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?

-The cast is brilliant-as they portray London and the people's lives in a short span of time correctly.

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?

-Modern day London has an increase of immigrants because of various reasons like work or war and Capital has portrayed this perfectly.

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

-In the trailer, medium close up shots and close ups are used to show the variety of people and lives in London. 

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

-The trailer introduces separate narrative strands through its quick paced editing and cuts.

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?

-State-of-the-nation dramas set out to offer social or political commentary. Capital’s main focus is alluded to in its title. It is set in the build up to the banking crash of 2008 and in some ways acts as a satire on the impact of capital – money – on everyday lives.

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

-Setting the drama entirely in the capital city might enrage those who see the UK as being too London-centric, but it makes sense in the context of a multi-stranded production.

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

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

-The production leaves us in little doubt that the banks are the bad guys. 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?  

-Capital positions the actions of the banks as criminal because of their hidden and complex activities that are difficult to track down. In this way, Capital attempts to uncover the reality of London's economics and populace.

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 interactions between the characters reflect the tensions between different cultures and costume is used to quickly communicate the different character roles.

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

-Capital was produced for the BBC, and fulfils the requirements of a public service broadcaster. The BBC seek to educate, inform and entertain.

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

-The ownership of Kudos reflects a horizontally integrated company. The parent company, Endemol Shine UK, own a range of TV production companies across different formats and genres.

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

-Kudos is a horizontally integrated company, which helps to reduce the risk created by producing shows such as Capital. 

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

-Meets both genres for crime and social realism.

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

-The DVD cover uses the same promotional images that feature in media pack that links to British experiences that would be similar.

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

-Personal identification- some of the characters in the Kamal family struggling to take care of their family financially.

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

-The multi-strand storyline utilises binary oppositions to show inequality on Pepys Road, and then raise questions about difference in London more widely. 

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

-Negatives of ageing

-Wealth in black and white

-Muslims seen as strict 

-Immigration

Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10

-Male dominated city

-Lack of female representation

-Financial difference 

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

-Bankers pay increase

-Wealthy on different level

Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40

-Being deported

-Fake identity 

-Exploited by boss, commission and demands kiss

-Illegal immigrant and worker

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

-Fast paced edit of Rodger shows state of mind

-White privilege - 'this isn't how it works'

Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55

-'White people have no idea'

-Social class- Arabella does not understand basic human kindness

-Driven by immigrants as desire success due to family backgrounds

-Family dinner overcrowded

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?

-Roger also reinforces stereotypes as he is the breadwinner and is a typical white upper class man.

-Arabella reinforces stereotypes of upper class white women and she is presented as ungrateful

-The Kamal family reinforce stereotypes on how ethnic families re more close knit compared to white British families like Roger and Arabella

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.

-Banijay UK and Spy drama Spooks.

2) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced and for which channels? What awards have they won?

-Show: Tin Star

Channel: Sky/Amazon

Award: Winner 2021 British Academy Scotland Awards - Best Actress Abigail Lawrie 

-Show: Two Weeks To Live

Channel: Sky/ HBO Max

Award: Winner 2021 Venice TV- Best Comedy