Ashes To Ashes

REPRESENTATION OF GENDER

In the TV programme Ashes to Ashes, the theme of genre is represented in many ways. Within the first few minutes of the opening we can see that there is a issue between a male and a female. Here the villain is clearly seen and is a male. This representation is typical for a villain as there masculinity is seen as more dominant and powerful. The diegetic sound is of the man’s voice, giving technical instructions to a variety of people against a background of diegetic people. The man is seen to be privileged by then camera in that this scene is one long uncut mid shot, dollying around keeping him in focus. The cross cutting between the villain and the victims shows the authority the male figure has compared to women.

Furthermore there is an extreme close up taken of the women’s face while talking with the man. Here you can see the women’s emotion. She seems as if she is scared and anxious as the male figure has a gun in the hand, thus saying that he will kill her. This shows that the representation of women is very weak and that they can’t act as the dominant figure over men. In most cop programmes, it is always a male that is the “bad guy” and the women being the one taking in the stress. Women always seem to be portrayed to be anxious in situations relieving there personality. The whole situation about the man and the women emphasises the villain’s expertise and importance as he gives orders and acts in a controlled, professional way unlike the woman and others shown in a establishing shot to be threatening and out of control.

In addition after the dramatic case where the villain fires a gunshot, you can see the mother and child getting together and hugging in praise. This shows that women are represented as the nurturing character within the programme. She never retaliates back to the male; she’s always seen as calm. This shows that women are represented as sensitive figures, and that males are dominant over them. They are always seen to go by the rules and laws, not doing anything that you’re not meant to.

This sex difference in fear is intriguing because, in actuality, men are more likely than women to be the victim of a crime. Many reasons have been suggested for why women experience more fear, including the fact that certain crimes, such as rape, do occur more frequently for women. In ashes to ashes this is not the case but it’s what happened in the past which led the man to do what he did. This is stereotypical of the representation of women as it is seen that women cannot be the ones doing the crime.

Shameless

Production
The production company for Shameless was ‘Company Pictures’. The series was written by a man called Paul Abbott.
Distribution -
Channel 4 Television Corporation

Reception -
In April 2005, the programme's first series won the Best Drama Series category at the British Academy Television Awards. It was also nominated for 'Best British Drama' at the 'National Television Awards 2007', but lost out to Doctor Who. Shameless won an award at the 'Royal Television Awards Society North West Awards 2007' where it beat Coronation Street to the 'Best Continuing Drama Award'.
Viewer Review
"Shameless" began a couple of nights ago on SBS TV - supposedly an ethnic channel (are Mancunian's ethnic, then??) - in Australia, with no warning, no fanfare. I was blown fair out of my chair by this show, and possibly appreciated it all the more because I had no expectations, although once I noted Paul Abbott's name under 'writer' I knew I was in for something special. His scripts for 'Clocking Off' and 'Linda Green' were, like 'Shameless', both sharp and original.

Average Viewing figures
Series 1 = 2.57 million
Series 2 = 2.67 million
Series 3 = 3.01 million
Series 4 = 3.38 million
Series 5 = 2.65 million
Series 6 = 2.69 million