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