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 drama is praised for its realistic portrayal of London and its instantly recognisable themes. However, some critics argue that it is too predictable in its social commentary and mirrors the political concerns of publications like The Guardian

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?

Capital follows multiple residents on one street, showing their different experiences of the 2008 financial crisis. This highlights the social and economic divisions in modern London.

Trailer analysis

Watch the trailer for Capital:



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

The fast-paced editing captures the busyness of the city, while close-ups and mid-shots showcase London’s diverse population across different ages, races, and social classes.

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

The trailer introduces various characters, each discussing their personal struggles with family, money, and relationships. These snippets create mystery and tension, making the audience curious about how their stories connect.

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?

Capital is based on John Lanchester’s novel, which aims to capture a moment in Britain’s history through multiple storylines and a large cast, reflecting national concerns.

2) What does the article suggest regarding the setting of Capital?

The focus on London may feel London-centric, but it suits the multi-layered narrative. By concentrating on a single street, the drama provides a clearer perspective on economic and social contrasts.

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

The drama explores wealth inequality, gentrification, and economic struggles by featuring characters from different financial backgrounds, highlighting the gap between the rich and working class.

4) What different representations in Capital are discussed in the article?

Banks are portrayed as villains, with characters like Roger (a banker) being weak and self-serving. The contrast between wealthy and working-class characters is clear, reinforcing themes of social divide.

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

The phrase “WE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE”, written in red along the street, suggests a sense of frustration and inequality—someone feels unheard and demands recognition. This reinforces the drama’s central message about social and financial divides in Britain.

Capital Media Factsheet

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?

Capital has a diverse cast that reflects the different backgrounds, classes, and experiences of modern London. There’s a wealthy banker and his family, an elderly woman who has lived on the same street for decades, an immigrant shopkeeper, and a refugee seeking asylum. These characters highlight key themes like wealth inequality, immigration, and how the city is changing over time.

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

Since Capital was made for the BBC, it helps fulfill the broadcaster’s duty to represent different communities and tell stories about British society. The show tackles real issues like economic inequality and immigration, sparking important conversations. It also has an educational side, encouraging viewers to think about these topics, which fits with the BBC’s mission to inform and educate.

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

Kudos, the company behind Capital, is technically an independent production company, but it’s actually owned by a much bigger media group. Over the years, it’s been bought and sold by large corporations, showing how even smaller, creative companies end up being part of global media giants.

4) How can David Hesmondhalgh's ideas in The Cultural Industries be linked to Capital and Kudos? 

Hesmondhalgh argues that big corporations dominate the media industry, but creativity still finds a way to thrive within this system. Kudos is a great example ,it’s owned by a huge media company (Banijay), yet it still produces high-quality, meaningful dramas like Capital. This shows that independent creativity can survive, even under commercial pressures.

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

Capital mixes elements of crime drama with social realism. The crime aspect comes from the mysterious postcards sent to residents, creating tension. But the heart of the show is about real-life issues like financial struggles and gentrification. The use of natural dialogue and handheld cameras adds to the realism, making the show feel authentic.

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

The DVD cover is designed to grab attention and reflect the show’s themes. The colours, fonts, and imagery hint at both mystery (tying into the crime aspect) and serious social issues (highlighting the realism). The tagline and artwork reinforce the themes of class tension and inequality, helping to set the tone for potential viewers.

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

The Uses and Gratifications Theory applies well to Capital. This theory says that people actively choose what to watch based on their needs. Viewers might relate to the struggles of different characters (personal identity), learn more about social issues like immigration (surveillance/information), or just enjoy the mystery element (entertainment).

8) What does the factsheet suggest regarding binary oppositions in Capital?  

Rich vs. Poor – The banker’s luxurious life is contrasted with the struggles of working-class and immigrant characters.

Tradition vs. Change – Older residents, like Petunia, represent a London that’s disappearing due to gentrification.

