QUESTION 3 CUFFS

In this question you will be rewarded for drawing together elements from your full course of study, including different areas of the theoretical framework and media contexts.
How far does the extract try to create a sense that it is portraying 'real life'?

The extract from Cuffs that we see does portray 'real life'. It does this through the use of realism, firstly, the scenes are always set in naturalistic locations, for example, when the police officers are in the shopping precinct, the lighting is very natural unlike some TV shows where it is high key lighting which is very unrealistic and staged. Also, it shows realism because a lot of bad things happen as well as good things, for example, when Jake's sandwich arrives, he can't eat it because he is in a rush and therefore has to leave which shows realism. Finally, their costumes are also very conventional which makes them look more convincing and realistic.

Editing is a key theme to make a show realistic, the use of continuity editing and conventional camera work adds to realism, for example, the use of shot reverse shots makes the series seem less artificial and more as if they characters are just generally talking in their day to day lives. Also, when the PCSO is being threatened, the camera is being hand held as a pose to being very stable and on a tripod, this gives the audience the feeling that she is scared which suggests documentary realism.

The use of generic conventions of the police drama with the young rookie and old hand show a sense of realism as there is usually an older cop mentoring a younger cop, and in the instant it is Jake and his mentor Ashely. There is always also a team of officers, including different genders and ages which fits the audiences expectations and doesn't undermine a sense of reality. Also, they use stereotypical characters to connote realism, for example the criminals are all male which enables instant interpretation which makes the scene appear more real. Contrasting with this, they use deliberate anti-stereotypes like when the female beat officer is in a head scarf, which may reinforce a sense of realism. This helps the audience connect with this character because if you were from an ethnic background that wore a headscarf and they was no representative of this in Cuffs, they may feel that going into the police career isn't for them.

Finally, the extract offers the audience entertainment and diversion for example the visual spectacle of the robbery and the opportunity the audience has to identify with the group of the police officers and how they act like when they were having some lunchtime banter, these mainstream uses and gratifications enhance the realism in the extract.