Capital Case Study

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 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 positive points the review picked out about Capital is that it portrays the London culture very well.

2)What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?
The criticisms that was made for Capital is because ‘ some may have been frustrated by the plot which meandered like the Thames’.

3) How does the TV drama change the time period and location for the story in comparison to the original novel?
The TV drama change of the time period and location in comparison to the original novel ‘ Capital offers a microcosmic metaphor for London at large, but it also feels real in the portrayal of its characters’.

4) In the Telegraph 'behind the scenes' article, what does the writer say about the London housing market?
‘Snapshot of a property boom that no one can comprehend. “ For better or worse the economy and therefore our lives”’.

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?


Textual analysis

Watch the trailer for Capital:

 


1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
The drama uses camerawork to capture the London life is by the use of the setting it is like a typical London household. The streets of London are clearly shown with the houses aligned.

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.
Mr Kamal the use of a medium shot when he is putting a fruit in to one of the basket outside his corner shop. Roger with the long medium shot shows him coming out of his house with a bag in hand and him with the phone to his ear. Shows he is a worker with the professional suit shows he is a professional worker.

3) How does the trailer use mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama?
The trailer uses mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama is by the medium shot where the two brothers are sitting at the table eating happily and smiling.

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?
It is not a very heavy TV series it is a light TV series.

5) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
The trailer introduces narrative strands suggesting tension is in one of the shot you can see Roger's wife screaming with her body language suggesting frustration.
Watch the Episode 1 preview for Capital:

 

1) What does this preview clip suggest about the potential sub-genres for Capital?
The potential sub genre would be mystery.2) What elements of the clip might suggest this is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama?

3) Analyse the mise-en-scene in this clip. How does this provide realism and familiarity for audiences?
The mise-en-scene suggests that they are an Asian family that works in the corner shop as shown. The close up to the hand when he is holding the postcard shows the significance of them.

4) What audience pleasures are provided by this scene?
The audience pleasure shown is personal pleasure. I think Asian Pakistani people can kind of relate to this as sometimes the police do not prioritise other ethnic background apart from white British.


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 life is that everything is based around money. If there is no money the family is not stable.

2) What narrative strands are suggested in this sequence?
Narrative strands are suggesting in this sequence is that there is going to be drama in the next episode.

3) How is the audience positioned to respond to Roger Yount, the main character (banker and father to the two boys)?
Roger Yount is not seen as a strong character his attitude compared to his wife is way less. His wife is more dominating in this relationship.
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, ageing 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
In this scene London is seen as a very dark place with some bright lights. The city is huge and the high angle shot shows the big city of London. The 'CAPITAL', all of the letter are in capital shows the significance. The family and gender shown in this shows that it is is a happy perfect family that is traditional. Men seen working and the women seen taking care of the kids. Music is non-diegetic 1960s helped place the time period. The ethnicity of most people seen is white -British. The Asian guy who is Pakistani has a corner shop. The older someone gets the more isolated they get. These are the ideas seen in this scene.

Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10
The placing of London is seen as very busy place most people work as seen by the professional attires such as the men wearing suit and tie. The family and gender seen in this scene show that the women taking care of the house and the men are out working. The ethnicity and the religion is the European are working as builders and house maintenance worker and the white- British seen working in offices. The family shown is a working class wealthy family.

Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35
The enigma codes of London shown is the guy taking pictures shows the creepiness of London. The family and gender roles are is that the men plan everything for the family. The wife is seen materialistic. Wife wears the pants in the relationship. As seen in this scene is that the family is seen wealthy as he could get millions of pounds which mean nothing for him and his family. The kids go to private school.

Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40
The immigrated lady lives in a crowded household. The women seen as a material that the guys can use for their advantage. Male dominance so the man is seen financially exploiting her as well as sexual. The white people are sen as a higher priority than brown and other ethnic background. The immigration office people do not care for her. They are not understanding.

Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00 
There is use of an establishing shot, cross cutting from office to the toilet scene and the voice-over.

Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55
There is diversity in London as it clearly shown by the scene. Men making money for the family providing the family with everything. Women seen taking care of the children. Pakistanis seen as generous. They are seen eating together and they are middle class. 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?
Capital uses a lot of gender stereotypes. the gender stereotypes are reinforced as 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?
The parent company for Kudos is 21st Century Fox.

2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?
The breakthrough show for Kudos is 'Spooks'.

3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?
The other TV dramas Kudos produced was River, Human and the tunnel and Grantchester. They have won Television bulldog award.

4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer? 
Te audience pleasure that Kudos productions offer is sense of personal relationship.

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?
The programme information on page 3 make Capital sound interesting to audiences because of the actors some of the actors are very well known.

2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?
The programme information mention the other shows the directors and producers have worked on shows how well known the directors and producers are. So they know what they are doing.

3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?
Capital was commissioned for BBC by 'Charlotte Moore'.

4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?
Toby Jones says that the character of 'Roger isn’t an evil banker, he’s a slightly complacent banker'.

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?
Some people feel that they do not belong there or 'outside looking in'.

6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain? 
Asian representation in Britain is now the world is absorbing cultures and understanding them more.

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 scene in the drama is the Christmas morning when Roger gets abandoned.




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?
The packaging use other critically acclaimed TV dramas to promote Capital as this means they get more audience to watch Capital. So more awareness.

2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?
The use of design and images suggests to the audience that it is a family orientated drama as 3 of the shots they are seen together which could suggest they are a family.

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 reviews suggests the TV drama makes people 'gripped' which connotes the plot is very gripping. 
4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?
The packaging suggests that London is a very big city and higher professional jobs are in the centre.

There is a lot of work here - easily 3-4 hours in total if you do in the depth required for the top grades at A Level. 
Complete for homework - due Friday after half-term.