Capital: Case study blog tasks

Reviews and features

Read the following review and feature on Capital:

Guardian review by Sam Wollaston
London Evening Standard: five things you need to know about Capital

1) What positive points does the review pick out about Capital? What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?
It’s not just a brilliant allegorical portrait of London. There are stories to tell, the postcards keep coming, then DVDs, someone really WANTS WHAT THEY HAVE. Probably everyone does 
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?

Trailer analysis

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

The drama uses camerawork by having camera shots of landmarks and streets recognisable to london life.

2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
It shows multiple characters stating it’s multi strand narrative and the post card through the door has a sense of enigma for the audiences wanting to watch more. 

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?

It suggest that a state of the nation genre record at an entire city using its cast as does Captial with its ensemble cast.

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

The setting is London which may be to focused but it shows how London is a city that pulls in all cultures and people.

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

Some of the themes are tackled through people with links to the street. Immigration is explored through the character of Zimbabwean-born traffic warden, Quintana. We also have Polish builders and foreign-born nannies. Petunia represents community and continuity.

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

The reprensation is good vs bad, rich vs poor.

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

Capital positions the actions of the banks as criminal. So hidden are their activities, so complex and difficult to track down, that a straightforward state-of-the nation drama could not possibly hope to cover them adequately. 

 Capital Media Factsheet

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 show multi strand narrative through the focus on the episode and the costume used to show different cultures and expectations.

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

Capital helps the BBC meet the PBS obligations as it test to follow the mission statement of inform educate and entertain.

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

Kudos uses horizontal integration to show the ownership structure.

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

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

Capital meets the genre conventions as it shows the stories of people of the UK representing them, explores social issues like immigration and uses wife shits to emphasise location.

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

It uses pictures of all the characters almost looking like mugshots which emphasise the enigma and having a silhouette of London to emphasises location.

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

Using Blumer and Katz uses and gratification Capital uses diverse ensemble cast to create personal identity with audiences. 

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

Binary opposition is shown in Capital as there is a clear class and wealth difference between the characters Roger and Machinko when the meet in the park.

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?

Capital used stereotype of 

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.

The parent company for Kudos is Endemol UK.

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

It has produced television series for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Amazon and Netflix and its productions include Tin Star, Humans, Broadchurch, The Tunnel, Grantchester, Apple Tree Yard, Utopia, Spooks (US:MI5), Hustle and Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes.