1. Week Five
Compare the differing representations of people in ‘The Might
Redcar’, ‘Benefits Street’ and ‘Skint’.
I think in each documentarywhich I have watched there are a number of
differencesbetween the people in that certain town. When watching ‘The
Mighty Redcar’ there is a running theme throughout thedocumentarythat
anyone who is trying to get work is more motivated compared to ‘Benefits
Street’ and ‘Skint’. Especially in the scene where Kat’s mum had managed to
save £10 a month for Kat’sprom dress, she works three jobs yet she is still
trying to be a good mum. Compared to Benefits street the people almost seem
proud that they are sponging off the government and that they don’t need a job
at the beginning until the government reduces the benefits then people try find
work. A lot of the people who arefeatured on the TV series ‘Benefits Street’
seem to have a problem with alcohol or drug abuse. Because of their problems
they areunable to work, however the way that the director of ‘Benefits Street’
was produced it, it is almost as if they want some sympathy because they’ve
ended up getting addicted and can’t find a way out. Skint is a documentary
filmed from 2013 to 2015. Theepisode which we watched was located in
Grimsby. In this episode, it focuses on a fisherman who like other males in this
town lost his job and is struggling to providefor his fiancée. I think ‘Skint’
focuses moreon the fact that the industry which they all worked in closed down
and they are blaming that. I think if the people who were interviewed in ‘Skint’
really wanted a job they could get it, like ‘Benefits Street’ I think all they want is
sympathy whereas in ‘The Mighty Redcar’ they actually are motivated to get
jobs and providefor their family.
What do you think the aim of each of these programs is?
I think the aim of ‘TheMighty Redcar’ is the fact that their main industry may
have been closed down but they are trying to get through the times ahead.
They don’t want the negative stereotype based on where they arefrom.
However, this is where ‘Skint’ and ‘Benefits Street’ are alike. These two
documentariestheir aim is for people to be sympathetic for the way that their
lives have become this taunt of waiting for the benefits to come in so that they
can either go spend the moneyon alcohol or drugs(which is shown in Benefits
Street) and that their families can survive on the benefits.
Are these programs biased?
I think in a certain way these programs arebiased. These peoplein the
documentarieshave only ever experienced what they have experienced, they
have never been anywhere where someone’sliving conditions may be worse
than theirs.
