daffyd's media coursework - Mr Bush

  1) Find one positive aspect and one criticism of  Deutschland 83  in the reviews. One positive from the reviews is that Deutschland 83 is presented as an exciting and tense spy drama, with a strong sense of danger that keeps the audience interested. One criticism is that it can feel a bit simple at times, especially when compared to other spy shows, meaning it doesn’t always explore ideas or characters in great depth. 2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show? The second article explains that German audiences didn’t respond well mainly because the show deals with their own recent history, which can be uncomfortable or sensitive. It also suggests that the tone of the show, which sometimes feels light or entertaining, may not match how some Germans think this period should be represented. As a result, it didn’t attract many viewers in Germany even though it was popular in other countries. 3) Find three 'below the line' comments fro...

  1) Re-read the  Mail Online review of  Capital . Why does it suggest that  Capital  features a left-wing ideology? The review argues that Capital presents wealthy characters negatively while showing immigrants and working-class residents sympathetically, suggesting criticism of wealth inequality and modern capitalism. 2) Choose  three  quotes from the review that are particularly critical of  Capital  and paste them into your blogpost. Do you agree with the criticisms? Why? “A heavy-handed lecture about multicultural London.” “Another example of the BBC’s liberal agenda.” “The rich are portrayed as shallow while immigrants are moral victims.” Partly — the programme clearly highlights inequality and social division, but this reflects real social issues rather than simply promoting political bias. It can also be seen as social realism rather than propaganda. 3) What scenes or characters from  Capital  could be read as promoting lef...

  1) What positive points does the review pick out about  Capital ?  What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel? Capital is praised as a “complicated and brilliant portrait of London life” in a BBC1 adaptation of the novel — it captures a lot of the city’s diversity and inequalities within one street. The review highlights how much of London’s social mix is shown — from long-time residents and immigrant families to wealthy bankers and younger characters with different lifestyles and views. Sam Wollaston describes the drama as instantly recognisable — the lives and interactions of characters feel familiar to anyone who knows modern London. 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? The Guardian review doesn’t offer strong negative criticism, but by describing it as complicated , it suggests the story has lots of layers and differ...

  1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition. A serial television drama is a TV programme told across multiple episodes where storylines continue from episode to episode, often with ongoing characters, long-term narratives and cliff-hangers. 2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time? Coronation Street (1960– ) Z-Cars (1962–78) Hill Street Blues (1980s) Twin Peaks (1990s) The Sopranos (1999–2007) 3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your  own example  of an existing TV drama to fit each category. Crime drama → Line of Duty Police drama → Blue Lights / The Bill Medical drama → Casualty Period drama → Bridgerton Teen drama → Sex Education Sci-fi drama → Stranger Things 4) Why is setting so important for TV drama? Setting helps establish realism, genre and tone. It shapes the narrative, reflects themes and social context, and...

 1) Film Industry: Introduction to the British film industry 2) Film Industry: Blinded By The Light case study 3) Film regulation and the BBFC - blog tasks

  1) Research the  BBFC  in more detail.  This  BBFC Wikipedia page  may help. What is the institution responsible for?  How is it funded?  What link does it have to government?  The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is the UK’s independent regulator responsible for classifying films, trailers, and some online content to help audiences make informed viewing choices and to protect children from harmful or unsuitable material . It examines content using classification guidelines based on public consultation, considering issues such as violence, language, sex, drugs, and threat. The BBFC is funded by fees charged to film distributors who submit works for classification, not by the government. However, it works within UK law (e.g. the Video Recordings Act) and local authorities have the final legal power over film exhibition in cinemas, meaning the BBFC is independent but operates in a regulatory partnership with government and loc...