which did not.
Inquestioning the realism of "Z Cars" I discovered that there was an omitance of background
noises and realistic background settings(i.e. in police station) in comparison to "The Bill" which
provided a range of back ground noises(i.e. verbal conversations, trauma etc) which helped
create a more realistic environment. This personally reasurred the realism for me as a viewer.
However the fact that "The Bill" embodied superior characteristics, in creating a realistic
envionment, was solely induced by the massive advances in technology in comparison to the
early 1960s where they had to rely more on the content of what was expressed. This allowed
"The Bill"l to effectively incorporate sub-plots which embodied differing environments. For
example a range of robberies were able to be portrayed, within the same episode that a police
inquest was being carried out at a hospital.
When analysisng the content which was expressed in "Z Cars", I recognised that many of the
issues which were raised, are still dealt with in "The Bill". For example death, burglary and
relationships. It became very obvious when analysing the relationships within "Z Cars" that men
and women were thought to have very different roles. ( i.e. the male was the sole bread-winner
and the woman as a more domestic housewife) This is very symbolic of how men and women
were perceived at that time which would thus mean that "Z Cars" was inline with the time it was
set. "The Bill" contained men and women police officers and also black minorities. This
highlighted a sense of racial/gender equality which is now current in society.
In "Z Cars" women were portrayed as being anti-criminal. There was not one scene where a
female was related directly to crime . In the 1960s women were predominately perceived not to
contain the capacity for criminal activity. This proved that the portayal of societies attitude, in
relation to female crime, was inline with the time the programme was set. This contrasted with "
The Bill" which not only portrayed women enforcing justice, but also carrying out criminal
activity.
The inclusion of female police officers allowed an obvious contrast in police costumes between
the 1960's and current day. I identified that the attributions that the costumes contained
contrasted more than the basic uniforms. For example many police officers in "Z Cars"
decorated their unforms with a handkerchief in their front pocket. This demonstrated the polices
current view on the significance of presentation. However officers in "The Bill" also contained
bullet-proof clothing. This helped to demonstrate the polices incorporation of advances in
technology since 1960, but also the very need for the police to wear bullet-proof clothing
demonstrates how society are still able to poccess weapons of distruction."The Bill" presented
their officers proffesionally. ( e.g. shirt tucked in, tie, jacket, clean shaven etc) thus bringing to
light a relational importance in presentation between 1960 and the current day.
However I did identify many cultural differences between "the Bill" and "Z Cars". For example
smoking, drinking and gambling were exclusively endorrsed through enriching diologue in "Z
Cars" . During the 1960's this was part of many peoples culture. That would thus make "Z Cars"
inline with the times. Smoking was not promoted on "The Bill", but was directly related to
criminals( i.e. a criminal smoking) This would imply a negative attitude towards smoking which
is promoted in modern day society. That would also make the diologue expressed in the bill
inline with its times, but further more demonstrate a negative perception of criminals; from many
police officers. This corrosponds with "Z Cars", which also demonstates a lack of understanding
into the criminal mind, when a police officer exclusively sterotyped all criminals as"Nut cases"
However there were cultural similarites which were related to police in both dramas.( e.g.
drinking tea)
When analysing the content in "Z Cars" and "The Bill" it became apparent that the language
was not particulary colourful. ( i.e. no swearing) As much as I not understand the importance of
this sensoring( i.e. watershedding the language so the content is appropricate for the time the
programme appears on television.) it decreases the realism.
When analyising the content expressed in "the Bill" I felt that it flowed very well. The body
language of the characters complemented the content and furthered my belief that it captured
realistic events.
I identified a range of camera angles during differing environments. For example close-up shots
were used to help convey itimanacy. This corresponds with "Z Cars" which also used close-up
shots during intimate events. However I felt the dialogues at times did not flow and felt forced.
This decreased its realism. Colloquialisms were included within the content. ( e.g. in z cars yes
was substituted for "I") This was a substitution of text which often occurred in the 1960's. That
would make the language conveyed in "Z Cars" inline with the times. This substituation of text
was also apparent in "The Bill".( e.g. arrest was substituted for "nick")
Even though the trends in language differed in "Z Cars" and "the Bill", they both universally
issued a critism of the system. I felt the system in "the Bill" was very realistic. This is because
it brought to light many events which occur in everday life. ( e.g. bullying and sex abuse.) Sex
abuse is something which is still today spoken about in a very discreet form. That would thus
make "The Bill" daring. Further more these are events which often do occur in modern day
society. This ultimalely increases the realism and thus appeal of the programme.
I felt at times "Z Cars" under emphasized events. For example would it not be a conventional
thought to expect physical abuse to be treated with compassion? It became apparent that in "Z
Cars" the projection of sympathy and compassion was exchanged with humour.(For example a
policemen's wife had been beaten and a friend of the wife, when enlightened of this occurance,
dramtically under emphasised the importance of the event; by projecting a humerous reaction)
This demonstrates its under emphasise of important situations which decreases its realism.
I felt that the characteristics that many characters embodied, such as compassion and
sympathy were very one dimensional in both "The Bill" and "Z Cars". This ultimately makes both
series less realistic and decreases its appeal.
I conclude by stating that there are many correlations between "Z cars" and "The Bill".However
the amount of contrasts clearly outweighed the correlations. I believe this is as a result of the
massive changes in culture that has taken place between the 1960's and present day which
have been induced by the massive advances in technology and public awareness. For example
sexual abuse, which was presented in "The Bill". This demonstrated that "The Bill"
successfully portrayed a modern day police drama The increases in public awarness and
technology have thus ultimately then affected the events and responses which occur in modern
day society.
