The pre-watershed scheduling of 8pm is significant in terms of representations, because this episode of Cuffs shows many serious subjects that may be seen as inappropriate for children, who could be watching with their family at this pre-watershed time. Firstly, nudity is shown in the opening scene, as they are on a nudist beach. Some viewers may find this inappropriate and offencive, because children could be watching and they do not want their children seeing this. Also, homosexuality is shown throughout, with one of the main characters being gay, this could be seen as inappropriate because some people wouldn't want their children to see this, because some people still aren't as accepting with the gay community. There is also scenes of suicide attempts and the episodes closes with someone having committed suicide. This could be seen as to graphic fro children to see at a pre-watershed time of 8pm, because there are scenes of a man with his arms cut, and there are also scenes of a man who hung himself. This is something that young viewers would not want to see, as they are too young to understand. There is also a child shown being abducted which could scare young viewers. Although these things are all things they will see in life, and they need to be shown to make people aware of it. The episode also didn't go as far as to show sex and swearing, which some people may argue are worse than what was shown.
How were the following areas represented in the episode:
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Sexuality
(10 marks)
In the first episode of Cuffs, that was produced and written in 2015, we get a snapshot of cultural, political and social attitudes of the UK during this time period in terms of ethnicity, gender and sexuality. The way these issues are represented also shows the genre of crime drama has come a long way since the 1980s as this show does not shy away from representations of ethnicity, gender and sexuality, which are all serious things that need to be shown to people.
Firstly, Ethnicity is represented positively, as the first main character we see is PC Ryan Draper, who is a black police officer. This represents the acceptance of different ethnicities over recent years, and gives a positive image. There is a storyline about racism, which shows how some people still say and do things to cause trouble for people who are different to them. In this episode of Cuffs, DS Jo Moffat discusses the release of a racist man, who then comes into the episode and attacks a Indian man in a shop. This hows how people are still racist, and how violent they can be with people. Also, later on in the episode, Ryan, Jo, Jake and another officer go to the racist mans house to arrest him, but the others get into fights with other people. Ryan is left with the man who is shouting racist threats at him, and is cornered. Jake then comes and helps Ryan. This shows the acceptance in the uk of ethnicity, as a black man is a police officer rather than a criminal, which he would have been shown as in the 1980s. This shows how crime drama has come a long way since this time.
Gender is also represented in many ways. Firstly, Ryan is represented as an alpha male, who is rather dominant, but Jake is represented as quite weak. This is showing the different types of males there are, and how they are both still the same, because they have their own things to deal with, but they both work together. Also, Ryan is presented as quite a private person, who doesn't like to share his personal details with anyone. However, Jake is a very open person, and tells everyone about his sexuality. Females are also represented, in a more negative way, with DS Jo Moffat shown as a lonely woman who treats her dog like a child and ruins peoples families, by having an affair with Chief Supt. Robert Vickers, who's wife is at home, with cancer. Also, two female officers are represented as stereotypical girls, who always think about boys and that don't do anything in a serious situation. For example when they are walking along the beachfront they are discussing the new boy (Jake) and are talking about his looks, but as soon as a crime takes place they start screaming and don't do anything, which represents women as weak and scared. This is a rather negative thing, because not all women are like this, and that needs to be shown in shows like this.
Sexuality is represented also, as Jake Vickers, one of the main characters is a gay police officer, and he is very open about his sexuality. This is positive thing, because it shows how people can now be open, unlike in the 1980s, as their sexuality would be frowned upon and people would not accept it like they do nowadays. Although, there are a few things that show a slightly negative stereotype of gay men, as jake is shown as a boy, who is weak and doesn't really know anything. This presents him as a stereotypical gay man, who only cares about his looks and doesn't really do anything or know anything. There is also a scene, where Simon Reddington, the stereotypical solicitor gives Jake Vickers his number, and jake is sexualised in this scene. This shows a stereotypical exchange in numbers for gay men, as many people think of gay men as people who sleep with many people, and don't really have relationships. This is a rather negative stereotype, as this is not the case with all gay men. Simon is also a non-stereotypical gay man, who seems to care about his looks, and is a neat person, but he doesn't come across as a stereotypical gay and, which could be a positive thing, because it shows that not all gay men are stereotypical, and that they are all different.
These issues are all represented in different ways, positively and negatively, which is something that needs to be shown, because they are still issues in society today, as some people still do not accept it. Some of these issues are shown in a positive way, which shows how society has changed some of their views since the 1980s.
How did the changing practices of institutions and audience impact the success of Cuffs?
(6 marks)
The changing practices of institutions and audience impacted the success of Cuffs, because people don't sit down and watch TV as a family anymore, so they would be less likely to watch it, and there where no distractions, like phones and apps, whereas if this was shown in the 90s, it might have had more success, because people would sit down to watch it. Also, people now prefer to watch boxsets, or Netflix or Amazon, as they release full series, because people don't want to wait for the next episode. This could be a reason why Cuffs didn't have a much success as it could have, because people didn't want to wait a week for the next episodes. Nowadays there is a lack of channel loyalty, because there are other interesting things to watch, rather than the same things that have been repeated, and people only really watch the TV now when it is a big TV event, or if something important is on. Another reason that people may not have watched Cuffs is because the content is not anything new, and there are other foreign dramas that may be m,ore original and interesting. Also, there where no major celebrities in the cast, so people would have been less interested, because they only wanted to see people they had seen before.
