Sophie’s 4 q’s

Are there any example of where this genre has included controversial subject matter? A TV Crime Drama that includes controversial topics is the American series, ‘The Sopranos’, created by David Chase. The show has received considerable attention from critics and journalists for willingness to deal with difficult and controversial subjects including crime, gender roles, family, and American and Italian American culture. The show has been frequently criticized for allegedly portraying negative stereotypes about Italian Americans. In 2000, Essex County officials denied producers permission to film on county-owned property, arguing that the show depicts Italian Americans in a "less than favourable light.“ The creator of the show has defended it, saying that it is not meant to stereotype all Italian Americans, only to depict a small criminal subculture

What mise-en-scene is typical for this sub genre?Typical mise-en-scene in crime dramas include:• Detectives black gloves• Police badges• A victim’s blood• Files• Computers• Weapons e.g. guns, knives etc..• Microscopes• General forensic equipment• Police cars• Ambulances• CCTV cameras• Locations such as hospitals, offices, police stations, prison cells and court rooms• Low key lighting for mystery and suspicion• High key lighting for revealing

• Tense, apprehensive scores usually fast pace• Sound effects such as gun shots, and police sirens.• Shaky camera movements to mirror the distress on

screen, made by using a handheld camera• Shots through CCTV cameras• Dark clothes, mostly black worn by most characters• Overpowering, dominant body language from the

detective/police• Vulnerable body language from the victim

Common themes? The plot of this genre of TV drama normally centres around solving a crime (murder, attack, burglary ect.) The story usually follows the characters in the show that solves these crimes, conventionally detectives and police. It is typical that the crime the programme is themed around is not solved until the end of the program/series. The program shall tend to begin with an enigma that needs to be solved – a crime has been committed, by who and why? Another convention of this drama is ‘A red herring’ – meaning the wrong person is arrested. On top of this, there is usually some personal drama to do with the detective/polices family, marriage or job. A typical setting for this genre is Urban areas and cities, but also sometimes in the countryside where there is the factor of isolation.

What mood/atmosphere is common in this genre?The aim when creating a Crime series to is create a tense, dramatic atmosphere which constantly hints that there is danger and/or a revelation approaching on screen. This can be achieved by casting a abnormal, intimidating antagonist who fills with audience with suspicion and fear, and a protagonist who acts a hero within the plot who shall make the audience feel reassured and safe. The score of the series also plays a key part in the atmosphere of the show. Crime series typically have a fast paced, dramatic, tense score that aims to get the audience’s heart beating faster as it gives them an adrenaline rush – the action on screen must match the score by being fast paced, unexpected and always keeping the audience on their feet. Sounds incorporated into the score may be the genre conventions of police sirens, gun shots and screams. Low key lighting is also used predominantly in this subgenre of TV drama as it creates a mysterious atmosphere which hides things from the audiences view, making them imagine what is happening – hoping they shall jump to the worst conclusion.

Jenna’s Q’sRecap codes and conventions with examples:Codes and conventions are the key elements needed to make a production fit under a specific genre. There are many different sub genres that require codes and conventions to be separated. The codes and conventions for a crime drama carry similar conventions for a thriller. Some of these conventions are as follows:

Location:- A common location for a crime drama displayed in TV dramas on TV now days is a well-known area like a city or capital. This is because of the busy surroundings of which stereotypically have a high crime rate or because the place is recognisable to the viewers. TV drams such as the UK crime drama “Luther” displays. This TV drama is set in a city. TV crime drams such as “”Sherlock” is set in London.

A chase:- Most crime dramas incorporate a chase of sorts; usually a car chase. This is usually related to the good chasing the bad. This can be conveyed in the form of the police chasing their villain. A chase is also a code and convention of the thriller genre as it creates suspense for the audience. Crime TV dramas such as “CSI” contain car chases as a reoccurring theme in their episodes.Props:- A lot of TV crime dramas have involvement with props that can be harmful such as knifes or guns. These are because they have an element of danger.

The villain (protagonist):- the villain in a crime TV drama would usually have some unidentified problems that will be revealed at the very end of the film. This is a difference to the thriller genre where as in thrillers, the villain is always known to the audience in the beginning. Investigation series such as 2Lie to me” display the prolonged unknowing and the progressive unfolding of the villain in each of the episodes.

The hero (protagonist):- In crime drams, the hero is the one who saves everyone will have a partner. They’re usually displayed as very intelligent and serious about their position. This makes the theme of the show very complex and make the crimes committed very complex .

Characters will usually include someone vulnerable and gangs. This leads to crimes. The theme of crime would usually be linked with murder/dramas. Other occurring themes would be to do with family of the protagonist and a private life becoming public. A high level od crimes committed are usually done by those the hero protagonist knows; conveying betrayal.

What binary opposites feature in the subgenre?

Binary opposites:- “The way opposites are used to create interest in media text, such as good/bad, coward/hero, young/age, black/white…”The use of binary opposites are used to convey conflict within the narrative of which would bee seen as statistic opposites. The theorist Levi-Strauss suggested that conflict drives narrative, so it is made up of a series of binary oppositions. Some examples of with would be:• Good / evil• The maverick detective / the traditional detective who

goes by the book• Male / female• Older / younger• Black / white• Police / criminal• Police / lawyer or solicitor• Power / vulnerability• Chaos /order• Criminal activity / decent citizenship• Justice / injustice

What stereotypes and archetypes are typical for the crime subgenre?Stereotypes:- Media industries use stereotypes because the audience will instantly understand them. Having a stereotype for a certain group of people leave others linking appearance and behaviours with their labels. Archetypes:- This is the ultimate stereotype.

Examples of stereotypes would be:Emo; linked with wearing all black and spikes. Listen to very heavy music (usually have emotional messages). They’re also usually conveyed as emotionally unstable .Chav; linked with wearing track suit bottoms or full tracksuits. Wear gold chains and speak improper with slang. They’re usually linked with listening to rap music.

Stereotypes are used in the making of crime TV dramas. These are usually under the hero and villain characters.The hero is always seen as being very intellectual and usually good looking. Detectives are usually linked to the Sherlock holms look with a long trench coat and determination in the personality. They usually have some for of emotional weakness; whether it is solo work or family related. The villains are usually seen as rough and not as intelligent. In may films and TV shows, the villain is usually Russian or some sort of foreign orientation. They can be seen dressed in black to convey they’re dark and work in the shadows.

Are there any stock characters?Stock characters: “A stock character is a character that features only ONE motivation that 'consumes' his or her personality.”

When creating the main character to any sort of production, the characters personality and how they're perceived is a key element that the creators have to take into consideration. Stock characters are those that do not have many key elements that are attached to them. These characters would be seen as back ground characters or filler characters that may only star in an episode. Many TV crime drams have different crimes every episode, this opens a window to a large amount of stock characters as these characters will not be seen again after the episode. For example, the family to a murder. They’re seen in duration of time it takes for the detective to fine who committed the crime; then they leave.