Television Crime Drama - Coursework Example

Television Crime Drama Table of Contents Introduction 3 History of Crime Drama Fictional Forms and the Relationship between Its Literary, Filmic and Televisual Forms 4 Gender Issues in Crime Drama 7 Socio-Political Context of the Crime Drama (Prisoners’ Wives) 9 Representation of Policing and Relationship between Citizen and State 11 Conclusion 13 References 14 Introduction In television, fictional crime dramas are identified to be among the popular series for decades now. Fictional crime dramas have been occupying a significant percentage of television programming. The viewers are mostly recognised to be lacking experience in relation to crime directly. In this regard, telecasting of these fictitious crime series provides an important opportunity for viewers to have a better understanding as well as knowledge about offenders along with victims associated with any particular incident. Information and knowledge about crime-related activities revealed through crime drama series is estimated to be inaccurate. However, crime-related knowledge provided though the crime series are influencing them to a large extent. Correspondingly, the viewers have been influenced with fear and agony of crime. It has been ascertained that there has been a relationship between attitudes in relation to crime and crime dramas. Fictional crime series are regarded as an important source for affecting the behaviours as well as attitudes of viewers from different images portrayed through crime, offenders and victims. The viewers are also recognised to be having adequate knowledge in relation to criminal justice system. Crime dramas are significant sources of having knowledge about victimisation’s likelihood, procedure for preventing victimisation along with culpability of victim (Rader & Rhineberger-Dunn, 2010). In this context, the drama series i.e. Prisoners’ Wives telecasted in BBC is an appropriate example of fictitious crime drama. The drama has been written as well as created by Julie Gearey. The drama has been produced in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The drama comprises different characters to present an in-depth concept about the story behind the series in relation to crime and victimisation. The story is mainly based on the story of four women with their partners in prisons having life serving sentence. In this context, the drama is identified to be presenting views as well as aspects relating to the struggles that are faced by these women in their life (Action, 2011). Contextually, the essay focuses on the importance of crime dramas telecasted in television. In addition, an analysis has been made on the fictitious crime drama i.e. Prisoner’s Wives (2012) for having a better understanding about the relationship between state and citizen. The television crime drama has been analysed on the basis of socio-political context for understanding victimisation along with comprehending the procedures based on which victimisation can be reduced. History of Crime Drama Fictional Forms and the Relationship between Its Literary, Filmic and Televisual Forms Stories are identified to be based on an appropriate interpretative framework in accordance with which citizens are able to have a better understanding about different aspects in relation to culture. The frameworks are grounded on specified meanings as well as symbols, which are also framed on the basis of cultural elements. These stories depict as well as shape culture of a society. In the present day context, these stories are telecasted on television, which in turn assists in articulating the different cultural images. In this respect, telecasts of stories made on television is recognised to be assisting citizens to comprehend the social world to a large extent in terms of self-identities and understanding right as well as wrong aspects (Colbran, 2011; Cavender & Deutsch, 2007). In this regard, crime drama has been an important genre based on which interpretative viewpoints are provided, which aid in reshaping the thoughts of citizens. In television crime drama, different societal aspects are interpreted in an enhanced manner. In addition, crime dramas are recognised as morality plays featuring struggles that are associated with positive and negative aspects. Crime dramas are stories related to heroes and villains, where heroes have a positive stand towards the authority, while, villains are having opposing stand towards the authority. There has been a shift in television crime drama from story-lines relating defensive lawyers as well as detective to programs or series, where police are depicted as heroes and lawyers as villains for impeding justice. In this respect, crime dramas are produced based on cultural beliefs as well as sentiments in relation to crime with the aim of attracting audience. Moreover, socio-political ideologies are recognised to be associated with plots relating to crime genre. Respectively, crime dramas provide an immense understanding about criminals and crime that are prevalent within the present day society (Cavender & Deutsch, 2007). Television crime dramas reveal cultural views in relation to criminals along with crime. Additionally, crime genre depicted through crime dramas circulates gender images on the basis of cultural context. The crime images that are depicted through the series on television are based on the aspect of heroism, which in turn reflect gender influence. In the history of crime drama, men were reflected as heroes for having positive viewpoints about the authority. Crime dramas thus reflect gender identity about the social context that prevailed during that time. However, in the present day context, women are represented more in crime dramas. Furthermore, crime dramas are grounded less on strengths and are focused on technical competence. These changes in television crime dramas are identified as changes in cultural context. In other words, the changes in the society can be witnessed in terms of masculinity. Correspondingly, television crime dramas are important considerations for providing citizens a better view of the social and cultural aspects that are prevalent (Cavender & Deutsch, 2007). Television crime dramas have been developing in a steady manner over the last few decades or so. The telecasts of these programs have made an important influence on the basis of different contexts relating to society and political contexts. In addition, television crime dramas have been recognised to be an important consideration for depicting the relationship that exists between fear of crime and crime dramas. Citizens are recognised to be attracted and view crime dramas to a large extent for seeking information. In this regard, crime dramas are viewed as a source