Peaky Blinders representation:

Question 1

how is the violent nature of the Peaky Blinders instantly apparent?

Answer 1

Their violent nature is instantly apparent in the very name of their gang, referring to the razor blades sewn into their peaky caps for easy access and fashionable weapons

Question 2

how do the historical contexts influence the representations of men in Peaky Blinders?

Answer 2

The Peaky blinder’s violent nature is an outdated trope used to reflect masculinity, with the series reflecting the historical context and the post-war years in which the series is set, with many violent occurances commonplace amongst Britain’s male population, reflecting the struggle of being unable to reintegrate into common society after such traumatic events at war. (which is clearly shown through the meta narrative of Danny, who suffers from PTSD and is unable to channel his trauma, causing him to murder a bystander)

Question 3

how do the men of peaky blinders conform to stereotypical male television roles?

Answer 3

-they are physically strong, paired with the mentality of having a ‘stiff upper lip’ which leaves some male characters emotionally vacant.

Question 4

what is one of the main reasons the shelby brothers are so violent?

Answer 4

The Shelby brother’s masculinity is fragile due to the trauma of war, and is therefore one of their ultimate mental weakness

Question 5

How is Tommy Shelby the ‘pinnacle of masculinity?’

Answer 5

• he is the main man driving the action behind the peaky blinders, and his cold hearted ambition and intelligence propels the narrative and characters towards achieving family wealth, status and control in the society of Birmingham (which he has effectively achieved, as Harry, the owner of the Garrison Tavern instructs Grace that Tommy will receive any alcohol he wishes for free, and even the local authorities acknowledge him as he travels through the streets of Birmingham on a black horse in the opening sequences of episode one. Even inspector campbell criticises the police for the fact the men that they touch their caps in respect to are the ‘peaky blinders’)

Question 6

what could Tommy Shelby be considered?

Answer 6

the ideal embodiment of masculinity expectations from the 1920s.

Question 7

what does theorist Feasey suggest?

Answer 7

That in Television, there exists a hegemonic idea that men are to be ‘strong, successful, capable and authoritative’

Question 8

how does Tommy Shelby fit in with theorist Feasey’s ideals about masculinity?

Answer 8

Tommy is all - he is capable, strong, successful and authoritative- we see this through his violent confrontations, his status in Birmingham (acknowledgment with the local authorities, receiving alcohol for free, and having the ability to pay for the damages in the Garrison Tavern after one of Danny’s PTSD episodes) and proves his tenacity through the elaborate plots he concocts (such as faking Danny’s death towards the end of the episode and what he refers as the ‘horse trick’ in the opening sequence) it is also revealed that Tommy was the leader of many of the local men in France, with many still recognising his wartime leadership and following his orders without question due to his respect. (e.g Danny even refers to him as ‘sargent major’ before he is shot, and willingly takes orders from Tommy to do so to prevent a rivarly with the italians )

Question 9

how could be associate fragile masculinity with John and how does this relate to theorist Feasey?

Answer 9

Masculinity can be seen as fragile when male characters must partake in matters which were not traditionally associated with being in the male domain- for example baring the responsibility for looking after children, which is stereotypically the responsibility of a woman. For example, John Shelby expresses that he is defeated in trying to look after his children, and Polly feels sympathy towards him in a sense, but still reminds him that it is his responsibility to ensure that he protects his children from harm and accessing the gun which he left fully loaded for his son to find- ‘ i Know having four kids is hard without a woman, but my boots harder’ This indicates that masculinity has failed to prepare John for the prospects of single parenthood, and Polly seems to agree. This also agrees with theorist Feasey, who argues that the hegemonic ideal of what a man should be does not include single parenting.

Question 10

what effect has the war had on the men of peaky blinders?

Answer 10

A large portion of the male characters in Peaky blinders have been traumatised and haunted by the events which befell them (which we clearly see in Ep 1 as Tommy faces nightmares/flashbacks). Peaky Blinders showcases men which are unable to reintegrate into post-war society, resulting in things such as the large number of men who still consider Tommy to be their leader (e.g Danny refers to Tommy as sargent major) we see this failure to reintegrate into society through the sequence of inspector Campbell in his carriage arriving in Small Heath, witnessing squalor with drunken men and large hoards of violence polluting the streets. When the inspector comes to address the authorities when installing the men from Belfast which have been recruited for the mission of finding the missing guns, he criticises the police for ‘looking the other way’ since the war.

