Critical Investigation: Task 4

"To what extent is Luther a positive representation of black masculinity?"

Essay Plan 

1) Introduction to essay, brief description regarding TV shows Luther - stereotypes and ethnicity 

• My critical investigation is going to show the positive and negative representations of black masculinity through the TV show Luther which is featured on BBC. It will show ethnic minority and how black males are represented throughout TV shows and movies, especially in the UK. Racism has decreased majorly throughout the country in the last 20 years and how does this show on TV shows and throughout the media, how shows are now developing to have a black character play a protagonist especially one that is shown on the BBC   (R)
•  Stereotypes regarding black males and what masculinity is – how I am going to argue that Luther is either a  positive of negative representation of black males, moreover those who work for the police force.  (S) (R)

2)  Representations of black characters and ethnic minorities within TV shows that have been shown on channels such as BBC 1, ITV 1 and Channel 4 and how this has developed throughout the years ?

Representations have been exaggerated throughout the many different TV shows throughout the years; this has been seen in many shows even shows like reality shows such as ‘Big Brother’ but more importantly on TV soaps that are broadcasted on national TV. “Most white viewers said that broadcasters were doing a good job, but black and Asian ethnic groups did not”. ‘Eastenders’, ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘Big Brother’ those that have been targeted by many ethnic groups.  Many of these shows reinforce representations of ethnic minorities than play them down. “EastEnders has aired the first episode featuring an entirely black cast in its 23-year history.” “Usual in America, casts are usually multi-racial”. (R) (S) (A)

3) How have black characters been forced to fulfil a stereotype set for them which forces them to act as criminals therefore giving a negative representation of black masculinity 

Throughout the years we have become accustomed with the stereotype of black characters being seen as criminals and the antagonist’s, this forces the audience to see all black characters this way. This also puts of many institutions from having a black protagonist as a main character. Which forces many actors to say that young black males should go to countries like America such as Idris Elba did.  "Unfortunately there really aren't that many roles for authoritative, strong, black characters in this country. We just don't write those characters, that's a fact." – David Harewood. How have black peoples representations changed over the years and how a stereotype was set for them which forced them to act as criminals, this was an era they went through in America throughout the 1960s while there was the Black Power movement.  “The popular image of African-American males has gone through several transformations since the rise of the Black Power movement in the late 1960s.” And how the future is set for them from the early stages of school. School standards, along with the influence of the music/fashion culture outside of school, have led some boys to reappropriate sexist and racist perceptions of black masculinity. (S) (A)

4) The development of black masculinity after events such as the Stephen Lawrence murder, and how this changed the Medias landscape to black representations 

Since the murder of Stephen Lawrence a lot changed in the British Media, due to severe media attention, the Medias landscape changed towards black males. “Black and Asian victims of violent death did not get the same attention as White victims; however, the murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence by White racists in 1993 received high-profile coverage both on television and in the press”. So for British media the change began in the 90’s, while this was going on, we saw the introduction of the all black TV show; ‘Desmond’s’ which was broadcasted on Channel 4.  The Prime Minister has said the racist killing of Stephen Lawrence "sparked monumental change". A lot of black characters began appearing on TV shows such as Eastenders. (S) (H) (P) 

5) How has Idris Elba shown positive or negative representations of black masculinity?

Idris Elba has been known to play many roles in the media from television shows such as ‘The Wire’ to movies such as ‘Thor’. He first came about the media scene in the 90’s and was on the famous Channel 5 show; ‘Family Affairs’ Idris Elba has been known to play many roles in the media from television shows such as ‘The Wire’ to movies such as ‘Thor’. He first came about the media scene in the 90’s and was on the famous Channel 5 show; ‘Family Affairs’. Since then he has travelled to America and become a regular on the Hollywood scene starring in hit movies such as 'Thor' and 'Takers'. We also saw Idris Elba feature vastly in the major hit show: 'The Wire' which portrayed him as a drug dealer. This was quickly juxtaposed when we saw him feature as a DCI in BBC's hit crime drama; Luther.  "Unfortunately there really aren't that many roles for authoritative, strong, black characters in this country. We just don't write those characters, that's a fact." – David Harewood We also know that Idris Elba is set to feature as Nelson Mandela in the new movie about Nelson Mandela which would portray Elba as a very positive representation of black masculinity, also being one of the few British actors that travel to America and make hit shows and feature as major stars in blockbusters would show Idris Elba himself shown as a positive representation for Black males.“Usual in America, casts are usually multi-racial” (R) (S) (H) 

