: Distribution & Scheduling

• Series one was broadcast in May 2010 (BBC1, 9pm, Tuesdays)
• Also available on iPlayer (catch-up)
• It was re-commissioned following the first series (5 series)
• In 2012, following the success of the first two series, BBC America (co-owned by BBC studios & AMC) started co-producing
• BBC America is part of BBC Studios (commercial arm of the BBC, not funded by the UK licence fee), so the BBC make money from any programmes shown on BBC America
• Crime drama brings a large part of BBC Studio's revenue and Luther has been distributed to many parts of America, Europe, Africa & Asia
• It is also available on Prime Video and as a DVD box set
• These are all ways of making money off of the programme

Luther is popular in so many countries because:

• The diversity in the cast
• The genre itself is very popular amongst the world
  
• Luther's actor (Idris Elba) is very famous globally
• The fact it is British and a realistic representation of London 

Luther: Audience Appeal

• The marketing of series one was important in reaching a range of audiences
• A trailer was released on 16th April 2010 on BBC's 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 episode were released on the website (like with DVD extras) giving 'exclusive' insights
• An 'Inside Look' video was produced for BBC America when launched in the US

Engaging with Luther

• Episodes are available on the website
• 'Meet the Characters' page
• Links to social medias
• Graphic novels are downloadable
• Clips available
• Behind-the-scenes and additional footage
• Updates on broadcasts

All this is so appealing to audiences as it offers a range of options all classed as categories under the Uses & Gratifications theory

These features engage fans and offer them opportunities to become active producers of content, some of which has been included in the programme

The further sharing of this user-generated content on fans' own social media helps extend the programme's market and audience further

Programme Appeals

The show itself offers many appeals:

• Genre: Crime drama is popular and it includes familiar conventions, along with interesting hybridisation and unconventional elements 
• Protagonist (Luther) is flawed and morally grey
• Female antagonist
• Star appeal: Idris Elba is well-known and popular. He is an attractive and potentially aspirational persona, appealing to both male and female viewers, and young black men
• Narrative: the Morgan murders and the ongoing Madsen case are ongoing for the episode and the series. A female killer is unusual and appealing to those who prefer thought-provoking drama
• Representations: the range of complex male and female characters appeals to different audiences - either to identify with or to be intrigued by.

Audience Response: Luther

• First episode received mixed reviews, but many positive responses
• The complex features could generate both positive & negative responses:
• Might admire Luther's crime-solving skills but disapprove of the methods & violent responses
• Might respond positively to Alice and find her intelligence & resourcefulness appealing, but respond negatively to the femme fatale conventions
• Might agree that the ending reflects reality (not all criminals are convicted) 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 and human, although they still caught the criminals (could be seen as a negative representation of the police)
• Modern audiences respond positively to the 'retro' feel - they have a lot of nostalgia and affection for The Sweeney
• Some might respond negatively to the violence, patriarchal attitudes, lack of diversity, etc.
• The Sweeney was extremely successful (up to 19 million per episode)
• Led to Eusten developing many more TV Dramas and two spin-off films
• DVD box set (rated 15) of all episodes released in 2004 (offered nostalgia for older audiences and new younger audiences)
• Re-runs have been broadcast several times over the years. Nov 2017, ITV4 broadcast all episodes of the drama on the ITV hub for catch-up
• Available on prime
• Can be seen to have influenced many other police dramas: leads to genres changing over time

      07/02/25

L/O: To explore the context and its impact in the two set texts

Context

DO NOW:

• BBC1 needed to show high-quality and challenging in their programming
• BBC America is the channel Luther was broadcast on in the US
• Luther was marketed through exclusive BTS and the star appeal Idris Elba
• Narrative and genre are programme appeals
• Modern audiences may respond negatively to the violence, patriarchal attitudes and lack of diversity

Changing Viewing Conditions

• One of the biggest changes in how we watch television has been the introduction of streaming
• When The Sweeney was on television, there was no way to pause or re-watch - you had to be there when it was on
• Programmes would be shown once a week, at the same time
• Because of the long gap in between episodes, they contained closed narratives, where all elements of the story were wrapped up by the end of the episode
• This meant audiences did not have to remember week to week what happened, and if they missed an episode they could still watch the next week and the programme would make sense

