Reviews and features
Read the following review and feature on Capital:
Read the following review and feature on 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?
They have managed to squeeze an incredible amount into one street, especially what is both amazing and awful about that area. The representation of the neighbourhood in Capital is almost a reflection of what neighbourhoods in London are like. London is at the centre of greed, mistrust and hatred. The novel received large amounts praise from critics, and its themes remain relevant to modern society even now.
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?
They show that Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama through the housing market across London. Capital offers metaphors for London at large, but it also feels real in the portrayal of its characters from those who struggle economically (global markets, human behaviour, goods and services) and financially (banks, loans, investments, savings)
They show that Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama through the housing market across London. Capital offers metaphors for London at large, but it also feels real in the portrayal of its characters from those who struggle economically (global markets, human behaviour, goods and services) and financially (banks, loans, investments, savings)
Trailer analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
- close ups and medium shots introduces the main characters with medium shots and what they do for their job
- long shot of the neighbourhood
- Bird's Eye view shows the compact neighbourhoods of London
We see the inside of the characters houses as well as them eating and casual house life actions. We also see the types of casual clothing that the characters wear. A close relationship can be seen by the characters facial expressions, them having a good time and a bond.
3) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
The trailer introduces the main characters of the series with what what they do, the jobs they do as well as a slight insight on their family lives. There is also several close-up shots of the "WE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE" postcards which tells the audience that a group of people are getting these postcards. This creates not only confusion among the characters who are receiving the same cards but enigma codes as the audience is unclear on what they have.
The trailer introduces the main characters of the series with what what they do, the jobs they do as well as a slight insight on their family lives. There is also several close-up shots of the "WE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE" postcards which tells the audience that a group of people are getting these postcards. This creates not only confusion among the characters who are receiving the same cards but enigma codes as the audience is unclear on what they have.
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.
Scene 1:
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.
Scene 1:
- Diversity of the people in the neighbourhood.
- Bird's Eye shot of London
- Old lady speaks positively of London, also says her husband wouldn't love how London has changed
- Flashbacks/Montage shows the her life with her family over time
- house price inflation - Historical Context
- Can be viewed as entrepreneur due to ownership of corner shop
- Traditional Gender Roles - Women look after the children while the men are the break makers of the family
- "He'll be volunteering for Syria"; Stereotypes Muslims who go to Syria to join ISIS
Scene 2:
- Birds eye of city allows us to see how congested the city is.
- Wealth is shown by the large skyscrapers at the centre of London
- White privileged men in banking: Earning 6 digits - Upper Middle Class
- Competitive environment - Old Vs Young employees
- Greed shown by Roger's constant mentioning of a bonus
Scene 3:
- Cost of living
- Traditional gender stereotypes; Roger being the breadwinner and Arabella looking after of kids
- “You’d be surprised at how little £1m covers these days.” Shows how privileged the upper middle class is, particularly this family.
- “Maybe we should get Pinker Lloyd to pay Bogdan my bonus directly…”
- May be a loveless marriage - When Roger talks about not spending money, Arabella says "A lecture on thrift does not constitute foreplay."
Scene 4:
- Quentina narrative emphasises the opposite side of London compared to Roger
- Black female lawyer - subverts the usual representation of lawyers
- Binary Opposition shown for the lives white people in London compared to black people in London.
- Quentina narrative emphasises the inequality in London - “I worked overtime” - but only takes £200 home when she worked to get £300.
- Why people come to London - Binary opposition in the reasons for Quentina to Lothar. She is just trying to survive “If I go home I will be killed.
- Roger completely destroyed by 30 grand bonus shows the white privilege that Roger has as he expected 6/7 figures as well as ungratefulness for the money he earns.
- Audio and camerawork used to emphasise the difference between rich and poor in London helps create sympathy towards Quentina
Scene 6:
- Scene with Arabella in corner shop - Shows the lack of connection between Ahmed and Arabella as she never goes to that shop. Shows divide between class
- Mise-en-scene of the dinner table scene - Kamal family are all sitting around the table eating dinner with each other, even video calling Kamal's mother to join then. In contrast, we never see Roger's family together around the table having a meal
- Social class - Arabella doesn’t know how to react when the Kamal family give the coriander for free. Working class values of helping out a neighbour seem completely alien to Arabella. Reflects the difference between rich and poor - emphasises the negative representation of the rich.
