Home Learning Task 2

You will examine and compare the way the "law" is represented in different dramas. Issues of representation to analyse: authority, gender, race as well as whether the representations are sympathetic, realistic etc... How do the producers position the audience in relation to the detectives / officers?
TASK: Write a comparative essay analysing the representations of the ‘law’ in the 2 extracts from The Wire and A Touch of Frost.


In English and American crime dramas the police are represented in a variety of ways and is often shown in contrasting styles. From both types we are shown what perspective the Law(police/detectives) have on different criminal acts and how they deal with it. The way 'A Touch of Frost' and 'The Wire' are constructed we get a biased opinion towards the police and we feel obliged to be on their side. Both of the shows stereotype certain characters, for instance the crimes committed will be from young black men and the head officer will be a veteran. From the screen grab we can see the lead detective instigating his men as he has all the experience. Also, the stereotype that can be seen from the extract of 'The Wire' is that the guy in question is a young black guy(see below) who seems as if he is involved in some sort of gang activity. As well as these stereotypes there are also counter types that challenge traditional stereotypical associations. In some cases there are archetypes which is the 'ultimate' stereotype.



The Wire is a US crime drama located in Baltimore in the 'ghetto' where the main issues seem to revolve around murder, drugs and gangs. From the extract of The Wire we can understand that somebody has died and the victims friend is overlooking the scene while talking to a cop who doesn't really look like he's on duty as he is dressed casually and talking to the victim's friend as if they are fond of each other. This could be seen as a negative representation of black people as the two victims involved are both black and we could infer that there was some sort of shooting that took place. Some people may believe that this is an okay representation as some people will have witnessed gang activity involving young black men and would therefore seem like a realistic representation to show. This representation has been used because it can be easily understood and followed. The show isn't trying to give young black men an unfair representation as the cast also includes a black man working for the police too.


The shots used during the extract are a variety of close ups between the two while chatting, this shows how close the two characters are and also emphasises the fact on how important the character may be. The end of the extract then zooms out to the dead body and focuses onto it and then blurs out to the background. The titles then roll on, this shows that because the opening ended like this and an enigma has been created, the rest of the show will unravel the murder and we will know the full story.


Crime dramas often show the perspective of the Law to make the audience feel sympathetic towards the Law. In the extract we see the detective being friendly and agreeable with the victim, this gives us the impression that the detective (Dominic West) is a good character and also to show the police in a good manner.


In the British crime drama 'A Touch of Frost' is also shown in a similar fashion. This show also shows the perspective of the law but the characters show a brutal side(to the left) of the law. The show has given David Jason the role of being the veteran detective with all the tricks. This is backed up by when he tricks the security into helping him push his van but then they are ambushed as his van was working fine and the police were inside the van(as shown in the screen grab to the right).


This stereotype has been created to give a representation of how the police may try to go about with their work by enforcing violence to stop crimes happening (dog fighting in this instance). The main character is the detective, and he is the one that organises and instigates how the police should work by using his patience, composure and wit.


In conclusion I believe that the law is represented in a positive manner as the directors always try to make the audience feel sympathy toward the main cop/detective. The main difference between the two are the characters. A Touch of Frost has an old detective who has 'been there, done that' while The Wire has a fairly young main cop who is handsome. Because one is young and one is old we can feel sympathy for both of them.