Contemporary Viewing Conditions

• 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
• Smart phones, laptops and tablets have further enabled this (digital conversions), as we no longer need to be at home in the living room to watch televisions
• This has led to far more open narratives in crime dramas, which parts of the story will unfold over several episodes
• This allows for far 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 at understanding multi-strand narratives

Historical Context: 1970s

• Less gender equality - reflected in the structure of the police force 
• The Sweeney displayed one female police officer, who had a very low rank and only arrived to babysit the protagonist's girlfriend
• Britain was becoming more racially diverse and multi-cultural but racial discrimination was high and minority ethnic groups were under-represented
• All of the cast of The Sweeney were white British, despite the rising amounts of diversity in Britain at the time
• The Sweeney was based on the real 'Flying Squad' which had been involved in a highly publicised corruption scandal
• The Sweeney was the first programme to portray the police force as corrupt
• 1970s was period of upheaval: strikes, shortages, and economic problems
• Centred in London, high crime rates go hand in hand with times of upheaval

Contemporary Context:

• 1980: 90 female detective constables to 1400 male
• 2017: 30% of all police officers in England & Wales are female
• Gender equality increased massively by the production of Luther, and so it was portrayed in the programme
• Relevance of the name 'Luther' makes the audience think of Martin Luther King, demonstrating racial equality - it is far better than the 1970s
• The cast is far more diverse than in The Sweeney
• London is represented through aerial shots and as a cosmopolitan, financial city

Representation of Gender

• The Sweeney reflects 1970s values in relation to gender, especially gender roles 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 whee 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\s boss is female, Zoe is a successful lawyer, Alice is a highly intelligent astrophysicist )
• However, these females are not all represented positively or as being totally independent - Alice is narcissistic murderer, Zoe's character revolves around relationships and requiring a man to protect her constantly.

Representation of Ethnicity

• The Sweeney represents British society as a completely white culture - there is no ethnic diversity at all. in reality, British society was very diverse, but this was rarely shown in mainstream media

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

In the 1970s, British society was becoming far more diverse in ethnicities, though this was very rarely shown in mainstream media; technology was also beginning to become more advanced with handheld cameras, allowing for better camera shots and location filming. Whereas, contemporary British society is extremely diverse in ethnicity and culture and it is now shown in mainstream media far more than the 1970s; technology has also advanced greatly with the introduction of CGI and larger cameras. 

In The Sweeney, produced in the 1970s, the representation of gender is very traditional, especially in the workplace: the Flying Squad is male-dominated, patriarchal and characterised by a stereotypically macho culture. This represents gender roles within the society at the time as the police force had completely different rank structures for women. 

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

In television, genres are not static, but rather as stated in Steve Neale's genre theory: dominated by the repetition of codes and conventions as they have a 'system of expectations'; this means that genres change and develop over time, and also borrow from and overlap one another, creating hybrid genres. An example of this would be understanding a genre through recognisable conventions that are repeated in several programmes of the same drama, for example: a crime drama would have crime scenes, weapons and urban locations.

Firstly, the eponymous Luther is very stereotypical as a Maverick detective, a stock character for crime drama. This representation is best shown through his dubious morality, as fitting the role of the Maverick detective requires an ability to not be afraid to break the rules if means catching the criminal: we see this where he puts Henry Madsen's, the criminals, life at risk in the beginning of episode one where Luther is waiting for an answer as to whether Madsen is telling the truth about one of his victims or not. Luther then allows Madsen to fall down and 'die' demonstrating his dubious morality. Another representation of this is through his mania when it comes to his personal life, as aligning with this role also requires the character to be a damaged individual who struggles to hold their personal life together: this is best demonstrated through the scene where Luther visits Zoe at their home, where he finds out she has cheated on him and he destroys her door in a fit of rage. This expression of mania and libertinism represents Luther as a damaged individual who struggles to keep his emotions in check, portraying him as a Maverick detective. Finally, another way Luther is represented this way is through his high intelligence when analysing clues, as Maverick detectives are always able to solve crimes and understand clues that nobody else can. This is best demonstrated where Luther quickly solves the case of the Morgan's and is able to pinpoint the location of evidence when no other detectives can find any evidence, portraying Luther as very stereotypical as a Maverick detective.

