peaky blinders

Question 1

(genre) define genre?

Answer 1

• the type of media text, for example, television crim drama.

Question 2

(genre) define conventions?

Answer 2

• the genre of the text is recognisable to an audience by having a set shared of characteristics/conventions. including: characters, iconography, narrative, technical & audio codes & representations.

Question 3

(genre) define subgenre?

Answer 3

• within the overall genre of television crime drama there will be groups of programmes that share similar conventions, for example forensic crim drama.

Question 3

(genre) define hybrid genre

Answer 3

• some programmes share the conventions of more than one genre. EG Johnathan Creek is a crime drama with elements of paranormal

Question 4

(genre) Neale’s genre theory ? (3)

Answer 4

• repetition & change, variation, difference.
• genres change & develop & vary - borrow & overlap with one and other
  -specific economic, institutional, & industrial contexts.

Question 5

(genre) why do genres change? (5)

Answer 5

• changes in target audience
• industry & drive for profit
• changes in what society will accept
• changes in technology
• changes in dominant ideology & representations

Question 6

(genre) gangster genre conventions

Answer 6

• organised crime and the violence in perspective of criminal.
• activities of criminal gangs
• rise & fall narrative: a lavish lifestyle - falling victim to the authorities or other gangsters
• charismatic figure - anti-hero (audience encouraged to identify with him )
• past trauma: law breaking & violence.
• law enforcement figures antagonists (police or government) dominant ideologies changed.
• undercover agents
• hangouts or meeting points, gangster’s office.
• costumes & props: wealth with purchasing sharp suits.
• themes: crime, loyalty, family, power.

Question 7

(genre) peaky blinders - genre? subgenre? hybrid genre?

Answer 7

• crime drama
• gangster
• gangster, westerns, & period drama.

Question 8

(genre) gangster genre change?

Answer 8

• changes in society
• 1930s as a result of prohibition in the USA and the popularity of Al Calpone
• gangsters being glorified, so punished at the end - dominant ideology: crime doesn’t pay.
• messages complex, fate of gangsters were unpredictable.
• violence more graphic.
• representation of women, traditionally: mother or the moll, now: powerful.
• although set in the past, produced in contemporary context, effects of war and PTSD.
• changes of British period drama: industrial setting and the Birmingham w/c.

Question 9

(narrative) Todorov’s narratology theory? (4)

Answer 9

• all narratives share basic structure, involves movement from 1 equilibrium to another.
• 2 states separated by period of imbalance/disequilibrium.
• narratives can be resolved can have a particular ideological significance.
• equilibrium - disruption - recognition - resolution - equilibrium.

Question 10

(narrative) example of narratology in peaky blinders?

Answer 10

• Danny having PTSD - he hits someone - Italian man wants to kill - Tommy fakes killing Danny - Danny moves away.
• Weapons stolen - creates chaos - Tommy realises significance of weapons - attempt to recover weapons - weapons back.

Question 10

(narrative) Levi-Strauss’ structuralism theory

Answer 10

• texts can be understood through an examination of their underlying structure.
• meaning is dependant upon & produced through binary opposites.
• resolved can create particular ideological significance.

Question 11

(narrative) binary oppositions in peaky blinders?

Answer 11

• loyalty (Tommy) vs Betrayal (Grace)
• Incompetence (Tommy) vs competent (Polly/Arthur)
• war (PTSD) vs peace (present)
• urban vs rural
• law (Campbell) vs crime (Tommy)
• violence (Tommy) vs pacifist.
• communism (Freddie) vs capitalism (Tommy)
• law (Tommy) vs criminal (Arthur) - Campbell beating Arthur, dislikes w/c
• W/C (PB) vs R/C (Winston).

Question 12

(narrative) restricted or unrestricted narrative?

Answer 12

• narrative told from the perspective of a character.
• Tommy / criminal POV, W/C - crime favoured as there’s no legitimate way W/C can other R/C.
• unrestricted knowledge - can see what the law is doing, know Freddie & Ada’s relationship Tommy lying about guns.

Question 13

(narrative) narratives in crime drama ?

Answer 13

• investigative - led.
• driven by suspense or enigmas.
• clear binary opposites w/ the central binary opposition of the police vs criminal. being conventional, gangster: reversed & emphasize criminals.

Question 14

(narrative) Enigma codes?

Answer 14

• questions or mysteries to make audience continue watching.
• create suspense by withholding or delaying answers.
• crime dramas, killers identity until end.

Question 15

(narrative) enigma codes of peaky blinders?

Answer 15

• how will they hide the guns?
• what are the Grace’s connections w/ the police?
• Why did he let Danny live?
• will Tommy find out about Freddie and Adas relationship?

Question 16

(postmodernism) postmodern culture, features?

Answer 16

• Reflexivity: drawing attention to the processes construction.
• Intertextuality & Eclecticism: 1 text making reference to another.
• Bricolage: constructions from a diverse range of things.
• Parody/Pastiche: conventions to create humour vs reminding.
• hyperreality
• irony/knowingness: self awareness.

Question 17

(postmodernism) postmodern conventions?

Answer 17

• hybridity & eclectism: mixes of genres (gangster & crime)
• Intertextuality: referencing western: horses & the godfather & the untouchables
• music isn’t from 1919, set in 1919.