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?
Pakistani stereotypes of their families running corner shops is one of the stereotypes. Another stereotype is Roger and his family which reflect a stereotypical, white, middle-class family The stereotype of immigrants being lazy and unwilling to work to live is subverted by Quentina, the Pakistani family, and Bogdan.
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?
Banijay UK
2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?
The Spy Drama Spooks
3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?
SAS Rouge Heroes
2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?
The Spy Drama Spooks
3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?
SAS Rouge Heroes
Code 404
Deep Water
Then you Run
Grandchester
Winner of 2021 British Academy Scotland awards and Nominee 2020 writers guild of Great Britain - Tin Star
Winner 2021 Venice TV best comedy and nominee Rose D'or 2020 Comedy drama and sitcom - Two Weeks to Live
Nominee Bafta TV awards best single drama and winner of 2 international emmy awards Best TV movie/mini series and best performance by an actor, and nominee Bafta TV craft breathrough talent - Responsible Child
Nominee RTS craft 2020 music original score and nominee 2020 british academy director fiction Lynsey Miller TV scripted - Dead Water Fell
4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer?
Interest is kept through the varying genres
Media Products contain a Range of Diversity
Gives the Audience a sense of escapism
Provided with relatable characters in relatable situation
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?
Uses the main characters name and it also mentioned that the star in BAFTA-winning Peter Bowker’s adaptation of John Lanchester’s critically acclaimed and bestselling novel Capital, produced by Kudos for BBC One. In addition it gives an exciting introduction to the narrative of the series and what it's about.
2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?
Because directors and producers usually have loyal audiences, so creations of the same director and producer my attract fans.
3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?
4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?
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?
6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain?
Question: Do you think that the Kamal Family is a fair representation of what it’s like to be an Asian family in Britain now?
Because directors and producers usually have loyal audiences, so creations of the same director and producer my attract fans.
3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?
Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One
4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?
Roger isn't an evil character, or a bad person, he is mainly complacent. He has educated himself and has worked hard to gain the lifestyle that he has, but on another level something is happening to him that he can't describe to others as it is a new feeling to him. It makes us realise that even though he lives what we would call a luxurious life, his life isn't all that luxurious.
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?
One of the problems is that some people within a community, people can feel isolated in it They feel like outsiders even in the community they belong in.
6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain?
Question: Do you think that the Kamal Family is a fair representation of what it’s like to be an Asian family in Britain now?
Her answer: I think so. If you look at the subject of Capital, and the number of communities that are being represented, there’s awareness that the world is shrinking, and becoming a global village. We are absorbing cultures, and understanding them, or at least trying to understand them within their own paradigms.
7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?
Christmas morning where Roger has been abandoned with his two children as it is a life changing situation for him but it is done in a funny manner. He also love the Kamals’ chaotic family meals as they are situations that people can relate to.
It speaks to Derek Wax by where London and the country is now. The obsession with property, the fact that London house prices have risen extraordinarily, has only intensified the sense of a society of haves and have-nots. Everyone’s connection to money is explored but then the novel expands to ask what life’s real value is, and it does this with a very deft, light touch.
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?
By talking about how it's "From the makers of Humans and Broadchurch", it can attract an audience from those who liked Humans and Broadchurch.
2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?
2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?
It shows the main characters, some with serious facial expressions others with a happy smiling. This hints at the fact it may a multi-strand narrative.
3) How are review quotes used on the cover and what do they suggest to the audience about sub-genre, narrative and audience pleasures?
"Insightful and moving... a compelling portrait of modern Britain" tells the audiences that the series talks about modern problems in London
"A dazzling, able cast.. before you know it, the story has got you gripped" suggests that each characters story is told to an impeccable level
4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?
4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?
It shows the most popular attractions in London
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