Secondly, Alice is a very anti-stereotypical character for crime drama in her representation as a psychopathic killer. This is shown primarily through her act of being distraught over the death of her parents, as in order to fulfil the role of the psychopathic killer the character must be deceitful and pretending to be 'normal': this is best represented in the scene where she calls the emergency services, appearing to breakdown in tears over the distress of the loss of her parents, which soon after the audience learns that this is simply an act to be perceived as innocent and unfortunate. Another way Alice is represented as anti-stereotypical for her character in a crime drama is through her killing her parents brutally, as this demonstrates she is capable of horrific crimes; this is best emphasised throughout the graphic scene where Luther analyses the clues in the Morgan's crime scene, as the brutality of the murders is visibly displayed for audiences to see. However, this scene heavily focuses on Luther's intelligence, overlooking Alice's psychopathy and character, which is more stereotypical for a female in a crime drama. Finally, Alice is also represented anti-stereotypically through her enjoyment of playing mind games with detective, since she becomes involved with Zoe Luther and taunting Luther over their relationship throughout the course of episode 1.

Overall, some of the characters in Luther are conventional for a crime drama, however some of the characters are not. 

      11/02/25

L/O: To revise audio-visual codes and how they create meaning

Extract Analysis

DO NOW:

• Media language can be split into: mise-en-scene, camerawork, editing and sound
• Camerawork covers shot-types, shot-angles & movement
• Diegetic sound is sound produced from the scene
• Cross-cutting is a sudden change in frame from one scene to another happening simultaneously
• Framing is where elements are placed within a shot

1. Close up

2. Mid shot - low angle

3. Extreme close up

4. Wide shot - canted angle

Extract Analysis

• In the exam, Component 2, Section A, you will need to answer questions based on an extract from Luther
• Question 1 (stepped) will ask you to analyse EITHER media language or representation in an extract (approx. 3 mins)
• Part a will be a simple analysis extract
• Part b will ask you to analyse and make a judgement
• Question 2 will be on TV audiences, industry or contexts

Camerawork & Editing

Cinematography is a language - so how does it make meaning?

• What is being communicated with this shot?
• What has been included?
• Has anything been deliberately left out?
• What are we (the audience) being asked to focus on?

Luther opening - camerawork analysis

• Behind low mid-shots and low-key lighting in frames of Luther before his face is revealed - creates enigmas surrounding the character, portrayed as the villain as he is chasing the man in the suit, obscuring his identity
• Extreme close up on Luthers face 'reveal' - emphasises the tension in the scene and his intensity and focus on catching Madsen
• Shot-reverse-shot (close up) - no dialogue is used as this shot type is common for displaying conversation, however it emphasises the tension between the characters as their facial expressions show hatred
• High aerial shots - portrays Madsen as prey to Luther as it makes him look inferior and small compared to Luther's mid shots.

      14/02/25

L/O: To practise analysing extracts for media language & representation

Extract Analysis: Media Language

DO NOW:

• Media language can be split into: mise-en-scene, camerawork, editing and sound
• Camerawork includes camera shots, angles & movement
• Non-diegetic sound is sound added in through editing
• Eye line matches are when a character has an expression on their face as a result of looking at something, then it cuts to what they are looking at
• A canted angle is titled framing

      14/02/25

L/O: To practise analysing extracts for media language & representation

Extract Analysis: Representation

DO NOW:

• Extreme close up Medium long shot
• Tracking is an example of camerawork / movement
• Lighting comes under editing mise-en-scene
• Shot reverse shots are typically used in conversation
• A canted angle is titled