of crime-related activities for having information in relation to police role, procedures based on which cases are solved, the role of court and technology used by forensic team among others. Correspondingly, crime dramas have been influencing the behaviour of the viewers to a certain extent. In this context, the telecast of crime dramas is determined to be developing relationship amid various variables. Relationship is recognised to be developed between identification, entertainment and social interaction with gender, frequency of watching crime drama and age (Smith & et. al., 2012). Crime dramas have been an important consideration for studying gender discrepancies. The discrepancies are also based on certain demographic factors that include race, age, political affiliation, income and religious affiliation among others. These differences are significant factors influencing the behaviours and attitudes of the citizens to a large extent. The factors are also recognised to be playing for leading towards gender differences. Gender differences can be observed on the basis of male and female viewers of crime dramas. In addition, gender differences are estimated in accordance with the perceptions based on which crime dramas are watched. In this context, the ratio of male and female viewers is identified to be identical to some extent. However, the differences for watching crime dramas have been recognised in terms of perceptions. Accordingly, it has been estimated that crime dramas are watched by males with the intention of meeting their curiosity as well as in having adequate information in relation to crime victims and police. On the other hand, the perceptions based on which females watch crime dramas includes the intention to get relaxed, spend time and mitigate loneliness among others (Brown & et. al., 2012). Gender Issues in Crime Drama Crime dramas have been viewed by citizens to a large extent with the aim of having a better understanding about various concepts in relation to crime and victimisation. In this regard, crime dramas are identified to be based on different factors that include income, age, police effectiveness, gender and education among others. These factors are associated with fear of crime. In addition, crime dramas develop punitive attitudes amid viewers in terms of marital status, fear of crime, education and race. Crime dramas present sensational, violent as well as unreasonable crime in a recurring manner as an appropriate theme towards presenting different roles of gender in societal context. In this respect, the gender images that are presented through these series on television influence viewers in having a better conceptual understanding about gender roles in such series as well as the extent to which these gender roles have an influence in real life situations of the people. The differences in gender roles are recognised to be presented on the basis of personality traits that include violence and greed among others (Sims, 2010; Hermes, 2007). In the present day context, crime dramas are identified to be presenting male as well as women both in trouble and in control notions. Contextually, males are presented as dominating member of a society and are also identified to be engaged with different criminal activities. Males for their execution of different criminal activities are identified to be punished under the legal system, which in turn has been affecting their family especially children and wives among others to lead a normal life. From history, crime dramas are recognised to be presenting wives and children as the sufferers from the crime committed by their husband. On the other hand, crime dramas are presenting women in different images presently. Subsequently, women are presented to be committing crime to a major extent. At present, women presented as super model, socio-economically privileged and liberated are recognised to be associated with crime to a large extent. In crime dramas, women are also represented or portrayed as criminals committing different offensive acts that include robbery, homicide and kidnapping among others. In this respect, crime dramas present an overall view of the gender roles and issues that are presented through crimes series telecasted on television. More specifically, gender issues have been an important concern that is witnessed by citizens broadcasted on television. Gender issues are revealed in crime dramas in the context of different factors that include inequalities as well as limited opportunities among others. In addition, crime dramas reveal different gender issues from crime such as single motherhood and poverty at large (Rizun, 2010). Socio-Political Context of the Crime Drama (Prisoners’ Wives) The crime drama named Prisoners’ Wives (2012) has been an important series providing viewers with information relating to crime and victimisation. The series has been viewed in an immense manner with the aim of having a better understanding about different gender issues that are faced by four wives as their husbands are imprisoned for life. The drama significantly presented the role played by the wives of the prisoners to cope with struggling situations. The series has been renowned for the role played by the female characters. The female characters of the drama include Francesca, Harriet, Gemma and Lou. These characters are the lead ones influencing viewers by depicting the life of a prisoner’s wife in the real life situations. The four characters of the drama are identified to be different from each other. They majorly revealed the situations that they share in an extraordinary manner (Parker, 2013; Hetsroni, 2012). Gemma who is female character of the drama is identified to be having a perfect life, husband and house, but her life turned upside down when police stormed in the house and detained her husband in a murder case. After the detainment of her husband, she has been scared, submerged as well as alone in the world, which has been unknown to her. Gemma has been also recognised to be struggling for confusing judicial system. Gemma lived with the notion that her husband is innocent and was been conspired to be imprisoned. Francesa is the wife of a career criminal. Her husband is imprisoned but she is availed with the needed assets. However, his finances and assets are under the process of continuous investigation. Her husband has adequate money resources, which he cannot access. In this respect, she is helpless in saving the mansion from being stripped bare and her children relocated from private schools. Lou is also one of the important characters in the drama. She married her teenage lover and she is a mother of a 5 year old son. She has a dream of having a flat in the neighbourhood with parks and schools. Lou is