Question 11

what do men in Peaky blinders do to deal with their trauma from war?

Answer 11

abuse alcohol and drugs to aid them

Question 12

what does Cillian Murphy say about the character of Tommy Shelby?

Answer 12

he is deeply traumatised from what he has seen… to improve, he’s self medicating, and boozing, he’s got demons and he’s emotionally crippled.

Question 13

how has masculinity flawed the strength of men in Peaky blinders?

Answer 13

masculinity has flawed the strength of men in Peaky Blinders, with the hegemonic ideas that men shouldn’t discuss their emotional struggles being deemed taboo which has resulted in the poor mental health of an entire generation of men.

Question 14

overall, what is the impact of the representation of men struggling to reintergrate themselves into society after the war?

Answer 14

the representation and acknowledgement of men such as Tommy that have suffered greatly from the war show post modern societies and their growing acceptance of understanding the physcological affects of the war, allowing for the discussion and portrayal of subjects which would have been taboo in both British society and absent from British Television.

Question 15

what must we consider when looking at the representation in Peaky Blinders?

Answer 15

The representations need to reflect the historical context, but must also allow for the BBC to achieve its mission statement in terms of serving the vast communities of the UK in a modern context- it can be argued that the representation of masculinity, femininity, class, and ethnicity are rather complex in Peaky Blinders, and combine elements which align with the historical context and have a modern reshaping of masculinity and modern representations of empowered femininity

Question 16

what does Stuart Hall argue?

Answer 16

Stereotyping occurs when they are inequalities of power within society, often causing minority groups to be marginalised, creating an unrealistic view of the contemporary world. He argues that stereotyping reduces individuals and groups to a few simple and exaggerated characteristics which are often used to establish and maintain power relations

Question 17

how would the representations of the working class relate to Stuart Hall’s ideas?

Answer 17

You could argue that Peaky blinders showcases a multitude of stereotypes relating to those living in under privileged and socially deprived areas, particularly in the midlands and north of Britain, which is rather unusual and degrading considering that it should be within the BBC’s interests to prevent the cultivating of such harmful stereotypes.

Question 18

How does Peaky Blinders challenge the representations of the working class?

Answer 18

the programme also positions audiences to reconsider their preconceived conceptions surrounding working class individuals in socially deprived areas as people who should be ‘pitied’- Knight sought to move beyond traditional narratives that depict such individuals as mere subjects of pity. Instead, he represents characters such as Tommy Shelby as powerful and aspirational figures, challenging societal norms and expectations.

Question 19

how could we relate Stuart Hall’s representation theory to the representation of men and women?

Answer 19

Stuart Hall argues that there are inequalities of power in society, which causes an unrealistic view of the contemporary world. you could argue that there are inequalities of power in relation to the men vs women- whilst Polly and Ada are complex characters with some sense of authority in the opening episode in their own respects, they still operate within traditional gendered frameworks

Question 20

What do Ada and Polly still operate within?

Answer 20

They still operate within traditional gendered frameworks- for example the maternal but violent representation of polly, who merely acts in a ‘masculine’ sphere purely for the purpose of being maternal and caring for Finn, whilst Ada is sexualised in her affair

Question 21

how does the representation of men fit within the historical context?

Answer 21

male characters dominate peaky blinders and fufill almost all the positions of power within the narrative. This is in keeping with the historical contexts of 1920s Britain where patriarchy and suppression of femininity was still apparent. This is to create a convincing and accurate picture of this era, where gender stereotypes are created via inequalities of power.

Question 22

how are stereotypes associated with gangsters fufilled but also challenged?

Answer 22

The gang’s distinctive suits, haircuts and cigarette smoking reflects hyper-masculine, stylish yet dangerous persona, reinforcing stereotypes of the ‘charismatic gangster’. However, you could argue that the common tropes associated with the gangster genre are challenged as Tommy and the Shelby’s appear to be more in the ‘right’ than lawmakers and government officials such as Inspector campbell. Tommy has also gained respect from police in Small heath, which inspector campbell later criticises and he works for the purpose of the people

Question 24

how does Hall argue that stereotypes work?

Answer 24

Hall emphasises that stereotypes work through binary oppositions- civilised vs uncivilised and good vs evil

Question 25

What binary oppositions are there in peaky Blinders?