• Sleek, modern furniture suggests that Zoe is sophisticated and wealthy
• The fact Luther is in the centre of the cubicle implies that he is caged - possibly within his mind
• The mixture between clear and blurred glass mirrors Luther's dubious morality - in the scene it is more blurred as we see his catharsis
• The amount of papers on Zoe's desk implies that she is hard working
• Luther is using Zoe's office, suggesting her importance and status overrides Luthers
• Luther and Zoe are physically separated by the desk - mirrors their relationship status
• Zoe is holding a folder wrapped in red ribbon - legal documents are typically wrapped in this - demonstrates her importance

Visual Codes

Nothing is in the frame by accident. Setting, props and costumes can tell as much as blocking

We need to ask ourselves these questions:

• What does the setting connote?
• What props have been included - why?
• What do the costumes and body language connote about the characters?
• How are the characters positioned? What does this suggest about their relationship?

Opening scene - Mise-en-scene

• Psychiatric ward - he has conscience
• Reed is leaning forward - Luther is leaning back - Reed wants to connect and engage
• They are divided by the table - same happens with Zoe later on - the incident with Madsen ruined everything for Luther
• Luther is completely stoic
• The windows look like bars - he is trapped
• Luther is emotionless toward reed
• Luther looks distressed when he hears the beeping
• Luther leans forward when reed leaves
• Monotonous, dull colour tones
• Atmosphere of melancholy
• Low-key lighting where Luther is while it is bright outside
• Chess suggests intelligence
• Luthers odd gesture with his hand on head suggests discomfort and disorder - not right
• All diegetic sound 

Explore the representations of gender in this extract

Male

• All of the policemen are men
• Protecting the female character in the scene - stereotypical
• Both John and Mark are persistent in their efforts fighting for Zoe - stereotypical
• John and Mark quickly resort to violence - hegemonic masculinity
• Lack of stoicism from Luther - anti-stereotypical

Female

• Zoe is presented as needing Mark to protect her - stereotypical
• Wearing heels and sophisticated clothing
• Luther is never in the centre of the frame whereas at the end Alice is
• Zoe is presented as emotional - stereotypical

How stereotypical are the representations of ethnicity in this extract?

Stereotypes

• The majority of the policemen are white
• Zoe and Mark call the police on Luther

Anti-stereotypes

• Luther had more authority and a higher rank than the white policemen

      28/02/25

L/O: To analyse extracts for media language & representation

Extract Analysis: Exam Question

DO NOW:

• positive/negative rep and stereotypes are looked at when analysing representations
• Mise-en-scene includes clothing, props and setting
• You will be shown the extract twice in the exam
• 2 questions will be based on the extract
• 3-4 paragraphs for a 10/12 mark question

Explore how costumes create meaning in this extract

• Luther and Ripley wears a formal suit to mirror their authority
• Alice wears dark clothing, representing her personality but also her intelligence as she blends in with the shadows, masking her appearance
• Zoe's trench coat is stereotypically masculine - represents her masculine job as a woman in law
• Rose wears a vest-suit - anti-stereotypical for a woman as she has a higher authority than Luther - her open top button and short hair is also seen as masculine
• Luther's ruffled shirt and tie without a blazer when he is stressed - mirrors his lack of stoicism in his catharsis, as he presents a dishevelled look - lack of hegemonic masculinity - in the opening of the extract he looked formal and authoritative. His clothing represents his emotions
• Alice's hat pin his a feminine accessory, however she uses it to attack and threaten Zoe which is anti-stereotypical for a woman
• Zoe's earrings and make-up demonstrate her wealth (anti) and her femininity (stereotypical)
• Alice's short hair makes her seem more masculine

In the extract of Luther, costumes are used to create several different meanings: In the beginning of the extract, we see Luther wearing formal attire: a full suit with a blazer, however, after the scene where Zoe is attacked by Alice and Luther discovers this, he is portrayed as far more dishevelled. Luther's lack of blazer immediately communicates to the audience that he is stressed, as typically we take off excess layers of clothing when we are hot, which happens when stressed. More to this, his shirt appears far more ruffled, which paired with the lack of blazer we can see that this mirrors Luther's lack of stoicism in the scene due to his catharsis and distress over the danger his wife is in; this demonstrates Luther's lack of hegemonic masculinity in this specific scene, as we see he flips a table and his facial expressions and body language clearly convey an atmosphere of stress and tension. However, while this displays Luther's lack of hegemonic masculinity, he is still portrayed as a maverick detective, as this character trope has to have some level of 'damage' cast upon them mentally, which maintains the stereotypes of Luther's detective skills. This creates the impression to the audience that Luther's clothing represent his emotions throughout the series.

