Lupin - audience and industry

Question 1

Target age?
Evidence for this?

Answer 1

• Broad appeal but leans towards a younger audience of 16-50
• Families with older children (younger children are vulnerable to violence)

This is because progressive views are needed on race to understand and enjoy the show. Netflix is also widely used by younger people. The smashing of the Louvre requires a degree of imagination because it lacks verisimilitude

Question 2

What is the target gender? Why?

Answer 2

Mixed but potentially more males as all the protagonists are men, there’s no representation of black women and Juliette is objectified

Question 3

Who may be the target socio-economic group?

Answer 3

Mixed: upper class may appreciate his sophistication but lower classes may relate to Assane and so have opportunities for identification. However, the upper class may find it exposing making them feel uncomfortable (although for the most part, they will feel sympathy for him). The upper classes may also see him as a thief

Question 4

What psychographics are the likely target audience?

Answer 4

strugglers - people who relate to Assane and feel empowered by his attempt to have revenge

explorers- they appreciate the sophistication of Assane and enjoy the gradual discovery of the plan to reveal the necklace

reformers- want to see social change in society and the end of racial discrimination

Question 5

What was one of the ways in which Omar Sy advertised Lupin?

Answer 5

The famous black actor put up film posters in subways. He wanted to create a publicity stunt and draw attention to the fact that despite his fame, black people in society are invisible or unseen because of their race

Question 6

How can Blumler and Katz be applied to Lupin?

Answer 6

Entertainment - feelings of escapism as we get satisfaction in seeing the sophisticated and somewhat complicated plan coming together. Lots of enigma codes and unrealistic events e.g. smashing of Louvre becoming reality

Information - social realism and othering - exposing of racial discrimination. Get hints and tips from a criminal mastermind

Identity - strugglers are empowered to seek justice in their own lives. Many may associate with Clare living as a single mum

Social interaction - Assane becomes like a friend or mentor of justice, especially when he breaks the fourth wall. However, because we see a vulnerable side to him, it feels like a two - way relationship

Question 7

How may Hall’s reception theory be applied?

Answer 7

preferred - Assane is a handsome mastermind seeking justice
negotiated - feel sorry for Assane but don’t agree with turning to criminality
Oppositional - think Assane is a criminal and has strong feelings against immigration, hence will side with Pellegrini

Question 8

How is the hypodermic needle theory used throughout?

Answer 8

We are constantly injected with evidence of discrimination or racial bias, gradually exposing societal issues. This could lead to the audience feeling greater sympathy for the protagonist

Question 9

How can mean world syndrome be applied to Lupin?

Answer 9

Repetition of poverty and crime:
- set at night
- connotations of prison - cleaners jumpsuit
- Babakar takes his own life
- flats show poverty

Stereotypes are over played into to highlight a ‘mean world’:
- Babakar accused of being a thief, despite being lovely to conform to stereotypical expectations
- Pellegrini’s status is misused
This may make the audience feel that racial discrimination is abundant in society

Question 10

In what way does Lupin subvert previous cultivation?

Answer 10

the protagonist is black and so subverts views that black people are villains

Question 11

How can Bandaura be applied to the product?

Answer 11

The use of violence and criminality may be seen to be deemed as socially acceptable to gain justice and so vulnerable audiences may think this is okay and justify crimes.
However, the Sabido effect may also be evident as progressive views on race and gender are evident trying to change views about black people being threatening

Question 12

What % of Lupins viewers are not from France? What does this show?

Answer 12

87% - the show has global appeal and these aren’t just issues felt in France

Question 13

Where is Lupin distributed?

Answer 13

Via streaming service Netflix

Question 14

How many countries is Lupin available in?

Answer 14

190

Question 15

How popular was the show when it was released?

Answer 15

It was at the top of Netflix charts for the first quarter of 2021 in France and many European countries.
76 million accounts watched it within four weeks of release.
First French show to ever make top ten in US reaching number 3.
It’s the second most successful debut ever for an original Netflix show after Bridgerton

Question 16

How was it seen to be popular on social media?

