CUFFS EXAM Q3

CUFFS EXAM Q. 3 is worth 15 marks. 
3.  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'?
In your answer you should:
􀁸 analyse aspects of the extract giving detailed examples
􀁸 judge how far these aspects create a sense of watching 'real life'

In this extract, it is obvious to the audience that what they are watching is intended to be based in a 'real life' situation. Firstly, the locations are very realistic, for example the shopping areas that we see, full of people, create a sense of realism, because a shopping area is so common and usual in everyday life. The natural lighting and the conventional clothing also adds to the sense that this is a scene based in everyday life. Without the normal clothes and lighting, the scene would be so much less realistic because clothing and what we see play a massive feature in our everyday lives. In addition to the media language used, is the use of the generic conventions of the police drama. For example the new policemen, Jake, and the old policemen, that is showing him around, both fit stereotypical ideas of how they should act, therefore they fit audience expectations and it doesn't undermine the sense of realism; rather enhances it. 

There is also the use of stereotypes added  in, to create the normality of an everyday scene in the audiences minds. For example, the fact that the criminals are obviously male, may make the scene seem more 'real' and scary because it is a generalisation that it would be men and so because they are men, it would enable instant interpretation into what is commencing. There is also the deliberate use of anti-stereotypes. For example, the beat officer wears a head-scarf and so may undermine the sense of realism, depending on the audience member. However, it is also natural to have racial diversity mixed within the show, because it gives the show an all-around approach - which is now almost a need  within the media, because of how our society now views things. 

In addition to this, they use gender equality and diversity, which could take away or add to the realism, depending on the audience member. It is likely to be more realistic though, because this representation of diversity used, fits into the modern timeline of equality requirements - for example, they have a gay policemen, a women policemen that is clearly respected by others, and an officer from ethnic minorities. 

There are also more understandable, able to relate to, scenes. Firstly, the crime scene would be hard for an audience member to relate to, however the tension built through sound and camerawork makes the audience members feel a sense of fear, which opens up an opportunity for the audience to be able to relate to the policemen. We also enter a lunchtime scene, and experience more natural and inside scenes from some of the policemen's lives. As we can relate to these scenes and know what it is like to have lunch with our friends, this mainstream effect and gratifications allows the enhancing of a sense of realism for the audience members. 

when the camerawork gets involved, there is a technique used where they use handheld camerawork. This is when the officer is threatened and it creates a sense of documentary realism. The continuity of the editing and the shot-reverse-shot used also does not draw attention to the artificiality of the scene and therefore enhances its effects. 

The actors and actress's within the extract also act very convincingly. They stick to the roles given and display fear and banter in relevance to their role. Therefore, everything seems incredibly more real then it would, if they actors didn't play their roles accordances.