Peaky Blinders Flashcards
Where is Peaky Blinders set?
Birmingham
How long did it run for?
2013-2022
How many seasons and episodes
6x6
Where did it first air on?
BBC 2
When did it move to BBC 1?
In the 5th series
What season the best performing drama of 2017?
Season 4
How many viewers did season 5 attract
3.3 million
When was it the most watched show on Netflix?
2019
What was the audience increase for season 4
Increased its 16-34 audience by 65%
Who distributed it?
Endemol Shine international
How many countries was it distributed to?
183
What is the target audience for peaky blinders?
Male dominated
16-34
Fans of historical dramas and gangster films
Fans of the celebrity cast
Who were the peaky blinders?
1880-1920s
Young criminals for lower-working class backgrounds
Engaged in robbery, violence, illegal bookmaking and gambling
What does the term peaky blinders mean?
Refers to a sartorial elegance
Peaky refers to the flat cap that they wear
Slang term in Birmingham
What was the impact of WW1 on the working classes in Northern England?
Massive unemployment
Economic hardship as industries struggled to transition from wartime to peacetime production
Difficulties finding work and settling into civilian life
Rise in labour movements
Demand for better conditions, better wages and better housing
What was the political situation in the 1920s in the UK?
Labour Party replaced the Liberal Party as the progressive party in British politics
General strike of 1926
Trade unions and working-class movements influenced politics
Economic challenges after WWI led to social unrest and political changes
What was Birmingham like economically?
Manufacturing and metalworking
Small workshops
Family ran businesses
Jewellery and gun-making
What was Birmingham like socially?
Immigrant communties
Unemployment
Criminal gangs in response to poverty
Limited opportunities
What is the peaky Blinders genre?
Genre-hybrid
Crime drama
What are the appeals of a gangster genre?
Complex characters
Moral ambiguity
Power and status
Drama and conflict
Social commentary on society, inequality and corruption
Escapism
Teamwork and community
Exploration of loyalty and betrayal
Action and Tension
What are the appeals of a Western genre?
Idea of freedom
Devoid of a modern political and social issues
Historical
Character development
Plot twists
Rugged individualism
Frontier exploration
Struggle between good and evil, justice, revenge, freedom, survival
Drinking culture
What are the appeals of a drama genre?
Allows connections to characters
Character development
Conflict: internal and external
Narrative complexity
What are the appeals of a crime drama genre?
Compelling and intriguing storyline
Unexpected outcomes
Mirror human experience
Emotionally stimulating
Explores human psychology
Questions morality
Characteristics of Tommy Shelby
Thinker
Reliable
Likes being in control
Methodical
Maintains gangster tropes but is not simply a “bad guy”
Makes viewers question the legitimacy of those binaries but also whether they exist or ever have
Characteristics of Ada
Rebellious
Confident
Goes own way
Resilient
Ada challenging stereotypes
Has her own sexual agenda
Sex-positive feminist
Lives away from her family
Chooses to be a communist despite who her family is
Characteristics of Aunt Polly
Loyal
Caring
Takes no prisoners
Resilient
Aunt Polly challenging stereotypes
Points a gun at John Shelby
Seen as dominating and takes the role of a leader
He respects her and is potentially scared of her
“This whole bloody enterprise was a woman’s business while you boys were away at war”
Characteristics of Arthur Shelby
Does things for the thrill of it
Can be impulsive
Acts first, thinks later
Characteristics of Grace
Intelligent
Focused
Resilient
Underestimated by others
Grace challenging stereotypes
Ruthless
Dedicated to her role as an undercover agent
Characteristics of John Shelby
Loyal
Loves family
Can be careless
Wants to please others
Characteristics of Jesus Jeremiah
Strong belief
A loyal friend
Characteristics of Freddie Thorne
Strong in fighting for a cause
Sense of social justice
Doesn’t care what others think
A lone wolf
Holds no allegiance
Characteristics of Campbell
Embodies the hard-boiled detective but is not really a “good guy”
How did the BBC respond to the 2018 OFCOM report?
Audiences felt that the BBC didn’t have enough representations of working class people in regional areas
Introduction of PB response positively to this
Historical appeal
Old fashion setting
Costume ideas
Form of escapism
Educational
Historical facts/inferences
Visual spectacle of the period
Hair and makeup
Semi-biographical
What was the fan response to peaky blinders?
Festival of 20,000 in Digbeth
Wearing of the hats and hairstyles
Immersive dance and theatrical shows based on the show
Podcast created from BBC sounds “obsessed with peaky blinders” by the bearded fellows
2018 name Arthur surged into the top 10 boys names for the first time since 1920s
Ada was in the top 100 for the first time in a century too
BBC artwork competition
BBC held a competition for the best fan artwork to use in a marketing campaign
6/1000 were selected and earnt £1000 commission
What is the setting of Peaky Blinders?
Gritty
Industrial
Post WW1
Bars, alleyways and factories
Working class
Criminal underworlds
What is the atmosphere of Peaky Blinders?
Dim lighting
Smoke-filled rooms
Raw, gritty tone
Violence
Dangerous world
Criminal underworld
What is the soundtrack of Peaky Blinders?
Modern, rock-inspired music
Spare, tense soundtracks in key movements
Stark and slow pace
What are the shots like in Peaky Blinders?
Wide shots in open expansive spaces
Opening scenes with Tommy walking through the streets of Birmingham
Vast landscapes
Frames characters in expansive, lonely environments
