the avengers

Question 1

what type of show

Answer 1

The Avengers is a British spy (espionage) drama.

Question 2

when was the show on and how many seasons did it have

Answer 2

the 1960s and 6 seasons

Question 3

name of set episode

Answer 3

“The Town of No Return”

Question 4

when did the avengers air

Answer 4

It was scheduled to air on ITV on Saturdays at 9.05pm every week, which is considered Prime Time viewing.

Question 5

was the avengers pre or post watershed

Answer 5

This was after the watershed

Question 6

what is watershed

Answer 6

the time when TV programmes which might be unsuitable for children can be broadcast.

Question 7

evidence of popularity

Answer 7

The 4th series attracted audiences of around 7 million homes with episodes often appearing in the top ten TV programmes.
The show did well internationally, especially in America.

Question 8

who produced the avengers

Answer 8

the Avengers was produced by ABC which was an company owned by ITV.

Question 9

why did the avengers have better funding than cuffs

Answer 9

ITV had higher budgets for productions than the BBC because of the profits made from advertising.

Question 10

issue with avengers production - comared to cuffs

Answer 10

However, TV at the time would usually be studio based and shot live (as videotape editing was very expensive) which meant TV shows looked stagey and actors mistakes would not be changed.

Question 11

cost of each episode

Answer 11

Each episode cost £56,000 which was incredibly high for the time.

Question 12

4 ways the avengers targets mass audiences

Answer 12

• Using elements of comedy combined with exciting spy thriller.
• Using sophisticated camerawork and editing (for it’s time it was considered groundbreaking).
• Using a range of interesting locations - again at the time this was new and exciting.
• Having a strong, intelligent and attractive female protagonist - this was important in appealing to female audiences who wouldn’t usually be the target demographic for Spy thrillers. (identification)

Question 13

john steed

Answer 13

A secret agent working for the British Intelligence. He is suave, sophisticated and ruthless, with impeccable dress sense. - hero

Question 14

emma peel

Answer 14

An agent who is a specialist in martial arts and certified genius. A heroine who is rarely defeated in fights and is able to rescue John Steed. -

Question 15

uses and grats - personal identity

Answer 15

Could identify with a tough, intelligent female hero who was the equal of Steed.

Question 16

uses and grat - social interaction

Answer 16

• Could watch the programme together as a family - as there was only one television in the house. However, not younger children due to the watershed.
• Would enjoy discussing the programme with friends and co-workers and feel like they haven’t missed out. - link to popularity

Question 17

uses and grats - entertainment

Answer 17

Could de-stress by losing themselves in the fantasy world.
Could enjoy the jeopardy of their heroes’ situations and how they escaped from these with style, sophistication and humour.
Could enjoy the fact that their is a new villain each week and familiar closure at the end of each narrative.

Question 18

uses and grats - information

Answer 18

Could feel that they were gaining information about the upper class world.
Could feel that they were gaining information about the world of spies which was frequent subject in the news.

Question 19

why may modern audiences have a different response to 1960s

Answer 19

• Changes in social attitudes and values (e.g. towards gender or sexuality).
• Changes in performance style
• Changes in production techniques (B&W, camerawork, sound)
• Personal experiences
• The cult status of the show supported by fan sites.

Question 20

what channels were available

Answer 20

Only 3 channels available during the 1960’s - BBC1, BBC 2 and ITV.

Question 21

why were audiences more loyal to particular channels in the 60s

Answer 21

There was no convergence, no computers and no way to record television.
This meant that audiences were much more loyal to a particular channel.
+ channels had to be changed manually which was hard and could cause damage

Question 22

what type of channel is itv

Answer 22

commercial broadcastor

Question 23

why must itv appeal to mass audiences

Answer 23

TV must appeal to mass audiences in order to attract the advertisers that fund them.

Question 24

live broadcasting

Answer 24

watching a TV programme at the same time that it is broadcast live on the TV.

Question 25

time shifting

Answer 25

watching a TV programme after it has been broadcast (on-demand and recording)

Question 26

streaming

Answer 26

watching content that has never been broadcast live (e.g. Netflix)

Question 27

conflict of representations

Answer 27

Peel objectified but also independent
contradiction between emma as an equal to steed and her objectification (smash cut to her behind when walking with steed)

Question 28

3 reinforced stereotypes

Answer 28

Rural britain seen as more backward
Men are more powerful
Formality of Britain

Question 29

3 challenged stereotypes

Answer 29

Peel adventurous
women independant and intelligent
Men thoughtful

Question 30

contexts - gender

Answer 30

Emma peel ‘working woman’ - more than housewife, multiple interests
equal to steed as spy
objectified - outfits

john steed stereotypical lead male - power and authority through demeanour and gentlemen style outfits

Question 31

contexts age - john steed

Answer 31

generational values of traditional Post-War Britain
fought in ww2 - believes duty to queen and country
costume - hat, umbrella, suit - British city gentleman
accent, choice of language - conservative views refers to Emma as Mrs Peel

Question 32

context - age - emma peel

Answer 32

swinging sixties and the changing attitudes of youth - younger, carefree
costumes - leather catsuit, black and white beret, mini-skirt - symbolic of liberation women were experiencing fashion
respectful of her elders, commitment to duty, goes on her mission with Steed without question - tension for 60s young people
still required to follow certain rules.

Question 33

race relations act 1976

Answer 33

makes it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), and national or ethnic origin

Question 34

contexts - ethnicity

Answer 34

no characters of other ethnicities in the Town of No Return apart from white
none in whole series
TV didn’t keep up with Race Relations Act - still many racial equalities in Britain

Question 35

contexts - espionage and cold war

Answer 35

both sides of cold war used to gather info
double agents found guilty of spying
any detected to be soviet spies imprisoned
common theme

Question 36

avengers audience

Answer 36

itv seen as a more working class channel

Question 37

different viewers and how they were catered to

Answer 37

this was a time of rapid change , the older wartime generation celebrated the values of duty and perseverance and the younger generation celebrating freedom , spontaneity and consumption