Audience
Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 4.6.4
Audience
The Sweeney was one of the first realistic crime dramas to be aired in Britain.
Crime dramas
- The Sweeney is considered to be the grandfather of realistic, British crime dramas.
- The Sweeney offered something new for British audiences.
- The audience felt they got a genuine insight into British policing.
- The audience was exposed to compelling action and more dynamic characters.
Blumler and Katz's theory
- Blumler and Katz’s uses and gratifications theory can be applied to The Sweeney.
- Blumler and Katz's theory considers why people use certain types of media and what gratifications they get from using them.
- In terms of escapism, there are a plethora of action sequences in the set episode.
- The action sequences provide conventional entertainment.
Detective work
- In The Sweeney, there is an emphasis on detective work.
- The detective work is shown in a high amount of detail.
- This makes it seem as though the audience is investigating with Jack Regan and George Carter.
- The Sweeney provides the potential for surveillance.
- For its time, The Sweeney provides an accurate portrayal of police procedure and aspects of corruption.
Test yourself on Audience
What type of TV show is The Sweeney?
What does The Sweeney provide an accurate portrayal of?