Peaky Blinders

Question 1

Product context

Answer 1

• A hybrid genre that is part of TV drama which brings in western and historical elements
• The show ran for six seasons 4 in BBC 2 and 2 in BBC1 due to being prime-time
• The showrunner across all seasons was Steven Knight
• The plot of Peaky blinders focuses on a criminal gang in the 1920s Birmingham
• Peaky blinders won numerous awards such as Best Director for season 1 at the BAFTAS
• In 2014, Netflix purchased the distribution rights leading to a global audience

Question 2

Media language- Codes and conventions of Peaky blinders

Answer 2

• Classes as a hybrid genre with many subgenres including the gangster genre
• Could be classes as a historical drama due to the production design focusing on the industrial time period of Birmingham which explores the social and political issues of that time
• Steven Knight said each season is based around another movie genre. For season 1 he wanted to mytholgoise how the working-class could be portrayed to being simialar as cowboys in westerns.

Question 3

How does the Peaky blinders portray gangster conventions

Answer 3

• The importance of family loyalty. The Shelbys are devoted to protect their family similar to the Sopranos
• The protangonist is cool, quiet but an ambitious anti-hero who uses his intelligence and brutal violence to ascend the ranks of his family. Which Tommy embodies as his stock character
• The antagonist is a law maker who is investigating the crime family. Which often leads to the detective using unorthodox methods to achieve results.
• Mr Campbell through his ride in Birmingham and his torture to Arthur clearly makes him a binary oppostion to Tommy
• In a crime family there is a older matricahy who the other characters would orbit- Aunt Polly. Another would be a less smart violent sibling which would be Arthur.
• The narrative is typical as the crime family is threatned by powers of others.
• In Longform tv drama subplots occur to encourage the richness of the complexity of the narrative.

Question 4

Media language- How does the Peaky blinders genre conventions be used in a hybrid way

Answer 4

• Knight said there was a cultural cringe in the middle of the U.K. and needed something in which they can celebrate.
• Knight wanted to reveal the secrets of the U.K. as it wasn’t what shows like Downtown abbey potrayed it to be- due to being in the same historical period
• However the production design is lush as these costumes had an impact on mainstream fashion

Question 5

Media language- How do the visual codes create meaning in Peaky blinders

Answer 5

• The clothing had been the most impactful element of the show via suits and flatcaps
• Iconography and setting: Knight pictured what the setting would be from the stories he was told when growing up. Therefore made the show have a heightened sense of reality
• Production design reflected on the narrative tone by being set in the industrial setting but full of excitement
• Western iconography is used when Tommy rides the horse through the street- full of vigour
• Gesture and expression- everyone else has intense energy but Tommy is emotionless linked with the idea of a Cowboy.
• Tracking shots are used to follow the characters
• camera work creates excitement rather than dispair

Question 6

Media Language- How are audio codes used in the Peaky Blinders

Answer 6

• Dialogue- Tommy is a man of few words but is well-chosen
• The music uses punk rock which were released decades after these events which emphaise a mordern approach
• The music was also intented to reflect the simmering emotion beneath Tommys calm exterior

Question 7

Media Lanuage- How does Todorovs theory apply to the Peaky Blinders

Answer 7

• Opening scenes establish Tommy as a man of great status
• Shows the day-to-day running of the family operation but has been disrupted by the mistaken theft of the guns and further disruption is occuring.
• Long form drama- most characters have their own arc
• Arthurs equilibrium is disrupted by the ordeal with the policen
• And only a few disuptions are resolved which encourages viewers to watch the rest of the series

Question 8

Media Language- How does Steve Neales genre theory apply to the Peaky Blinders

Answer 8

• It argues genre is defined by repetiton but also variation.
• Peaky blinders does this by offering greater depth and complexity to the typical tough guys
• Offers a distinct difference in aesthic compared to other dramas such as Downtown Abbey
• Genre subversion through postioning the audience to situate with the criminals which explores greater depth and can line up to Knights desire of focalising with communites

Question 9

How does intertextuality occur in the Peaky Blinders

Answer 9

• Numerous references to the Western genre
• References to ruthless enforcers vs the mob boss
• references the Godfather 2
• Towns people dash to hide when he arrives and linger to watch the drama