Capital: Case study blog tasks

 Reviews and features

Read the following review and feature on Capital:

Guardian review by Sam Wollaston
London Evening Standard: five things you need to know about Capital

1) What positive points does the review pick out about Capital? What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel  

  The review says Capital is realistic and shows modern London clearly. It praises the strong acting and the way different characters are shown living on the same street. It says the drama feels true to real life. Some criticism is that parts of the story feel slow and not very dramatic. The original novel has also been criticised for focusing a lot on property prices and social issues rather than an exciting plot.

2) What references can you find in the reviews and feature to the idea Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?

The reviews suggest Capital is a state-of-the-nation drama because it shows different types of people living in London and dealing with modern issues. It includes themes like immigration, wealth, housing prices and social change. By focusing on one street with people from different backgrounds, it represents modern London and wider problems in society.

Trailer analysis

Watch the trailer for Capital:



1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?   

The trailer shows normal London streets, houses and shops to make it feel real. There are close-ups of people looking worried or serious. It also shows wider shots of the street so we see different neighbours living close together. The camera work feels natural and everyday, not dramatic or glamorous.

2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time? 

The trailer quickly shows different characters and small parts of their lives. It hints at problems through serious looks and the message “We want what you have.” The fast editing and tense music suggest something bad or mysterious is happening. It shows that all the stories are linked and there will be conflict.

Capital in Media Magazine

Issue 83 of Media Magazine has a feature exploring Capital as a media product. Read ‘We Want What You Have’ in MM83  (p10). You'll find our Media Magazine archive here - remember you'll need your Greenford Google login to access. Answer the following questions:

1) What does the article suggest about the 'state of the nation' genre and how Capital is an example of this?

 The article says a ‘state of the nation’ drama shows what the country is like at a certain time. It has lots of characters and storylines. Capital is an example because it shows different people in London before the 2008 crash and reflects wider problems in Britain.

2) What does the article suggest regarding the setting of Capital? The setting is London, focused on one street called Pepys Road

. The article says this helps show big national issues in a small, clear way. London is shown as diverse and multicultural.

3) What are the major themes in Capital and what does the article suggest regarding the impact of money on communities?

 Major themes are money, house prices, immigration and the banking crash. The article suggests money is damaging the community. Rising house prices push people out and create division between rich and poor.

4) What different representations in Capital are discussed in the article? The article talks about representations of rich bankers, working people and immigrants.

 The banker is shown negatively. Immigrants are mostly shown as hardworking, but there is also a storyline linked to extremism.

5) What does the final section of the article suggest regarding genre and overall message of the drama?  

The final section says the drama also uses crime elements, like the hooded figure and mystery postcards. This creates tension. It suggests that money is a hidden force controlling people’s

 Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or on Google Drive here (you'll need your Greenford Google login) to find Media Factsheet #194 on Capital (BBC TV Drama). 

Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What does the factsheet say about the characters on the first page?   

 The factsheet introduces Petunia Howe, an elderly long-time resident; Roger and Arabella Yount, wealthy newcomers; the Kamal family who run the corner shop; and Quentina Mkfesi, a religious asylum seeker with a PhD working illegally as a traffic warden. These characters show different social classes, cultures, and backgrounds.

2) Focusing on the industrial contexts, how does Capital help the BBC meet its obligations as a public service broadcaster? 

Capital helps the BBC meet its public service obligations by showing diverse communities, exploring social issues, and using a multi-stranded story to educate, inform, and entertain.

3) What do we learn about the ownership structure for production company Kudos?  

Kudos is owned by Endemol Shine UK, which is owned by Apollo Global Management and 21st Century Fox. It produces TV for both the UK and international markets.

4) How can David Hesmondhalgh's ideas in The Cultural Industries be linked to Capital and Kudos?  Hesmondhalgh says cultural industries are risk-averse and use integration. Kudos fits this by producing proven TV genres, using horizontal integration, and working internationally to reduce risk.

5) How does the factsheet suggest Capital meets the genre conventions of crime and social realism?

Capital uses crime conventions like mystery, tension, morality questions, and villainy. It uses social realism conventions like authentic UK settings, social issues such as class and diversity, and combines humour with seriousness.

6) How does the factsheet analyse the DVD packaging and what this communicates to the audience?     

 The DVD shows London landmarks and familiar characters. It hints at crime but also shows social issues. The images and tagline help the audience understand the themes of wealth, class, and community.

7) Look at page 5 of the factsheet. Choose one of the audience theories in the table and apply it to Capital.

 Audiences can have a preferred reading, seeing the intended messages; a negotiated reading, partly agreeing; or an oppositional reading, rejecting the messages. For example, viewers may interpret the trailer’s wealth and class issues in different ways.

8) What does the factsheet suggest regarding binary oppositions in 

Capital uses oppositions like rich vs poor, newcomers vs long-time residents, and immigrant vs native. These show social tension, inequality, and help develop the 

Write an analysis of the representations in each of the key scenes from episode 1 we studied in the lesson

Scene 1 – Opening sequence (00:30–4:49)

The opening shows Pepys Road as a street full of different types of people. You see rich and ordinary families living close together. It represents London as diverse but divided by class. It quickly sets up wealth and inequality as main themes.

Scene 2 – Work in the City (6:28–8:10)

This scene shows Roger at work in the City. He is presented as powerful and wealthy. It shows the fast, competitive world of finance and how different it is from normal community life.

Scene 3 – “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” (14:00–15:35)

This scene focuses on money and luxury. It shows how important expensive items are to Roger and Arabella. It represents upper-class priorities and materialism.

Scene 4 – Asylum scenes (18:03–19:42 and 31:10–32:40)

Quentina is shown as an asylum seeker working as a traffic warden. She is religious and serious about her situation. Although she has a low-status job, we learn she is highly educated. This challenges stereotypes about immigrants.

Scene 5 – “What use is 30 grand?” (36:40–39:00)

This scene focuses on the value of money. It shows how different characters think about £30,000 in different ways. It highlights inequality and how money means different things depending on your class.

Scene 6 – Life at the corner shop (40:10–42:55)

The Kamal family are shown working together in their shop. They are represented as hard-working and family-oriented. It shows immigrant family life in a normal and positive way.

2) How does Capital use stereotypes? Do the characters and issues represented in Capital reinforce or subvert the stereotypes we typically see in the media?

Capital uses some stereotypes, like the rich banker and the corner shop family. But it also challenges them. Quentina is an educated asylum, and the Kamal family are shown as kind and hardworking. The show mixes usual ideas with unexpected ones to show London’s diversity.

1) Who is the parent company for Kudos? What changes of ownership have there been for Kudos? This is 

Apollo Global Management and 21st Century Fox. This is an example of conglomerate ownership because a big company owns several production companies that make TV for many channels.

2) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced and for which channels? What awards have they won?

Kudos has produced dramas like Broadchurch, Humans, Utopia, Tin Star, and Grantchester. These were shown on BBC One, Channel 4, and Sky Atlantic. Some of these shows have won awards, including BAFTAs for acting, writing, and drama series.

3) Capital helps the BBC meet its public service goals by showing stories about real social issues, representing different communities in the UK, and reflecting life in modern London. It entertains, informs, and shows diverse experiences, which links to the BBC’s role to educate, inform, and represent the nation.