TV INDUSTRY

Early UK crime-drama

'Dixon of Dock Green'

The original UK drama

• 'Dixon of Dock Green' was broadcast from 1955 to 1976 on BBC TV.
• The early episodes were live, before the transition to recorded drama.
• This episode was written by the show's creator Ted Willis and attracted a 20% audience share of the time.

Activity...

In a pair

• Jot down (on the whiteboard) what you think are the generic conventions of crime-drama Next, watch the clip, how does Dixon of Dock Green use these genre conventions?

Generic conventions

Key terms

Genre

Conventions

• The characteristics of media texts belonging to the same genre
• Narrative, setting, iconography, technical and audio codes, characters

Sub-genre

• Programmes within the genre which share common characteristics
• Detective led, forensices, police procedural

Hybrid

• Mix
• Programmes which share conventions of more than one genre

PAIR Task

• Make a list of as many crime-dramas as you can think of.
• Divide in to sub-genres
• Can you identify any hybrids?

Untitled Slide

Watch the opening sequence for Luther (BBC)

Task

• RE-WATCH THE OPENING SEQUENCE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON YOUR LAMINATE

Conventions

• Broken down in to...
• Narrative Characters Iconography and setting Technical and audio codes

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

WATCH SHERLOCK (BBC)

• Focusing on your allocated narrative code watch the opening sequence for BBC crime-drama Sherlock
• Identify the effect of your narrative code

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

Task

SETTING AND ICONOGRAPHY

Settings reflect crime: police cells, law offices, personal home of the crime-solver

BREAKING BAD
Focus study 1: Crime-drama/AQT

Breaking Bad has, in a short period of time become iconic, ‘must see TV’

In terms of genre conventions (typical elements which reflect the type of programme) can be categorised as Crime Drama but also as AQT (American Quality Television). Can you think of any other AQTs?

Widely accepted as one of the ‘greatest television programmes of all time’

It entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2014 as the highest rated show of all time.

One of the key reasons for the extent of Breaking Bads critical success is its ability to target younger and also older audiences, the latter who tend to be the primary consumers of AQT

Task

How typical is Breaking Bad of the crime-drama genre?