Capital: Case study
Capital: Case study blog tasks
Work through the following tasks to build a detailed case study for Capital. This will give you plenty of background information to use in an exam question. Remember, for this CSP the question could be on any of the key concepts: language, industries, audiences or representations.
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?
TV: Capital case study
Capital screening
You can watch all three episodes of Capital using our school's copy via Google Drive here. You'll need your Greenford Google login to access this.
Capital: Case study blog tasks
Work through the following tasks to build a detailed case study for Capital. This will give you plenty of background information to use in an exam question. Remember, for this CSP the question could be on any of the key concepts: language, industries, audiences or representations.
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?
-acting and characterisation, atmosphere, ensemble cast, multi stranded narrative
- structure and pace, plot is repetitive and boring
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?
House prices rise dramatically that audiences are able to relate to due to over the years inflation has risen drastically which would mean an increase in home prices and can overtime lead to an economic crisis.
Trailer analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
The drama uses a range of camera techniques, including medium shots that offer brief glimpses into each character’s everyday life. Additionally, the use of low‑angle shots—such as when the letter is pushed through the letterbox—creates a sense of mystery and tension, reinforcing both enigma and action codes. These camera angles also help establish binary oppositions, visually contrasting moments of happiness with scenes of sadness to highlight the emotional divide within the narrative.
2) How does the trailer introduce the different narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
The drama builds tension by revealing the complexities of each character’s life, and the use of an ensemble cast heightens this through a multi‑stranded narrative. Each character in the trailer faces a different challenge linked to the mysterious notes, and as the story unfolds, these pressures expose their true personalities and hidden motivations.
The state of the nation genre reflects the political climate and social conditions of contemporary society. Capital fits this genre by exploring issues such as the financial crisis, shown through the collapse of the banks and the rapid month‑by‑month rise in house prices. These elements highlight the economic instability and social inequality affecting the characters, allowing the drama to comment on the wider state of the nation.
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.
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
The opening sequence immediately establishes London as a familiar, authentic setting, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a place that “never sleeps” and creating early enigma codes around the characters’ lives. Representations of family and gender are explored through nostalgic flashbacks of an elderly woman and her late husband, reinforcing traditional stereotypes of the woman as homemaker and the man as breadwinner. This montage evokes a sense of loss and sentimentality. Ethnicity and religion are also foregrounded: the white middle‑class residents contrast with the Pakistani family who run the corner shop, reinforcing common ethnic stereotypes associated with small‑business ownership. Cultural tensions emerge when the family removes Western magazines, hinting at a clash of values. The scene also introduces wider social issues, such as fluctuating wealth and the economic instability symbolised by rising house prices.
Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10This scene continues to build London as a pressured and sometimes unpleasant environment, shown through the overcrowded train and the impersonal office space. The large corporate office provides a sense of personal identity for those working in finance, yet the identical screens emphasise conformity and routine. Gender roles are reinforced through Ian, who is positioned as the family breadwinner, demonstrated by the photograph of his children on his desk. However, his spontaneous dancing subverts the stereotype of the emotionless businessman. Ethnicity is represented through a predominantly white middle‑class workforce, with the German boss adding a subtle layer of cultural diversity. The scene highlights issues of wealth, financial pressure and the strain of commuting, symbolised by the overcrowded transport system.
Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35Set inside a spacious master bedroom, this scene reinforces middle‑class identity and domestic comfort. The photograph being taken from outside introduces a sense of surveillance and threat, creating enigma codes. A clear binary opposition is established between the affluent household and the working‑class home shown elsewhere in the episode. Gender stereotypes are again reinforced, with the husband positioned as the financial provider and the wife portrayed as dependent on his income, potentially even as a “gold digger.” The family is represented as a traditional white middle‑class nuclear unit. The scene foregrounds issues of economic strain and the growing anxiety around money during the financial crisis.
This sequence shifts to a poorer area of London, highlighting overcrowding and the city’s role as a place of refuge for immigrants. Gender representations show the female asylum seeker as vulnerable, isolated from her family and fearful of sexual violence. Ethnicity and religion are emphasised through the use of church music and the depiction of cultural barriers, such as her inability to open her own bank account. These moments highlight the challenges faced by migrants navigating a new society. The scene raises issues of immigration, rising house prices and the struggle to maintain identity in an unfamiliar environment.
Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00London is portrayed as an extremely expensive city, where even large sums of money feel insufficient. The family’s financial dependence on Ian’s bonus reinforces traditional gender roles and highlights the pressures placed on middle‑class households during economic instability. Ethnicity is represented through a white British middle‑class family, and the scene emphasises ongoing issues of financial insecurity and the emotional strain it places on family life.
Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55This scene highlights London’s cultural diversity, with the corner shop serving as both a business asset and a symbol of immigrant resilience. Family tensions are evident, and the elderly woman’s loneliness contrasts sharply with the busy family environment of the shop owners. Ethnicity and religion are explored through the Pakistani family’s heritage, their fear of failure and their belief in doing good deeds for spiritual reward. The scene foregrounds issues such as family pressure, economic struggle and the emotional weight carried by immigrant communities.
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.
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 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.
2) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced and for which channels? What awards have they won?
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