Answer 25

The Peaky blinders are positioned against Law enforcement, aristocracy and rivals gangs (such as the communist and governmental officials such as inspect campbell) creating a constant 'us Vs them' dynamic. This plays into the idea of working class gangs as both hero and anti-hero, simultaneously glamorous but also dangerous

Question 26

what does Steven Knight argue about the representations of women?

Answer 26

They are empowering representations of women in Peaky Blinders despite the machismo in the gangster genre. This reflects the burst in female independence during WW1, where women 'took over' running the country

Question 27

what does Polly quote during the family meeting scene?

Answer 27

‘this whole bloody enterprise was women’s business while you boys were away at war’.

Question 28

How is Peaky Blinders representative of powerful women, especially polly?

Answer 28

Polly is always quick to voice her concerns and beliefs on how the peaky blinders gang should be run, particularly as she took the reins of the shelby organisation during the war. Her ruthless and independent stance on how the organisation should be run and her fearlessness of challenging the dominant patriarchal family conveys her post feminism construction

Question 29

what is the first time we are introduced to polly?

Answer 29

The first time we are introduced to Polly is during an initial two shot frame which shows polly pointing a gun towards John’s head, confirming her domineering position. A vicious slap to John emasculates him to the ground, and at this point Polly is shown in a low angle shot with John below her, reinforcing her patriarchal and post feminist construction as she orders John to ‘get up off your arse’. Her use of strong language and unconventional representation as an aggressor confirms a sense of androgyny with both physical violence and derogatory language. However, you could argue that Polly, aligning with Van Zoonen’s feminist theory, is still represented in a maternal manner, as the purpose of her interrogating and emasculation of John is for the purpose of serving the younger children which she looks after, Ada and Finn, ensuring their safety-this is in combination with the conclusion of this scene, in which Polly empathises with John due to his demand of being a single parent.

Question 30

how is Ada represented?

Answer 30

she takes on a more stereotypically feminine role, often positioned in high key soft lighting , whilst at the same time actively has an affair with her brother’s enemy, subtly hinting towards an empowering and authoritative role in comparison to Tommy Shelby who is unaware of the affair. She is sexualised and objectified in a sense in the opening episode, but isnt afraid to voice her disdain towards being used in this manner, suggesting a sense of self awarness and self worth 'the second your balls are empty its back onto politics'

Question 31

what does Grace use?

Answer 31

Her femininity as a tool of power

Question 32

How does the representation of Grace align with Van Zoonen's theory?

Answer 32

she is represented as a sexual and physical object and is mistaken as being a ‘whore’ via the diegetic dialogue of Tommy Shelby. This assumption marginalizes Grace as a sexual object and results in her becoming a victim of misogyny. Furthermore, it appears that her primary role in the series and opening episode of season 1 is serving other men in the narrative- for example her employment at the Garrison pub confines her role as there to serve alcohol to the patriarchal punters, but alongside this she also serves inspector Campbell, acting as an undercover detective for the purpose of uncovering the location of stolen guns which were believed to have been stolen by the Shelby family

Question 33

when are we first introduced to grace?

Answer 33

In a long shot whilst she is entering small Heath, capturing her Emerald Green clothing, juxtaposing the muted and emberring working class setting. In conjunction, there is a non-diegetic music, connoting tranquility and suggesting not only an enigma of her character but symbolises a sense of beauty and idyllic appearance too.

Question 34

How is Grace sexualised?

Answer 34

Harry, the owner of the pub, reconfirms how women are to be desired by stating that the men would have her ‘up against the wall’ and repeatedly asserts that she is ‘too pretty’ to be working there. This confirms the sexualisation of her character and how the male dominated setting of the Garrison would want to use Grace for sexual gratification. However, we also see a sense of authority and domination, her tenaciousness of demanding a job, foreshadowing her deceitful mission and expresses the idea that she is not a character that will merely be confided to traditional femininity and misogyny.

Question 35

How does Polly take on a more masculine role in the family meeting scene?

Answer 35

Polly takes on a more traditionally masculine role in actively questioning decisions, representing a woman in a position of influence in a man's world.

Question 36

what do the male characters discuss during the family meeting scene?

Answer 36

The men in the room (Tommy, Arthur and John) dominate the conversation, dicussing business, gang strategy and profit- all of which are portrayed as hegemonic male domains. This scene reflects a masculinised sphere of influence, where decisions are made through logic-risk-taking and dominance.

Question 37

how does the representation of Tommy shelby reflect historical values and reception by a modern audience?

