Texts 2 Life on Mars - Narrative

• Learning objectives: To study The Life on Mars with consideration given to narrative issues Structure, Conventions, key codes.
• Key words: Structure, conventions, subplots

Typical characters

• Crime dramas usually include three types of character:

The ones who solve the crimes (detectives, private eyes, police officers, forensic scientists).
The ones who commit the crimes (criminals, murderers, thieves).
The victims (the ones who get murdered, attacked, robbed, beaten up, mugged, stolen from, burgled).

Dominant British ideology says that the law is good and criminals should be punished but Detective Gene Hunt (Phillip Glenister) challenges this through his heavy handed approach. 
In the seventies this approach was accepted as was the sexism and racism that was prevalent at the time. Hunt's dialogue is often politically incorrect. A well known line from LoM is 'What next? Dwarfs?'

The clash between the different historical eras transforms into an abrupt collision between Sam and Gene's outlook on life and their profession, as well as those of the other police officers at the station, with special attention paid to the relationship with the women in the series, in particular, with that of WPC Annie Cartwright - Liz White.

In this respect, Life on Mars engages skilfully in subplots depicting relationships between characters that strengthen and and provide depth to the narrative.
Examples include the romantic relationship between Sam and Annie as well as the confrontations between Sam and the other officers.

Another interesting aspect is the way the narrative structure of the two worlds allows the series to explore the internal conflicts of the characters.

This in particular APPEALS to the audience.
Life on Mars puts aside a mere interest in a particular plot (what happens to Sam Tyler? How will he get back to the present) and engages the audience in other ways.

Task 1: Bullet points - What ways does LoM appeal to audiences?
Consider:
Young and Rubicam 4C's

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Typical plot / storyline

• The typical plot centres around solving a crime (the murder, attack, burglary)

• The story usually follows those who solve the crime (the detectives, police)

• The crime is not usually solved until the end of the episode or programme.
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To keep you interested…Plot devices

• One of the pleasures of TV Crime drama is watching the crime get solved. But if it was solved too quickly or easily, it wouldn’t be interesting. So Crime Drama plots usually have:

• A mystery or enigma at the start – a puzzle or mystery – who killed the dead man? And why?

• Lots of suspense – will they catch the killer in time?

• A red herring – will they arrest the wrong person; do the clues point to an innocent person?

• Some personal drama – the detective's marriage is falling apart; the detectives fall out with each other; the detective loses his promotion.

Plot devices

• Discuss: What aspects of the plot devices can you see?

• Mysteries or enigmas?

• Suspense?

• Red herrings?

• Personal drama?
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• Life on Mars and Narrative

8 episodes in the series. Ashes to Ashes a sequel series (2008 - 2010) was set in the 80's.

Goal oriented - there is a case to be solved in each episode. Fiske talks about the 'male desire' for goals to be set and solved - links to male characters and the audience.

Case to be solved (murder = inciting incident), investigation comprises most of narrative - differing leads and a narrative twist (typical of the detective genre) as the original suspect, Roger Twilling, is not the murderer.

Story arc within each episode - common setting and characters but individual narrative case provides pleasure for both the regular and the one off viewer.

This episode is cyclical in terms of location

Sam's narrative which is continuing begins and ends at his flat with communication from Auntie Heather through the TV.

The murder investigation narrative begins and ends at the scrubland. 
This is a reassuring closure at the end as the murderer is caught.

Binary oppositions: 

Gene vs Sam Often in conflict over police approaches but also side kicks that actually compliment each other.

1973 vs 2006

Older vs younger Set in his ways and open to new ideas

Sexist vs 'New man'

This is an example of a question from a past exam:

‘Most texts today mix genres.’ How true is this of your text? [30]

Task 3:

Answer the following question in relation to Life on Mars:

Explore the narrative structure of your text.
Identify political incorrectness within the episode.

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Todorov

• Todorov suggested that most stories follow five stages:

• Equilibrium – everything is normal at the start

• Disruption – something happens: a crime, a mystery

• Recognition – people see something has happened and react to it

• Attempt to repair – people try to put things right, solve the crime, catch the criminal

• Resolution - everything is solved, worked out, fixed, and there is a new equilibrium.

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