Media Language
Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 4.5.2
Media Language
In the 2010s, the use of settings, props, and costumes was highly conventional in Britain.
Costume
- In suburban areas of London, John Luther is dressed in a conventional waistcoat
- In crime scenes, John Luther is dressed in investigative equipment.
- Luther's costume creates an enigma around his character.
- Luther's clothing is mismatched in terms of colour scheme.
- The variety of dark and light tones presents Luther’s moral ambiguity.
Camerawork
- The camerawork is dynamic throughout the set episode of Luther.
- In the opening scenes, John Luther is chasing Henry Madsen.
- This scene includes a series of close-ups and canted angles.
- This scene has low-key lighting, giving a mysterious and uncertain perspective on Luther.
Cliffhanger
- Luther does not follow a clean three-act narrative structure.
- The episode ends on a cliffhanger.
- Alice Morgan visits Henry Madsen in the hospital.
- Todorov’s narrative theory is subverted with no clear resolution.
- There is a binary opposition between John Luther and Alice.
- The binary is blurred as to whether Luther is the hero.
- Media language in the set episode often constructs Luther as an anti-hero.
Test yourself on Media Language
Which character is John Luther chasing in the opening scenes of the set episode?