With reference to at least four police dramas explain how the genre of police crime drama has changed over time

‘With reference to at least four police dramas explain how the genre of police crime drama has changed over time.’

Crime drama has always been featured as one of the most popular genres of our society. However over the year’s crime drama has been changed and adapted to fit into different times. Many aspects of crime drama have been changed such as camera shots, seriousness of crimes and police language/jargon in order for crime drama to change with the times, become more realistic and retain its former popularity.

Throughout time many crime programmes featured on T.V have changed through Media language (Iconography, editing, camerawork and music). The Bill, first created in 1984 featured a lot of Iconography. At the start of the title sequence the camera focuses on a police shield on top of a police hat. This can be seen as one of the obvious symbols of the police. It can be compared to a later title sequence in the late 80’s, which featured a close up of a blue light. This can be seen as more symbolic, symbolising the way in which good overcomes evil compared to the way police overcome crime. In the mid 90’s a new tile sequence was used. Here we see many different images such as fingerprints, a close up of the police cell, mug shots, data on a computer screen and a police cell door closing. Here Iconography is more varied and is used to portray the different aspects of a policeman’s job and show how the nature of police work has changed. It has also become more modern and features more technology. The final title sequence created in 2000 features less iconography. We see images of the victims of crime and the different emotions they experience. This allows viewers to see the emotions that people experience by being victims of crime. This can be seen as very symbolic in contrast to the original title sequence of the Bill.

Camera shots and editing have also changed. Older title sequences of the Bill used long camera shots, which were not varied and were focused on a particular person. However over the years as technology has improved the title sequences have become faster paced and use shorter and varied camera shots that create feelings of excitement and tension for the viewer.

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Music has also changed. The original title sequence (1984) featured reggae style music and used off beat instruments. This suggested that the programme was based in a multi-cultural area. The music in the late 80’s was more upbeat and faster paced, however it featured the same theme tune. The music in the mid 90’s was jazzy and sophisticated. Music has become more upbeat due to changes of personalities in society. However the theme tune has remained the same in order for people of different times to identify the programme as a long remaining classic.

The storylines of each title sequence have also changed over time. In the original title sequence we do not see the police’s face. This indicates that the main emphasis of the programme is on the job of the police rather than their characters. The slow moving music and camera shots convey the sense that the programme does not feature dangerous crimes but simple crimes such as theft or burglary. However the late 80’s title sequence shows clips of the police in action. It focuses more on the police activities and the viewer see thefts and car chases. The crimes are quite simple however the music suggests that the storyline is more exciting than the original. The mid 90’s title sequence suggests more serious crimes as we see mug shots, fingerprints and data. In the 2000 title sequence we see a recap of what has happened on the last episode. The recap showed us a policeman getting shot, a serious crime.

An increase in the use of technology has affected the genre of crime drama. As technology has improved crime dramas have become faster paced and use shorter and varied camera shots that create feelings of excitement and tension for the viewer. This suggests a more appealing programme featuring a more serious crime.

Police drama has become very important to many T.V networks. Many programmes such as the Bill have become a main attraction for their channels and have increased their popularity. We can tell the Bill is important to ITV as it is sponsored. This indicates that sponsors want their product to be associated with the Bill as it is popular and causes more people to buy their product. This proves it is an important asset to ITV.

Over the years police drama has become very popular. To some people this is because crime drama features tension and suspense, a way in which people can experience danger without getting involved themselves. To others crime drama is popular as it is realistic, as crime is something that happens in every society and in all social classes, a genre that affects everyone. For other people crime drama is simply reassuring, a genre in which good always overcomes evil and where you feel that society is under the right protection.

Police drama has good as well as bad points. Crime drama is popular as the seamy side of life fascinates people and allows them to identify with that side of their character. However crime drama also makes us believe that crime is a regular thing that we should not be shocked by.

Crime drama always features the police overcoming crime. In this way police are always represented as positive contributors to the running of society whether in 1952 or 2004. Police drama will always feature a crime that is the most horrific in their time and this is one-way crime drama will adapt in the future.

By Sonam Raja 10:16