Representations/Media Language

Question 1

What is the stereotypical nature of The Peaky Blinder?

Answer 1

Stereotypical violent nature of being part of a gang

Question 2

What is an outdated trope used to reflect masculinity?

Answer 2

Violence is an outdated trope used to reflect masculinity

Question 3

What are the males typically represented as?

Answer 3

males typically strong, emotionally vacant, brutal and violent although is complicated by the Shelby brothers experiences in war. Fearless in reality they are suffering from PTSD

Question 4

What is fragile of the Shelby brothers?

Answer 4

Shelby brother masculine is fragile due to trauma of the war - ultimate mental weakness (PTSD)

Question 5

What is Tommy also seen as?

Answer 5

Tommy is seen as a tough guy with a heart of gold. Though emotionally restrained and capable of bursts of incredible violence.

Question 6

Who is Tommy kind to?

Answer 6

Tommy is king to children and the elderly and helping his community

Question 7

What is rooted by previous trauma?

Answer 7

Machismo rooted by previous trauma adding a later or vulnerability to traditional ‘tough guy’ gangster

Question 8

What is complex about female representations

Answer 8

Females are more complex and narratively significant than usual gangsters

Question 9

Describe Polly as a character

Answer 9

Polly has more background and nuance to her character including a problematic relationship with motherhood and her extended family - strong female character

Question 10

Describe the character of Grace

Answer 10

Grace is initially ‘to pretty’ for the area who can calm a bar with her siren songs - she then turns to a vengeful under cover for the Inspector

Question 11

Describe Butlers Gender performativity

Answer 11

Gender is a social construct - people ‘perform’ a gender role composed of clothes behaviours, makeup etc

Question 12

What is crucial about costume in Peaky Blinders?

Answer 12

Costume is crucial for constructing gender and status

Question 13

Describe the costumes of the Peaky Blinders

Answer 13

Peaky Blinders wear expensive suits and flat caps also turning into weapons - announces their masculinity as being dominating, territorial + violent

Question 14

Describe Graces costume?

Answer 14

Grace is a good example of performed femininity - deliberately dressed ‘girlish’ and innocent, Singing is soft and emotional later it’s revealed she’s actually vengeful / under cover agent

Question 15

Name some gangster conventions that Peaky Blinders uses?

Answer 15

-Family loyalty
-Protagonist as the anti-hero (Tommy)
-Antagonist (Dectitve Campbell)
-Patriach/Matriach (Polly)

Question 16

How is the western genre referenced?

Answer 16

In the first 15 minutes of the opening episode there are numerous references to the western genre: Tommys ride through the city streets, Towns people who dash to hide when he arrives etc

Question 17

What type of shots are frequently used?

Answer 17

Tracking shots are used to follow the characters through the streets and other locations

Question 18

What helps establish a more modern feel to the period?

Answer 18

The use of punk and rock songs, often released sixty years after the events o the show, establishes a modern feel to a period drama.

Question 19

What is the equilibrium in Peaky Blinders?

Answer 19

-Opening scenes establish Tommy as a man of great status.
-Shows the day to day running of the Shelbys gambling operation
-Disruption has already occurred and further disruption is already beginning.

Question 20

How does Peaky Blinders create differentation according to Steve Neale?

Answer 20

Peaky Blinders does this by offering greater depth and complexity to the typical ‘tough guys’. It does this by rooting there violence in historical and socio-economic context (especially PTSD)

Question 21

What is historical revisionism?

Answer 21

A deliberate attempt to excavate alternative versions of a historical period by looking at the lives of the lower classes, women. LGBTQ instead of royalty and wealthy people.

Question 22

What reflects the burst of female indepnendance during WW1?

Answer 22

Several strong, empowered female characters - Polly a matriachal figure, Ada a rebellious daughter and Grace who is initially ‘too pretty’ for the pub is revealed as an undercover agent.