Furthermore, another way costumes are utilised to create meanings is through the character of Alice Morgan: We see her dressed in dark, masculine attire, which not only mirrors her dark, psychotic personality, possibly making reference to how her career is based upon 'dark matter', but this also displays her intelligence to the audience, as she is aware that she is attacking Zoe in public, and so wears dark clothing to blend into the shadows of the building. This therefore masks Alice's appearance, which is very anti-stereotypical for a woman to be intelligent enough to grasp this in crime drama. More to this, Alice uses a hat pin to threaten Zoe with, which is stereotypically viewed as a feminine accessory, however she uses it to attack her with which is far more anti-stereotypical for a woman. These anti-stereotypes of Alice are used to challenge stereotypes of women of the time, as she is used as the psychopathic killer in this scene.

Finally, Zoe Luther is also used to demonstrate how costumes create meaning: Her attire consists of a trench-coat, which is seen as a stereotypically masculine item of clothing, being anti-stereotypical for the character of a woman. This could represent her masculine job of being a lawyer, as stereotypically in crime dramas intelligence is not a trait women possess, or this could portray her wealth as this is not stereotypical for a woman either. However, Zoe is also wearing earrings and make-up, being far more stereotypical for a woman, as her appearance is far more feminine.

How typical of the genre are the locations used in this extract?

• A police office is stereotypical for the genre
• The urban setting
• Modern office

In this extract, the locations used are very stereotypical for the genre: The fact that majority of the scene is placed outside of a lawyers office is very stereotypical for a crime drama, as this ties into the entire genre of crime and law enforcement. This scene is also demonstrates the fact that the scene is placed within an urban setting, which historically has always been used in crime dramas as it adds a sense of realism to the series, as this is where most crimes occur. This links to Steve Neale's genre theory, where the concept is that repetition of mise-en-scene in TV is what creates a genre and their stereotypical attributes: the repetition of using urban settings in crime dramas is what has developed this stereotype over time, making it stereotypical for the genre.

Another way the locations are used in the extract is through the police office: this is very stereotypical for the genre, as it also revolves around the entire genre of crime and law enforcement. This use of the police office is used to clearly demonstrate and convey the genre of crime drama to the audience, further demonstrating that the locations used in the extract are typical of the genre.

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Explain how digital technologies change the ways in which audiences consume television?

Digital technologies change the ways in which audience consume television through the use of digital conversion: This allows several different uses, which historically would have been utilised through different devices, to be used in one specific item, for example, a phone allows you to take photos, play games, call people, etc. This contemporary concept can also be used by audiences to watch shows on their phones, allowing for them to consume television without the requirement of having the be watching the television at a specific time to ensure that they do not miss the latest episode of a show, else they would miss out on it as there was no way to rewatch up besides the catch-up the next day; however, this conversion allows for shows to be watch at any time and also in any place. 

Streaming services also change the ways in which audiences consume television as this allows for audiences to binge-watch shows, as historically episodes would have come out typically weekly at the same time of day, and you would have to watch it then and there, however downloadable content of shows and streaming services allow for watching entire seasons of shows at once. This option of binge-watching offers a sense of escapism from reality for audiences, as it allows for audiences to become lost in the show, and also offers answers to any enigmas created in episodes that are left on cliffhangers or are occurring throughout the seasons. An example of this would be Luther

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Homework

Explore the connotations of the costumes of two characters in the BBC Crime Drama Luther (8)

One way costumes are used in Luther is through the character of Alice Morgan: We see her dressed in dark, masculine attire, which not only mirrors her dark, psychotic personality, possibly making reference to how her career is based upon 'dark matter', but this also displays her intelligence to the audience, as she is aware that she is attacking Zoe in public, and so wears dark clothing to blend into the shadows of the building. This therefore masks Alice's appearance, which is very anti-stereotypical for a woman to be intelligent enough to grasp this in crime drama. More to this, Alice uses a hat pin to threaten Zoe with, which is stereotypically viewed as a feminine accessory, however she uses it to attack her with which is far more anti-stereotypical for a woman. These anti-stereotypes of Alice are used to challenge stereotypes of women of the time, as she is used as the psychopathic killer in terms of stock characters in this scene.

