Capital: Case study

 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?

They write about the impressive casts and how John Lancaster's novel of the same name offered a hilarious and incisive look at the boom-and-bust economics of 2007 and 2008 as the backdrop for its characters. It received significant praise from critics, and its themes remain disappointingly relevant almost a decade later. However it argues how The TV adaptation is set in present day, 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. As well as this, it explores how London’s economy affects us all, which sounds a bit dull – but come back. The characters are relatable and well-drawn, and the mystery about who’s sending the notes will have you gripped.

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 illustrates modern day city of London through the bonkers housing market and increased rates of gentrification across. This showcase that Capitals ideas still stansd, whereas, this drama only offers a small metaphor of the larger London , making it feel realistic as possible by the portrayal of a variety of characters and the financial economical struggles faced by the people.

Trailer analysis

Watch the trailer for Capital:

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

The camerawork mostly captures London life by presenting the city with a variety of  top view,drone shots of the neighbourhood. The trailer also included wide/long shots to show building structures and the ddiversity of houses on the street.

2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?

Th diversity of London is showcase where families with different backgrounds all continuously receive postcards that say 'WE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE'. This anonymous person creates mystery and tension towards the audience who question who might be sending these postcards out.

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?

The novels is attempting to represent an entire country at a particular moment in time. This shows the vast cast and multiple timelines for each family.

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

Capital is set in the main city, London which can be of annoyance to people who view the UK as too London-centric. However, globally London is given much praise attracting a wider audience.

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

One of the main themes tackled is immigration where they explore Quintana a Zimbabwean-born traffic warden. there are also some inclusions of a polish builder and foreign-born nannies.

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

There are many different representations, mostly including the rich and poor this is between Rodgers family and the Pakistani family empathises the different status in the city.. There is also good and evil where we are able to see this through the anonymous person sending postcards.

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

The drama initially focuses towards the true event of the financial crisis where the banks are seen as criminals showing how difficult it is to uncover their activities due to hiding from society which is all uncovered through Capital.  Exposing these actions is one way, however there is also an unseen figure presented in the first episode coming across as the intentional criminal where in reality they are a Bansky-style urban artist. It seems that the producer has made it this artists job to make it clear of the true criminal identity in London.

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 are demonstrate the nation aspect of the drama where the interactions reflect the tension  between different cultures where costume is used to reflect each characters role and status.

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

Capital was originally produced for the BBC, achieveing the requirements of the public service broadcasting. The BBC is funded by the licence fee needing to meet certain values and it motto of educate, entertain, inform.

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

The production company Kudos ownership reflects the horizontal integrated company.

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

David Hesmondhalgh ideas of The cultural Industry communicate how companies can use horizontal and vertical integration to mitigate the risk of producing media products.  This can be linked to company Kudos as it produced Capital through horizontal integrated company in order to reduce risk for production.

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

Capital uses generic conventions as it contains aspects of the crime genre by including the anonymous person who sends out threatening messages and social realism by portraying daily life of different families in London.

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

The fact sheet describes the DVD by writing how it includes the same promotional image that is features in media pack, websites and press coverage. This makes a recognisable image and brand for the audience to instantly recognise.

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

Blumler and Katzs' uses and gratifications is used where we can use personal identity and relationship with characters who we relate to or feel emotionally attached to because of their financial struggles.

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

There are many uses of binary oppositions in the drama Capital as they highlight the differences/inequality on the street, raising questions about London being a diverse city.

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

-gentrification increase in house prices

-social mobility of wealthy in black and white

-Muslims seen as strict

- Petunia sympathetic character and open to immigration

-loneliness of ageing

Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10

-authentic London life on train, struggle and commute

-male dominated city

-lack of female representation

-Rodger and Lothar backtalking Mark, no idea what he's talking about

-Lother9boss0 is a German European white immigrant

-financial difference and crash

Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35

-expected Dodger make all the money, reinforces tradition stereotypes

-bankers pay increase

-various rooms, detached from society

-£1 million doesn't cover much for them

-wealthy on different level

Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40

-Lothar here for money comparison to Quintina here for safety

-austerity, London 2010

-crowded family sound of baby

-exploited by boss, commission and demands kiss

-illegal immigrant and worker

-political point asylum seekers should be allowed to work

-being deported might get killed/raped

-fake identity and sympathise with situation

Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00 

-Fast paced edit of Rodger shows state of mind

-in comparisons to Quintina theres white male privileges

-expected more money

-reflect nature of global capitalism

Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55

-London social mobility

-driven by immigrants as desire success due to family backgrounds

-family dinner overcrowded

-coriander for free women shocked at kindness without dep't

-she's never gone to corner shop even living on the street

-Islam extremism, racist comments to each other

-Kamal family close-knitted

-comparison never seen Dodger family together
 
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?

There is a reinforcement of traditional white male stereotypes for Rodger as he is expected to be making money and working hard as the man of the house while his wife spends it. The old lady reinforces loneliness however subverts typical ideologies towards her being racist and she instead accepts immigrants unlike her husband. The Kamal's family reinforces south Asian household of being overcrowded as well as owning a corner shop in London. Quintina is seen as a powerful black women who is sympathised with instead of anger and dangerous.

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 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?

Kudos has produced 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.