Answer 37

Tommy offers us a more nuanced representation of masculinity which is appropriate for the historical setting of 1919 and its reception by a modern audience (stuart hall reception theory) In many ways, he can be considered a hyper masculine character, but also reflects the modern notion of a modern man. The BBC are looking to break down expectations of toxic masculinity in the sense that Tommy is a cerebral character- he thinks before he acts and has a sense of compassion and empathy, particularly showcased in his representation and encounters with Danny’s PTSD. There is also a sense of vulnerability to Tommy as we get an insight into the traumatised state in which he is in following the war, struggling with nightmares and abusing substances to deal with his experiences.

Question 38

how do the dress codes of the peaky blinders reinforce their masculinity?

Answer 38

the costume of Tommy Shelb is crucial in Peaky Blinders for constructing not just gender, but also status and power. The peaky blinders themselves wear expensive sharp suits (upper class) with flat caps (working class) that are also used as weapons with razor blades attached to them, which we get a close look at in an upclose shot in inspector Campbell's encounter with Arthur Shelby. This costume announces their masculinity as being dominating, territorial and violent

Question 39

the low key lighting sequence in which Inspector campell ties Arthur onto a chair symbolises what?

Answer 39

Inspector Campbell's ruthlessless and merciless delivery of law and order. Low angle framing of inspector Campbell connotes a brooding presence which epitomises his intimidating threat to Arthur and the Shelby family. The sadistic pleasure he takes in this ordeal, illustrates his gratification for aggressive violence.

Question 40

what does Van Zoonen say about sexualisation in the media?

Answer 40

The heavily eroticised depiction of a female figure in media texts can be appealing to mainstream male audiences- voyeurism. In comparison, men are often sexually assertive rather than sexualised.

Question 41

what does Zoonen say about media institutions?

Answer 41

Media institutions are often male-dominated, producing content from a patriarchal perspective, creating an unrealistic view of the contemporary world and cultivating ideas surrounding the roles and expectations of women

Question 42

what does Gaye Tuchman argue about women- mass media theory?

Answer 42

Tuchman argues that women are not just underrepresented in the media, but when they are represented, it’s often in limited, stereotypical or trivialized roles- trivialized roles as in women who defy gender norms are portrayed negatively as dangerous, unnatural and villainous- she refers to this as the symbolic annihilation of women, making them invisible or irrelevant in public discourse. The media is a patriarchal institution that perpetuates male dominance by controlling how women are seen and valued.By limiting the range of female roles, the media naturalises inequality and teaches audiences to see women as subordinate or irrelevant.

Question 43

how does bell hooks intersectionality theory relate to Peaky Blinders?

Answer 43

the representation of brutal, violent men is complicated by the experiences of war, shaping the attitudes of the men. Knight noted that these men returned from the front lines were 'very damage', having been involved in mass violence on an unprecedented scale. This trauma manifests in their inability to reintergrate into society and ordinary life, causing them to form gangs as a means of coping and asserting control in a post-war society- this may be why Tommy is so keen to keep the guns within his possessions.

Question 44

How are the complexities of men's lived experiences shaped?

Answer 44

constructed by the representations of Danny, who suffers with extreme PTSD. You could argue that the fact Tommy Shelby’s machismo is rooted in underlying PTSD and inability to reintegrate into society following the war, adds a sense of vulnerability to his character. This is clearly shown in the montage editing showing a nightmare-like sequence of Tommy’s traumatic experiences at war, almost adding a sense of effeminacy to his character.

Question 45

what is Judith Butler's gender performativity theory?

Answer 45

Butler argues that gender is fluid- masculinity and femininity are not assigned at birth, but exposure to homogenised culture and societal norms conceives perceptions of what masculinity and femininity truly is. This causes individuals to perform certain 'rituals' to perform their gender.

Question 46

how does the character of Tommy shelby relate to judith butler's gender performativity theory?

Answer 46

his gender performance conveys a sense of traditional masculine values and contemporary construction of the ‘new modern man’. His performance of brooding, stoic, intelligent, coolness and volatile streak of violence confirms his masculinity. He is also the head of the family, makes key decisions and has an intimidating aura, which other characters both fear and respect. His endless supply of smoking and drinking hard liquor further adds to the dimensions of traditional masculinity. However, the new modern male construction is also evident with Tommy’s ideologies- he has paternal care towards his younger siblings, particularly Finn who is challenged by Tommy when caught smoking, and through his empathy with Danny and his extreme dealings with PTSD.