Capital: Representations

Notes from class (episode 1)

1) Watch episodes two and three of Capital and write a 50-word summary of each.

• Episode 2; to conclude the second episode of Capital, Arabella returns after Christmas and seems less concerned about Matya's presence than Roger's decreased bonus, even when Roger takes the nanny to a charity auction and spends almost two thousand pounds on a picture for her. Quentina is taken to a detention centre to await deportation whilst D.I. Mill calls an ineffectual meeting regarding the postcards as now dead rats are being pushed through letter boxes instead . Four months later Petunia dies and daughter Mary calls in quarrelling Polish builders Piotr and Bogdan to renovate the house, Bogdan making a spectacular discovery. Ahmed and is family are not happy when his mother suddenly arrives from Karachi but worse is to come as they are all arrested by armed police.

• Episode 3; to conlude episode three, as the police investigation into the 'We Want What You Have' campaign leads them in an unexpected direction, DI Mill hopes to secure a confession. Meanwhile, with Shahid's life turned on its head, the Kamal family's faith in one another is tested to the limits. When Roger has a change of fortune, both Arabella and he are forced to take drastic measures. Elsewhere, Bogdan tries to change his life for the better. As he looks for love close to home, an unexpected temptation threatens to derail everything. As Quentina tries to make the best of her situation, Mashinko struggles to connect. Elsewhere, as Smitty's new artwork reaches completion, he makes a startling discovery. 

2) Write an analysis of the representation in each of the key scenes from episode 1 we studied in class:

Scene 1: opening sequence 00:30 – 4.49

London - within the first scene, London was represented as a big city which was shown through the crane shots/birds eye view of the city where we are also shown the city at night; this could represent that London is a ‘city that never sleeps’ is always alive, even at night. The use of montage editing of the old lady’s life could represent that fact that London is a city in which you could spend the majority of your life, build a career, raise and family and grow old in. Within the scene, there was dialogue indicating that houses in the area where worth upwards of a million pounds, which could present the idea that London is an expensive place to live in, however it does hold some of the most diverse communities (Pakistani family and a white lady)

Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10

Ethnicity and religion - throughout the whole of this scene, the characters were very heavily dominated by white male figures dressed in expensive suits and working in a big office block; this is representative of the typical working class man in London. 

Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35

Family and gender - in this scene, we are presented the typical wife stereotype within a marriage where the man is earning all the money; the wife complains about all the necessary things she needs to remain contenent with their lifestyle (e.g: wet room) while her husband is out working and coming home to provide for his family, even though they are very well off. 

Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40

Issues: immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, aging - this scene is a representation of how women, especially those who are immigrants, are treated; the black female works as a parking warden and gets paid off the books. However, she gets exploited; instead of getting the £300 she earned, she received £200 and was told to kiss the man on the cheek to receive her money. 

Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00 

Issues: immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, aging - The representation of wealthy people is shown through the scene of Roger drinking away at the fact that he is not receiving his bonus, and instead he is only cashing in £30, 000, despite the millions he has earned the company. To an average middle class person, this amount of money would be appreciated, however to the wealthy, this amount of money accumulates to nothing for them; this presents them as selfish, greedy and out of touch with society.

3) How does Capital use stereotypes? Do the characters and issues represented in Capitalreinforce or subvert the stereotypes we typically see in the media?


Capital uses the stereotype of the wealthier people in society being quite arrogant and ignorant which can be seen in episode 1. This is a reinforced stereotype as we typically see rich people being represented in this way in the media. The illegal immigrant in Capital is represented in a way which makes the viewer feel sympathetic towards her which is a subvert of the negative stereotype usually used to portray immigrants in the media. The stereotype of Europeans often being builders is reinforced which can be seen in episode 2. In terms of Muslim families and values, I believe that stereotypes are re enforced as he is presented as family orientated business man