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 review and feature on Capital:bonkers
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?
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 representations of good versus bad, rich versus poor and industrious versus feckless make for straightforward drama.
5) What does the final section of the article suggest regarding genre and overall message of the drama?
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. The interactions between the characters reflect the tensions between different cultures and costume is used to quickly communicate the different character roles.
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.
Reviews and features
Read the following review and feature on Capital:bonkers
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.
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?
It references modern day London by the bonkers housing market and increasing rate of gentrification across London means that Capital’s ideas still stand. On the one hand, Capital offers a microcosmic metaphor for London at large, but it also feels real in the portrayal of its characters, from the financially-sound to the economically-struggling.
Trailer analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
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?
It references modern day London by the bonkers housing market and increasing rate of gentrification across London means that Capital’s ideas still stand. On the one hand, Capital offers a microcosmic metaphor for London at large, but it also feels real in the portrayal of its characters, from the financially-sound to the economically-struggling.
Trailer analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
The trailer captures London life by showcasing the cities diverse neighbourhoods, landmarks and streets through various different camera angles and shots.
2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
The trailer shows multiple different families from different backgrounds who are all receiving these postcards from someone anonymous. It creates that sense of mystery and encourages the audience to want to know more about who is sending them these messages.
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 suggests that novels try to represent an entire country at a particular moment in time. As such, they involve multiple storylines and a large cast.
2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
The trailer shows multiple different families from different backgrounds who are all receiving these postcards from someone anonymous. It creates that sense of mystery and encourages the audience to want to know more about who is sending them these messages.
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?
2) What does the article suggest regarding the setting of Capital?
Setting the drama entirely in the capital city might enrage those who see the UK as being too London-centric, but it makes sense in the context of a multi-stranded production. London sucks in people from around the country and around the globe.
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 representations of good versus bad, rich versus poor and industrious versus feckless make for straightforward drama.
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. But, it can try and expose them in different ways. The unseen shadowy figure in episode one comes across not so much as a criminal but as a Banksy-style urban artist. If the state-of-the-nation is in some ways unseen, perhaps the job of the artist is to make it clear. Perhaps that is just what Capital is trying to do.
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. The interactions between the characters reflect the tensions between different cultures and costume is used to quickly communicate the different character roles.
2) Focusing on the industrial contexts, how does Capital help the BBC meet its obligations as a public service broadcaster?
Capital was produced for the BBC, and fulfils the requirements of a public service broadcaster. The BBC are primarily funded by the licence fee, and has a set of values and public purposes that govern the content that is produced. Fundamentally the BBC seek to educate, inform and entertain.
Capital was produced for the BBC, and fulfils the requirements of a public service broadcaster. The BBC are primarily funded by the licence fee, and has a set of values and public purposes that govern the content that is produced. Fundamentally the BBC seek to educate, inform and entertain.
3) What do we learn about the ownership structure for production company Kudos?
The ownership of Kudos reflects a horizontally integrated company.
4) How can David Hesmondhalgh ideas in The Cultural Industries be linked to Capital and Kudos?
In the cultural industries, Hesmondhalgh discusses how companies can mitigate the risk of producing media products through horizontal and vertical integration. Kudos which produced capital, is a horizontally integrated company showing how they have chosen to reduce the risk that is caused by producing capital.
5) How does the factsheet suggest Capital meets the genre conventions of crime and social realism?
Capital fits well within these two genres, and uses generic conventions from both areas. It reflects genre development, and contains aspects of crime genre and social realism.
The ownership of Kudos reflects a horizontally integrated company.
4) How can David Hesmondhalgh ideas in The Cultural Industries be linked to Capital and Kudos?
In the cultural industries, Hesmondhalgh discusses how companies can mitigate the risk of producing media products through horizontal and vertical integration. Kudos which produced capital, is a horizontally integrated company showing how they have chosen to reduce the risk that is caused by producing capital.
5) How does the factsheet suggest Capital meets the genre conventions of crime and social realism?
Capital fits well within these two genres, and uses generic conventions from both areas. It reflects genre development, and contains aspects of crime genre and social realism.
6) How does the factsheet analyse the DVD packaging and what this communicates to the audience?
The DVD cover uses the same promotional images that feature in media pack, website and press coverage. This creates the recognisable brand for the audience. It also shows the London skyline which makes the setting also easily recognisable.
The DVD cover uses the same promotional images that feature in media pack, website and press coverage. This creates the recognisable brand for the audience. It also shows the London skyline which makes the setting also easily recognisable.
7) Look at page 5 of the factsheet. Choose one of the audience theories in the table and apply it to Capital.
You could apply Blumler and Katz' uses and gratifications specifically personal identification especially since there are so many different characters that are portrayed. People are able to identify themselves with a character within the text.
8) What does the factsheet suggest regarding binary oppositions in Capital?
Capital uses binary oppositions throughout to highlight the difference or inequality in Pepys Road, and then raise questions about inequality in London more widely.
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, ageing etc. Feel free to use bullet points for each scene - a summary of your notes is fine.
1: London viewed as multi-cultural, overpopulated
You could apply Blumler and Katz' uses and gratifications specifically personal identification especially since there are so many different characters that are portrayed. People are able to identify themselves with a character within the text.
8) What does the factsheet suggest regarding binary oppositions in Capital?
Capital uses binary oppositions throughout to highlight the difference or inequality in Pepys Road, and then raise questions about inequality in London more widely.
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, ageing etc. Feel free to use bullet points for each scene - a summary of your notes is fine.
1: London viewed as multi-cultural, overpopulated
Montage that tells the story of Petunia, radical view of Islam
Ageing of the old lady, depressing lighting, loneliness in old age
2: Office in central London, noisy and cramped on the train
Fairly international work space, male dominated
Hierarchical structure, competitive work environment
3: Middle-class life/house
Wife (Arabella) slightly annoyed with Roger with his bonus
4: Cramped apartment with many people
Christian as Quentina attends her church
Traffic warden, low paying job, illegally working
Scared to return back to her home, Zimbabwe as she may be killed
5: Office in London
Roger being told his bonus in only 30 000
Voice over, time lapse of him after receiving his bonus
6: Corner shop
Family business, talks about dad being the provider to the family
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?
In capital you come across multiple different stereotypes that can be associated with urban neighbourhoods. It shows different social classes, different cultures, and multiple challenged brought upon the characters.
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 owner.
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?
In capital you come across multiple different stereotypes that can be associated with urban neighbourhoods. It shows different social classes, different cultures, and multiple challenged brought upon the characters.
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 owner.
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.
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