MS1: TEXTUAL ANALYSIS - Coppers

1. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
You are required to analyse texts showing an understanding of why elements of the text are selected and
how the text is constructed. This question is worth 40% of the 2.5 hour exam.

GENRE
Generic conventions – repetition, typicality, themes Talking directly to the camera – suggests openness
and key signifiers Narrator
Multiple narratives – follows a range of different
people
Part of a series – which is shown in the intro which
promises to look at the ‘reality’ of being a police
officer
Wobbly camera shots / action camera shots seems
more realistic.
Camera shots from behind walls and through
keyhole – looking into what happens to the prisoner
Mise-en-Scene Officer eating his tea – junk food conforms to
certain stereotypes (supported by the vending
machines), corridor suggests his freedom, looked
relaxed and happy
Prisoner at the custody desk – barrier of his arm
between him and the officer, close up of his
emotions, framed in the doorway – enclosed
Mitchell – outside and free – green grass and
childish freedom of the swing. He was smoking a
spliff, graffiti behind him, chains symbolise that his
freedom may be short lived.
Settings and locations Opening credits – we had a variety of locations (the
streets, the cells, the police cars – multitude of
tasks to carry out. (riots, pub kicking out time, cells,
offices etc to highlight al the jobs they do)
Characteristic Plots Locking up and the letting out of the prisoners
Team meetings to discuss prisoners
Individual interviews with both prisoners and
officers
NARRATIVE
Construction The story of a typical day in the Gillingham custody
suite ‘The Five Bars Hotel’
The name ‘Coppers’ is informal slang – which makes
it seem like a realistic view, going beyond the
agreed ideology of police officers as someone who
everyone respects. Perhaps offering us the other
side.
Diegetic sound – cell slamming
Questionnaire at the beginning (where the prisoner
says all has been well in custody) sets the tone for
the narrative. It’s all about how ‘cushy’ life in
custody is for them and hence the ‘five bars hotel’
The easy life of the prisoners – admits he was
 ‘pissed’ and agrees with the officer about why he
was there.
Structure Set up from the start as being ‘real’ – opening
scenes with varied shots of officers about their jobs
and the voice tells us that this is an insight into what
it is really like.
Split screen CCTV cameras of cells so that we can
see any number of prisoners at one time (shows us
the scale of the operation.
Key Codes – action and enigma Leading questions – when the officers are asked ‘Are
you shocked by what you see?’
Locking of the doors
‘See you tomorrow’
Shoe shots outside the door are enigma codes –
who is inside and what have they done?
The roles of characters in the narrative Prisoners/Drunks
Insolent – arm out but then blames officer ‘you
nearly broke my arm’
Custody officers
‘Travelodge’ – comfort – choice of food including
‘luscious lasagne’
In opening shots (different police)
SIGNS AND CODES
Camera shots/angles Police being interviewed – mid shot straight on
shows the documentary’s neutrality and gives the
impression we are getting the direct truth without
bias.
Lots of the criminal behind bars or in some kind of
frame
Close up of people – facial expression to show
reaction and emotion – Mitchell as an example.
Photographic techniques Shaky cam
CCTV
Behind the wall shots
Framing Close up of locks
Trainers outside – symbolic of the type of person /
conform to stereotypes

Editing Quick pace of editing in the opening credits – varied,

fast moving etc.
Criminals juxtaposed with the officers
Lighting Well lit police desks and darker on the ‘prisoner
side’
Simple colours in keeping with the police uniform
and suggesting it is a place of order and detention –
could symbolise it is a bit dull!
Special Effects Not used to get a sense of ‘realism’

AUDIO CODES
Dialogue ‘lock ‘em all up’ and ‘bang their heads together’ –
 frustration / a ‘real’ viewpoint
Narrator – ‘lock up 2 million of us’ – relate to the
audience seems relevant like it is ‘us’ and ‘them’
‘Booyakasha’ – sense of humour and excitement of
the job
Discussions

Music Plinky plonky music

Sound Effects

FURTHER NOTES:

Narrator – primary purpose – leads us through what happens, sense of overview and subjectivity

Part of editing process – added after and on reflection.

Some leading questions in interviews

Using the same voice for interviews/narration makes it seem more credible.

He speaks to us giving it an intimate, realistic feel

FUTILITY of the outcome – Mitchell admits the police are ‘crap’ and he hid the evidence and we are told
that 6 hours later he is released.

Reappearing – example of the boy with all the photos

Essay structure:
Genre bring in the codes & mise en scene at
each point where appropriate
Narrative

Genre conventions
Genre - Setting
Genre - Characters