This documentary examines representations of domestic abuse victims, abusers, and police in depictions of domestic abuse. Victims are portrayed as vulnerable and shaken by their experiences. Abusers are shown as inflicting repeated abuse without remorse. Police are represented as compassionate and aiming to help victims. Through interviews with victims and experts and footage of counseling sessions, the documentary seeks to help audiences understand domestic abuse and support tougher laws against abusers.

1. Panorama: Domestic Abuse

2. Codes and
ConventionsVoice overs
Archival Footage
Background Music
Interviews
Experts
Factual
Dialogue
On / off screen narration

3. Representations of Domestic
abuse victims
The victims of abuse are seen as shaken by their ordeal and
vulnerable, in the documentary . This is used to highlight the
seriousness of the topic and to make the audience feel more
sympathetic .
The older female victim was beaten up by her male partner
this made the abuse more
tragic to the audience this was used to change or challenge
emotions of the audience.
The victims were represented as really vulnerable by being told what to
“eat” or to “put another coat on “
The victim was interviewed however she seemed
really calm which was common as it was so use to her,
this made the audience feel more empathic and worried.
At the end of the documentary

4. Representations Of Abuser’s
The abusers are represented as awful
people as they abuse their victims
repeatedly with no remorse , and ruin
their victims life by controlling them
constantly . This makes the audience
upset and angry as they can see the
impact and distress this has on the
victims.
In this scene we see the victims
attending a counselling session ,
the real impact the abusers have
caused and the amount of victims
make the audience feel a sense of
compassion.

5. Representation of the Police
The police are represented as the “good guys” the “heros” in this
documentary they are seen as compassionate and sensitive to
the topic the police state that
the victims are just surviving they are
also stating the different forms of control should be illegal.
The police are represented as very professional
,adapting to different situations so that they can
help the victim by keeping the situation calm ,
this allows the audience to realise what the
police actually do to help.

6. Modes
This documentary is expository mode because it has a logical arrangement
Throughout it starts of with the victims being abused and then the lead up
to a conviction then the victims trying to rebuild their lives. It also offers a
preferred meaning as the documentary hopes the audience will understand
domestic abuse further, as the documentary makers want the audience to
fight against abusers and the UK’s criminal justice system to make to make
them realise how serious domestic abuse is and how the laws should be
tougher .

7. Target Audiencehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04v
5zpj/panorama-domestic-abuse-caught-
on-camera
• The target audience would be women between the
age of 17-55 , they would be of any ethnicity but
British, they would mostly also be feminists and in
employment or education.
• They’re most likely to be females as females
are more likely to be victims of domestic
abuse , and to feel more inclined to support
other women therefore this documentary
would want them to fight against abusers and
stereotypes.
• There are more likely to be
feminists as well as men are the
abusers most of the time and
feminists want a fair society
through supporting documentary's
where women are subordinate.
Furthermore they are also
likely to be the age of 17-55
because it could have
experienced them in their life
time of are just interested ,
they would still think there is
hope for the women to
rebuild their lives after wards
whereas older people
wouldn’t care as it doesn’t
interest them and they have
other problems to worry
about.

8. Meaning
 The meaning of this documentary suggests that women don’t realise
they are victims of domestic abuse and their own love can lead to
them getting physically hurt. It indicates this through the fact the
women's lives are ruined and have to seek counselling . It also
highlights how certain forms of control used by the abusers aren’t
illegal and law enforcement recognise this but can’t do much, this is
then supported by the fact that the victims often return to their
partners . This documentary uses expert opinions , victims and
archival footage of the victim injuries to get the message across and
to make this message stronger.

9. What this documentary
has taught me
 Watching this documentary has taught me that I can use a lot more
archival footage as it gives a feel of realism to the audience, however the
archival footage would be used to break up the documentary’s actual
footage as it can be boring and go on.
 I have also learnt that not having a on screen presenter as being
entertaining or opinionated empathises the seriousness of the
documentary. Therefore since our documentary is serious we would use
an on screen presenter but just to introduce topic.
 Furthermore we need to be cautious when representing different people
as panorama makes a fair opinion on different groups . So for our
documentary would need both sides of the documentary it needs to be
unbiased and have both sides of the argument so it is valid .