Another use of costumes is through John Luther: we see Luther wearing formal attire: a full suit with a blazer, however, after the scene where Zoe is attacked by Alice and Luther discovers this, he is portrayed as far more dishevelled. Luther's lack of blazer immediately communicates to the audience that he is stressed, as typically we take off excess layers of clothing when we are hot, which happens when stressed. More to this, his shirt appears far more ruffled, which paired with the lack of blazer we can see that this mirrors Luther's lack of stoicism in the scene due to his catharsis and distress over the danger his wife is in; this demonstrates Luther's lack of hegemonic masculinity in this specific scene, as we see he flips a table and his facial expressions and body language clearly convey an atmosphere of stress and tension. However, while this displays Luther's lack of hegemonic masculinity, he is still portrayed as a maverick detective, as this character trope has to have some level of 'damage' cast upon them mentally, which maintains the stereotypes of Luther's detective skills. This creates the impression to the audience that Luther's clothing represent his emotions throughout the series.

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

Firstly, the eponymous Luther is very stereotypical as a Maverick detective, a stock character for crime drama. This representation is best shown through his dubious morality, as fitting the role of the Maverick detective requires an ability to not be afraid to break the rules if means catching the criminal: we see this where he puts Henry Madsen's, the criminals, life at risk in the beginning of episode one where Luther is waiting for an answer as to whether Madsen is telling the truth about one of his victims or not. Luther then allows Madsen to fall down and 'die' demonstrating his dubious morality. Another representation of this is through his mania when it comes to his personal life, as aligning with this role also requires the character to be a damaged individual who struggles to hold their personal life together: this is best demonstrated through the scene where Luther visits Zoe at their home, where he finds out she has cheated on him and he destroys her door in a fit of rage. This expression of mania and libertinism represents Luther as a damaged individual who struggles to keep his emotions in check, portraying him as a Maverick detective. Finally, another way Luther is represented this way is through his high intelligence when analysing clues, as Maverick detectives are always able to solve crimes and understand clues that nobody else can. This is best demonstrated where Luther quickly solves the case of the Morgan's and is able to pinpoint the location of evidence when no other detectives can find any evidence, portraying Luther as very stereotypical as a Maverick detective.

Furthermore, Luther is also presented as the hero under the Propps theory, which is very stereotypical for the protagonist detective in crime drama: Luther is evidently the hero as he is the protagonist and the narrative revolves around him; he is constantly solving crime throughout the series, following the codes and conventions of crime dramas. More to this, the hero category also requires for the character to have a quest or attempting to solve something, which fits Luther perfectly as crime dramas typically use separate storylines in each episode whilst still residing one main narrative arc over a whole season, meaning in each episode there are enigmas that Luther has to solve. For example, in episode one, Luther has to solve the case of the murder of the Morgan family which continues throughout the episode until he eventually does so. However, Luther is also represented anti-stereotypically as while he is the Hero in terms of Propp's theory, he demonstrates his immoral actions despite fighting for justice; for example, we see this where he allows Madsen to fall down from the bridge, essentially killing him. Another way Luther is presented as stereotypical is through his gender: historically protagonists, especially in crime dramas, are typically male, meaning Luther meets the stereotypical gender demographic of crime dramas.

Whereas, Luther is presented as anti-stereotypical through his ethnicity: most British crime dramas cast mainly white actors, especially for the protagonist, making Luther slightly anti-stereotypical for his role in a British crime drama.

In conclusion, John Luther is mainly typical of the crime drama genre, however there are some elements that make him anti-stereotypical.