6) Can Luther show a positive  representation of black males and how does the audience react to this ? 

"In their annual report for 2002/03, the BBC they were losing black viewers and listeners. Many are instead tuning into satellite channels with programming that includes Black sitcoms" Luther is featured on BBC. show's ethnic minority and how black males are represented throughout TV shows and movies, especially in the UK. Racism has decreased majorly throughout the country in the last 20 years and how does this show on TV shows and throughout the media, how shows are now developing to have a black character play a protagonist especially one that is shown on the BBC. The fact that Luther does whatever he can do to help people and get justice portrays him as a positive representation of black males, even though he is seen as an antagonist for many episodes. "Luther - "Luther is a DCI who leads a private and professional life of its 'maverick protagonist' or his willingness to tear up the rule book." A black character is not usually seen as a positive character, we usually see them as very negative. An alternative stereotype regarding black characters which we hardly see. Luther is a good character also is a DCI - something we would not expect due to the black community usually hating the police for various racial reasons (Stephen Lawrence case). Goes against stereotype of black people hating police officers and creates an alternative stereotype of a black detective chief inspector.  "if he wasn’t a policeman he’d be a criminal, no doubt, but he’s not criminally minded. He’s not mean or vindictive. He is tender and passionate but he has a lot of rage’ (Radio Times)" (H) (R) (S) 

7) How shows like Dixon of Dock Green and other crime dramas in the 20th century infiltrated black stereotypes ?

The second text I looked at was Dickson of Dock Green a British show which was broadcasted on the BBC from 1955 to 1976, it was a television series following activities of police officers in London, majorly in the East End of London. It usually focused on small crimes in the community and Dixon was portrayed as a great influence on his colleagues through his family like nature. He was also a protagonist who always solved the case therefore being portrayed very positively. This show was similar in some ways to my text Luther, in both we see a determined police officer who did whatever they could to solve the case Dixon and Luther were both somewhat family men, who put work before family, both were also set in London."Luther offers a more diverse array of female characters than many crime dramas, tend to prevaricate narrow cultural stereotypes representing women as victims or career wheeled professionals." However Luther was different in the way that it showed more high profile cases whereas Dixon of Dock Green showed more shows that were community crimes, still high profile in a way but not as big as Luther, Dixon of Dock Green then became somewhat of a soap whereas we see Luther being shown in 3 episodes through one season which is usually shown once in the calendar year. Another thing that separated both was the colour of their skins."The BBC’s new crime drama Luther is the first major drama series to have its eponymous hero played by a black actor. DCI John Luther, played by British actor Idris Elba, is familiar from his role as ‘Stringer’ Bell the drug lord with business acumen in The Wire. He was also in the US version of Extras. A dark psychological crime drama star." (H) (S) (E) (P)

8) Conclusion 

In the conclusion I will sum up how Luther’s character can be seen as a positive representation towards black masculinity, on the way I will sum up how black stereotypes have changed over the years and how audiences have become more comfortable with having black males as the protagonist, something we would have not have seen during the time of the TV show ‘Dixon of Dock Green’, I will also conclude by saying how historical events in places such as the UK and America have helped change the landscape of British Media and how they view black characters, even though the hegemonic stereotype of black men still exists, we are moving away from that stereotype and due to social cases such as the 'Stephen Lawrence murder case', we are slowly changing stereotypes of black individuals and accepting ethnic minorities on TV as protagonists.