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
1) What positive points does the review pick out about Capital? What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?
have managed to squeeze an incredible amount into one street, one book, and then further squeeze into three hours of television. A lot of the important stuff, as well as what is most wonderful and most terrible about the place.
2) What references can you find in the reviews and feature to the idea Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?
the house prices flick up at a terrifying rate, like the numbers on a petrol pump in full flow. This captures modern day London as everything is increasing due to inflation.
Trailer analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
Drone shots of the city and the skyscrapers to portray that London is a busy city.
2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
Many characters that are not the same race . However, the use of everybody getting a letter shows that they are all united.
2) What references can you find in the reviews and feature to the idea Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?
the house prices flick up at a terrifying rate, like the numbers on a petrol pump in full flow. This captures modern day London as everything is increasing due to inflation.
Trailer analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
Drone shots of the city and the skyscrapers to portray that London is a busy city.
2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
Many characters that are not the same race . However, the use of everybody getting a letter shows that they are all united.
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?
Capital opens out on crime establishing a shadowy figure from the start.
2) What does the article suggest regarding the setting of Capital?
London sucks in people from around the country and around the globe. It is vast, complex and endlessly
fascinating. Centring the action on a single street then helps bring some focus to the narrative.
3) What are the major themes in Capital and what does the article suggest regarding the impact of money on communities?
- The street contains characters from all walks of life with different levels of economic security and income. However only rich people could afford a house in this area.
- Immigration is explored through the character of Zimbabwean-born traffic warden, Quintana.
4) What different representations in Capital are discussed in the article?
-Banker Roger is a weak, feckless character, in thrall to wealth and capable of uttering phrases like ‘What use is £30,000 to anyone?’ His wife Arabella, obsessed with interior design and foreign holidays, is only with him for his money.
-Petunia, similarly community- minded
-Ahmed, the hard-working
-the spirited Quintana (even if she is a traffic warden).
If you are a white rich male you are seen as negative and a poor black female is seen as positive.
5) What does the final section of the article suggest regarding genre and overall message of the drama?
I’ve talked about Capital as a state-of-the-nation drama, but its opening sequence draws on the crime genre.
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 characters also demonstrate the state-of-the-nation aspect of this drama.
2) Focusing on the industrial contexts, how does Capital help the BBC meet its obligations as a public service broadcaster?
To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them. The BBC will provide accurate and impartial news, current affairs and factual programming of the highest editorial standards so that all audiences can engage fully with issues across the UK
and the world.
3) What do we learn about the ownership structure for production company Kudos?
4) How can David Hesmondhalgh's ideas in The Cultural Industries be linked to Capital and Kudos?
6) How does the factsheet analyse the DVD packaging and what this communicates to the audience?
7) Look at page 5 of the factsheet. Choose one of the audience theories in the table and apply it to Capital.
8) What does the factsheet suggest regarding binary oppositions in Capital?
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
Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10
Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35
Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40
Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00
Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55
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?
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
Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10
Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35
Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40
Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00
Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55
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?
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? What changes of ownership have there been for Kudos? This is an example of conglomerate ownership.
2) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced and for which channels? What awards have they won?
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? What changes of ownership have there been for Kudos? This is an example of conglomerate ownership.
2) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced and for which channels? What awards have they won?
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