living in an unsafe location in the inner part of the city amid street walkers and drug dealers. In addition, she has been involved with drug dealing activities and for her crime, her boyfriend was put behind bar. The last and fourth character named Harriet is recognised to be a middle-aged as well as respectable individual. She is also a local community member. She has been living a sheltered as well as quite life till now, but has been facing tough situation for the imprisonment of son due to her complaint against him. Moreover, with the aim of having his forgiveness, she has been disparate in quest of him, but he refuses (Zoomer Media Limited, 2012; Raney & Bryant, 2002). The four characters in in the Drama i.e. Prisoners’ Wives has been identified to be visiting Sheffield. In this context, from the analysis of the four female characters, it has been identified that the outside world is ruthless and have been facing problems in relation to loneliness and struggle among others. However, the drama depicted the transformations that are undergone by these four females in their life to make their own stands as individuals (Zoomer Media Limited, 2012). The drama usually surrounds on the stories of each of the female character. In addition, their regular visit in a prison located in Sheffield has been also accountable for building friendship relationship amid the characters. Moreover, the drama depicts about the limitations and distinction faced by feminists within the society. The restrictions are faced due to lack of appropriate access and education, which leads to gender differences (Raeside, 2012). Representation of Policing and Relationship between Citizen and State Media has been playing an important role towards providing adequate knowledge to citizen in relation to justice as well as crime. In this respect, television crime media is determined to be disseminating information about victimisation and criminology. Thus, the public are facilitated in understanding criminal justice system and criminality (Holbert & et. al., 2004). In addition, based on crime dramas, citizens are able to have immense information about criminals, law enforcements officials, victims and deviants among others to a large extent. Subsequently, the citizens with the knowledge of criminality are recognised to generate fear of crime. Moreover, the series relating to Prisoners’ Wives has provided adequate information about law and order that prevails in the state. Accordingly, fear as well as anxiety amid the citizens about crime problems has been developing awareness about the influence of crime in the society, which in turn is identified to be pressurising the law enforcement officials to formulate appropriate policing for criminal justice system. The fictitious drama has been an important consideration for developing an effective relationship between public and police. Respectively, the presentation of policing system in terms of effectiveness of police, police power and harsher penalties are recognised to be generating positive image about the presence of police. Corresponding, appropriate crime policies have been implemented within the state for the portrayal of the positive presence of police (Dowler, 2003; Mason, 2003). In addition, the images portrayed from the crime drama i.e. Prisoners’ Wives signified about the reality in relation to the provisions and laws that are practiced by the criminal justice system. The drama also depicted different issues relating to race, gender and age. In this regard, from the analysis of the four characters in the drama, it has been analysed that gender issues has been a major problem in crime, as the four females have been suffering in their life for the deed of their male members. In this respect, the drama has been presenting a wider viewpoint about stereotypes that prevails in the domain of gender (Lam, 2013; Monk-Turner & et. al., 2007). In this context, policing and gender issues recognised within the area of crime presented through television crime drama i.e. Prisoners’ Wives has been recognised to be playing an important role towards shaping the perceptions of the citizens and knowledge in relation to policing. Crime dramas are a major contributor towards shaping practice as well as policy for appropriate justice system in a state. In addition, the telecast of crime dramas on television has been significant in depicting the code of conduct as well as ethics followed by police. Respectively, effective recovery has been made in efficiency and ethics that are adopted by police in the state. The representation of police as order maintenance as well as law enforcement has resulted towards developing a positive outlook of the law and order authority in the society. Moreover, the gender issues witnessed through the series i.e. Prisoners’ Wives have facilitated in understanding the struggles faced in the life of the four females for crime. Respectively, television crime drama reflected the changes within police work, ethics and legal aspects to a large extent. The drama also depicted trustworthiness as well as integrity amid citizen in terms of the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Thus, a relationship can be witnessed between citizen and the state in terms of policing for mitigating the fear of crime (Colbran, 2014). Conclusion From the above discussion, it can be comprehended that media is playing an important role towards providing appropriate information about different aspects in a society. Television crime dramas have been identified to be a major contributor in terms of providing adequate information about crime and victimisation. Viewers watching these dramas are having significant information about criminalities and the procedures based on which criminals are prosecuted. The viewers are also identified to be generating perceptions about the issues that arise due to race, gender and age. In this respect, Prisoners’ Wives, the UK most popular crime series has been providing information about the life and struggles faced by the four female characters playing lead roles in it. From the analysis of the situation faced by the four females, it can be recognised that the females struggled in relation to loneliness and narrow access with the outside world. In this regard, the police images portrayed through crime dramas facilitate citizens in having a better understanding about policing and the criminal justice system that exists in the state. 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Prisoners’ Wives. The New UK Smash Hit Drama. [Online] Available at: http://www.zoomermedia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/September-2012-VisionTV-Presents-the-North-American-Premiere-of-Prisoners-Wives-.pdf [Accessed 21 March, 2015]. Read More