Answer 16

lupinnetflix was trending on Twitter, with people making comments about characters and their bonds

Question 17

How does the series of Lupin modernise the character of Lupin?

Answer 17

Change of race to Senegalese

Question 18

Why had Netflix increased in popularity at the time?

Answer 18

• Rise in Netflix subscriptions as a result of the global pandemic
• Prior to the cost of living crisis, households commonly had multiple subscription services

Question 19

What % of UK households have a subscription to at least one of the major streaming services?

Answer 19

67%

Question 20

Why may the target audience of Lupin increase risk as according to Hesmondhalgh?

Answer 20

16-24 year olds only watch 53 minutes of broadcast TV a day, while those over 65 spend almost 6 hours a day in front of a TV

Question 21

How many households in the UK have subscriptions to all three major streaming services (Amazon, Netflix and Disney)

Answer 21

5.2 million

Question 22

How many subscriptions does Netflix have and how has this changed since lockdown?

Answer 22

220.7 million Netflix subscribers. However, one million were lost between April and July 2022

Question 23

What age rating is Lupin? Why?

Answer 23

15

Scenes of violence and smashed glass may be sensitive to some viewers.
The representation of criminality as harmless could make younger audiences vulnerable
Extended themes of discrimination which could be upsetting

Question 24

Which streaming service has now overtaken Netflix and why?

Answer 24

Disney + thanks to it’s wide range of classic films alongside multiple franchises, broadening audience appeal and reducing risk. The number of franchises they own shows horizontal integration. They have 221.1m subscribers

Question 25

Who regulates Netflix?

Answer 25

Netflix is based in the Netherlands and so it’s regulated by Commissariaat voor de Media

Question 26

What are the issues with Netflix regulation?

Answer 26

Subscribers of any age can access any shows on personalised accounts - 9pm watershed becomes increasingly redundant. This shows consumer based regulation as audiences must decide for themselves what is appropriate with the help of age ratings

Question 27

How does the distribution of Netflix reduce risk?

Answer 27

Netflix has a huge audience with global subscriptions amounting to 220.7m and once paid for, there’s no additional payments, meaning everyone with a membership can access this.
Similarly, it’s younger audiences who Lupin targets that are likely to use Netflix as younger people move towards streaming services to fit it with their needs for on-demand streaming at convenient times to them

Question 28

How does the UK government want to change Netflix regulation? How successful has this been?

Answer 28

They are proposing Netflix becomes regulated by Ofcom in a move to citizen based regulation to protect vulnerable audiences. This will also level the playing fields for PSBs in the UK.
However, they cannot simply decide this - Netflix say no to being regulated by Ofcom then there’s little the government can do

Question 29

How has Netflix tried to prevent children accessing inappropriate shows?

Answer 29

They have a default children account on every subscription where only shows without adult age ratings can be accessed.

Question 30

Why could the changing of regulation for Amazon prime be different for the UK government?

Answer 30

It’s European headquarters are in London.
However, if Amazon saw too much risk in having a change of regulation, they could easily move to Dublin to join other media companies like Twitter

Question 31

Who was the director of Lupin?

Answer 31

Louis Leterrier

Question 32

Which TV company produced Lupin?

Answer 32

Gaumont Television

Question 33

Who are Gaumont television?

Answer 33

They are a French production company with a long history of producing French films and TV. They specialise in local stories with global appeal, producing around 10 films a year

Question 34

What is another successful title from Gaumont Television showing a reduction of risk?

Answer 34

The Intouchables - highest grossing French language movie to date

Question 35

How are Gaumont Television integrated?

Answer 35

They carry out production and distribution making them vertically integrated. They make films and operate some cinemas through their stake in Les Cinemas Gaumont Pathe

Question 36

What is cinema like in France culture?

Answer 36

Considered to be an art or cultural experience
This is represented by the importance of the Cannes Film festival
Netflix has been key to the global success of French TV, despite consensus is would squeeze out independent producers

Question 37

How can Curan and Seaton be applied?

Answer 37

Yes there has been a monopoly of power created, but Netflix still allows for the representation of minorities with a vast, younger, more open audience.