'Television products are significantly influenced by the contexts in which they are produced?'. - How evident is this in Life on Mars?

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'Television products are significantly influenced by the contexts in which they are produced?'. - How evident is this in Life on Mars?

Theory

Liesbet Van Zoonen - Feminist Theory

Her theory is applicable as Liesbet Van Zoonen would argue that objectification (which is demonstrated through the comment made) is a core element of western patriarchy

Curran and Seaton - Power & Media Theory

Life on Mars subverts their theory as it would suggest that the BBC would be in a pursuit of profit at the expense of creativity. Life on Mars is however an innovative programme.

Contexts

Historical

Social

2006

1973

In 1973, the UK had a predominantly patriarchal scoiety

As a result, some of the characters are representative of this

A comment was made about Annie stripteasing

Sam says to Annie Cartwright 'Pretty fancy words for an WPC'

Gene Hunt for instances degrading colloquialism uses the word 'bird'

Cultural

Policing Methods

The Wizard of Oz

An intertextual reference is made to 'The Wizard of Oz' - In Life of Mars, Sam says to dAnnie that he's going to 'follow the yellow brick road.' Dorothy Gale, the main character, is transported to the Land of Oz, and in order to find the wizard, she must follow the yellow brick road.

In the criminal investigation room, the end of the film 'Watch Out, There's a thief about?!" is shown. This was a public information film shown that was screen regularily by ITV in the 1970s.

The title of the show is reference to the song 'Life on Mars', by David Bowie.

BBC2

A girl features in the show, who poses a clown doll, this was an intertextual reference to Test Card F. This is suggested further through the dress worn by the girl in Life on Mars much resembling the one worn by the girl on the Test Card F. It was frequently shown on BBC1 and BBC2 previously, when programmes were not being transmitted.

Chris Skelton

When Chris first meets Sam, he says, 'Blimey you look like you've gone ten rounds with Big Henry' - Chris is making a reference to the English heavyweight boxer Sir Henry Cooper, was known for his powerful left hook, held the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight title several times through out his career, and once knocked down the very prestigious Muhammad Ali.

When Sam travels back in time, he sees a billboard suggesting that the highway is under construction. This is reflective of Back to the Future, this is as the character Marty McFly sees a billboard announcing the construction announcing the construction of the Lyons Estate, where he lived back in 1985 when he went back time to 1955. - This is an apparent use of intertextuality

Policitcal

Economic

The BBC isn't concerned with profits as it is publicly funded, so they can 'afford' to produce television products that are coventional in nature

Hence the fusion of science ficition with a police drama

Industry

BBC

The BBC has a remit that they must adhere to

They must produce content that comes from and reflects the UKs nations, regions and communities

This requirment is fufilled as Life on Mars is set in Manchester

They must produce innovative and challenging products

Life on Mars is innovative and challenging it doesn't conform to the conventions of a typical crime drama as it includes elements of science fiction