Native vs. Immigrant – The show explores what it means to “belong” in London, comparing long-term residents with asylum seekers and economic migrants.

Representations: close-textual analysis

Capital offers a range of fascinating representations - from London and asylum seekers to capitalism and inequality. You need to be able to confidently discuss these issues in the context of 2015 London - with reference to key scenes from episode 1. Representations include: London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, capitalism, aging and more.

These notes from a lesson analysing these clips will help with this element of the case study. You'll need your Greenford Google login to access the document.

1) 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
Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10
Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35
Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40
Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00 
Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55

You can choose which aspects to focus on for each scene: e.g. London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, aging etc. Feel free to use bullet points for each scene - a summary of your notes is fine.

answer

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?

How Capital Reinforces Stereotypes:

The Wealthy Banker (Roger): He fits the classic stereotype of a greedy financier. Despite his high salary, he still isn’t satisfied, and his wife constantly complains about their lifestyle. This reinforces the idea that rich people are never content and highlights themes of financial privilege.

The Asylum Seeker (Quentina): She is portrayed as vulnerable and completely dependent on the UK’s immigration system. While her situation is realistic, it aligns with the common media stereotype of asylum seekers as helpless victims.

The Police Investigation: The police are shown as somewhat ineffective and quick to suspect certain residents, which is a common crime drama trope.

How Capital Subverts Stereotypes:

The Immigrant Shopkeeper (Ahmed): In many shows, immigrant shopkeepers are just background characters, but Ahmed is different. The series explores his personal struggles, ambitions, and family tensions, showing that he’s more than just the “hard-working immigrant” stereotype.

The Older Resident (Petunia): Elderly characters in media are often portrayed as weak or out of touch, but Petunia is sharp and independent. Her story focuses on how gentrification is affecting longtime residents, giving her character emotional depth.

Roger’s Wife (Arabella): At first, Arabella seems like a stereotypical wealthy, materialistic woman. However, as the show progresses, we see her insecurities and the pressure she feels to maintain a certain lifestyle, showing that privilege doesn’t necessarily mean happiness.

Industries and production context

Capital was produced by independent production company Kudos for the BBC. Look at the Kudos website and also read the Kudos Wikipedia page.

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

Kudos is part of Banijay, one of the biggest media companies in the world. Over the years, Kudos has been bought and sold multiple times, which is common in the TV industry as big corporations take over smaller production companies.

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 several well-known TV dramas, including: Spooks (BBC One) – A critically acclaimed spy thriller, Life on Mars (BBC One) – A time-travel detective series, Humans (Channel 4/AMC) – A sci-fi drama about AI and human relationships, Broadchurch (ITV) – A gripping crime drama that won multiple BAFTAs.Their work has earned BAFTAs, RTS Awards, and International Emmys, proving their reputation for creating high-quality, compelling dramas.

3) How does Capital help the BBC to fulfil its remit as a public service broadcaster? You may want to look back at our work on public service broadcasting last term. 

The BBC has a duty to inform, educate, and entertain while representing the diversity of the UK. Capital does this by:

Reflecting modern Britain – The show focuses on a multicultural London street and tackles issues like gentrification, immigration, and wealth inequality.

Exploring social issues – It encourages viewers to think about class divisions, financial struggles, and the effects of extreme wealth.

Being relatable and accessible – Unlike flashy Hollywood dramas, Capital tells realistic, grounded stories that connect with a broad audience.

Grade A/A* extension - further reading on marketing and promotion

We strongly recommend you read the full BBC Press Pack for Capital.

1) How does the programme information on page 3 make Capital sound interesting to audiences?

2) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?

3) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?

4) Read the interview with Adeel Akhtar (page 10). What does he suggest Capital says about the fictional Pepys Road and the sense of community (or lack of it) in London?

5) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain? 

6) Read the interview with Derek Wax, the Executive Producer for Kudos (page 16). Why did he produce Capital and what does it say about the way we live now?