Top 10 US Crime Dramas
Top 10 UK Crime Dramas
Watch the two TV crime drama montages and fill in the Crime Drama Spidergram as we proceed.
FILL IN THE CRIME DRAMA GENERIC CONVENTIONS SPIDERGRAM – US CRIME DRAMAS
CRIME DRAMA
GENERIC CONVENTIONS
REPRESENTATIONS
CAMERAWORK
MISE-EN- SCENE
NARRATIVE
/ PLOTS
SOUND / MUSIC
/ DIALOGUE
STEREOTYPICAL
CHARACTERS
FILL IN THE CRIME DRAMA GENERIC CONVENTIONS SPIDERGRAM – UK CRIME DRAMAS
CRIME DRAMA
GENERIC CONVENTIONS
REPRESENTATIONS
CAMERAWORK
MISE-EN- SCENE
NARRATIVE
/ PLOTS
SOUND / MUSIC
/ DIALOGUE
STEREOTYPICAL
CHARACTERS
Crime Drama Conventions
• Please make a list of what the main US crime drama conventions are.
• Please make a list of what the main UK crime drama conventions are.
• Summarise the differences.
Crime Drama Conventions – at a glance
Luther – Create Character Profiles of these 4 characters
Name:
Role in Narrative:
Dress code / Appearance:
Personality:
Stereotype / Countertype:
Traditional / Modern traits:
DCI John LutherAlice MorganDCI Ian ReedDSU Rose Teller
DCI John LutherAlice Morgan
DCI Ian Reed
DSU Rose Teller
In your books …
•Explore how Luther’s creator uses verisimilitude*.•Compare it to examples in other works on television.•How true are the characters that appear in the episode, are they stereotypical or do they possess different qualities to make them true to life?*Oxford Dictionary definition: The
appearance of being true or real.
Task: Write a 100 word analysis of the picture explaining how the mise-en-scene allows us to read the shot.
Luther & Narrative Exercises
What kind of narrative pathway is used in Luther?
Can you identify what they 5 key stages of the narrative are in relation to the episode?1. Exposition 2. Development3. Complication4. Climax5. Resolution
Consider Propp’s character theory, can you identify the 8 roles?1. Hero2. Villain3. Helper4. Dispatcher5. Donor6. Princess7. Father8. False Hero
Luther and Narrative – Resource Sheets
Read the Luther Case Study and answer the worksheet questions.
1. What does the article suggest are the main traits of Luther, Alice, Reed & Teller?
2. What style of Crime Drama is Luther?
3. What does it suggest is the appeal of the show?
4. What is distinct about the cinematography?
5. What does the article say about stereotyping of race and gender?
6. What do audiences say about the show?
7. What was the BBC’s response?
8. What elements do you think helps anchor the show in the present day?
Read the Luther Case Study and answer the worksheet questions.
Component 2 Section A: TV Crime Drama Mock Exam Style Questions
Instructions: Watch the 5 minute clip twice & make notes.
Spend 45 minutes answering all three questions.
Media Language
• 1 a) Explore the connotations of the costume of two characters in the Luther extract. [8]
• 1b) How far are the characters in the Luther extract typical of the genre? Explore two characters. [12]
Media Contexts
• 2) How do crime dramas reflect the time in which they are made? Refer to the examples you have studied (Luther & The Sweeney) to support your response. [10]
SWEENEY CHARACTER PROFILES
• Name
• Role in narrative
• Dress code
• Keys Props
• Traditional / Stereotypical
• Name
• Role in narrative
• Dress code
• Keys Props
• Traditional / Stereotypical
SWEENEY CHARACTER PROFILES
• Name
• Role in narrative
• Dress code
• Keys Props
• Traditional / Stereotypical
• Name
• Role in narrative
• Dress code
• Keys Props
• Traditional / Stereotypical
Cast of Sweeney #1
Cast of Sweeney #2
Cast of Sweeney –labelling the stereotypes
• The vicious thug
• The Local Kingpin
• The layabout
• The old guard veteran
• The damsel in distress
• The no-nonsense ‘tough cop’ alpha male.
• The tart with a heart
• The ‘innocent’ wife
• Old school career criminal
• The petty thief
• The streetwise ‘good cop’ sidekick.
• The stuffy pen-pusher
• The Dodgy Lawyer
• The Crook’s dumb mate
Write these stereotypical crime drama descriptions beneath the names of the Sweeney cast #1 & #2.
NARRATIVE 5 ACT STRUCTUREIDENTIFY :1. EXPOSITION2. DEVELOPMENT3. COMPLICATION4. CLIMAX5. RESOLUTON
THEN TRY TO APPLY PROPP’S 8 CHARACTER THEORY TO THE SWEENEY
1. Hero2. Villain3. Helper4. Dispatcher5. Donor6. Princess7. Father8. False Hero
NARRATIVE IN THE SWEENEY
122
5444
33
NARRATIVE 5 ACT STRUCTUREIDENTIFY :1. EXPOSITION2. DEVELOPMENT3. COMPLICATION4. CLIMAX5. RESOLUTON
THEN TRY TO APPLY PROPP’S 8 CHARACTER THEORY TO THE SWEENEY
1. Hero2. Villain3. Helper4. Dispatcher5. Donor6. Princess7. Father8. False Hero
NARRATIVE IN THE SWEENEY
122
5444
33
Sweeney and Narrative – Resource Sheets
SILENT READING – THESE WILL HELP YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF NARRATIVE AND REPRESENTATION
ADDRESS THESE REPRESENTATION QUESTIONS IN YOUR BOOK.
COPY THE KEY TERM INTO YOUR BOOK AND THEN SAY HOW IT IS ADDRESSED IN THE SWEENEY.
THEMES IN THE SWEENEY
Match up the industry terms and definitions
THEMES IN LUTHER
Component 2 Section A: TV Crime Drama Mock Exam Style QuestionsInstructions: Watch the 5 minute clip twice & make notes.Spend 45 minutes answering all three questions.Media Language• 1 a) Explore the connotations of the costume
of two characters in the Luther extract. [8]• 1b) How far are the characters in the Luther
extract typical of the genre? Explore two characters. [12]
Media Contexts• 2) How do crime dramas reflect the time in
which they are made? Refer to the examples you have studied (Luther & The Sweeney) to support your response. [10]
Mock Question Guidance
Media Language
• 1 a) Explore the connotations of the costume of two characters in the Luther extract. [8]
• 1b) How far are the characters in the Luther extract typical of the genre? Explore two characters. [12]
Media Contexts
• 2) How do crime dramas reflect the time in which they are made? Refer to the examples you have studied (Luther & The Sweeney) to support your response. [10]
NOTESFemale Victim
Femme Fatale KillerTough Black Cop
Mise-en-scene (everything in scene)
Dress CodesProps – Cars / Guns
Attitudes to ViolenceAttitudes to Race
Attitudes to Gender
Mock Question – Peer AssessmentPlease use the Answer Sheets to Mark
your Peers
Please use green pen to mark
9 : 27-308: 24-267: 21-236: 19-205: 15-184: 12-143: 9-112: 5 - 81: 1 - 4