Peaky Blinders is a British crime drama series set in post-World War 1 Birmingham, England. The show follows the exploits of the Peaky Blinders gang led by Tommy Shelby as they rise to power in the world of organized crime. The genre is crime fiction and the target audience is television drama enthusiasts and fans attracted to the show airing on BBC Two, as well as a wider audience interested due to the casting of popular actors. While the production value is high, critics note the storylines are less complex than other television dramas due to the shorter six-episode seasons. The show incorporates both conventions of the crime drama genre and some unconventional elements.

1. Genre and Target Audience
Research Task
Peaky Blinders
GENRE AND AUDIENCE RESEARCH TASK!1

2. Summary
Peaky Blinders 2013 -
A gangster period drama set post World War 1 on the return of english soldiers,
we follow the exploits of the notorious Peaky Blinders gang on the corrupt and
lawless streets of Birmingham.
Led by the middle brother Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the feared gang,
recognised by the razorblades sewed into their caps, try to make there way up in
the world of crime.
Peaky Blinders is aired on the BBC Two channel and after a successful first
season got given the chance to make another, even bringing in another big name
and character to the current cast, Tom Hardy.
Season three is currently in the making and is to be shown, once again on BBC
2, some time 2015.
Interview with the writer
Peaky Blinders Uk Premiere - London - 21St August 2013
~Red Carpet News Tv - Youtube Channel~
At the Peaky Blinders UK premiere, writer Steven Knight talked about his
inspirations and what he thought about his show. (Embedded video below).
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3. Themes and Conventions
- Peaky Blinders has been complemented for it’s Cinematography and high
production value, even when budget seems little next to its US ‘rival’ Boardwalk
Empire. However, critics say it’s storylines and plots are rushed and a lot less
complexed than other television drama’s, possibly as it’s only a 6 episode season
other than the standard 12. This is unconventional as TV drama’s are usual
very story oriented.
- Peaky Blinders is conventional in the way that television dramas tend to have
many identifiable, well known locations where we, the viewer, are shown helping
us further understand what’s happening. This is the same in this show.
- It has continuous storylines that run week in, week out and well know tune or
song which is re-occurring .
- Television Dramas tend to have many characters we know quite a lot about,
and a handful we know lots about, (our main characters, antagonist and
protagonist)
Peaky blinders’ sub genre is crime fiction
- Crime dramas tend to show both the ‘antagonist’ and the ‘protagonist’ sides to
keep it more exciting and you more aware what’s going on. Allows for twist and
turns in the plot. Peaky blinders also does this.
- You tend to side with the antagonist (The good guy), however you’re routing
for the criminals on this program. This is unconventional.
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4. Target Audience
How Can I Tell?
Peaky Blinders is aired on BBC 2 which historically programs and screens those
shows which target the arts, drama and culture. Over it’s 30 years, BBC 2 has a
reputation of screening ‘high brow’, prestigious, highly praised and culturally
rich drama series.
Instantly from showing Peaky Blinders on this channel, television drama
enthusiasts and fans are going to be aware and intrigued.
On top of this, through casting large actors it’s targeting a much larger and
broader amount of potential viewers who’ve heard or seen one of these actors
in something else. Although this may have attracted a more wide range of
viewers, this has been picked upon by critics saying it’s against the usual BBC 2
programs as this has more mainstream tendencies.
Summary of Key Points
Overall Peaky Blinders follows most of the themes and conventions of a
television crime drama, However due to what seems like a lack of budget and
time, breaks apart form being a perfect example of a television drama.
The target audience is also very wide as it caters for both television drama
enthusiasts who are used to the same structure, and those who are new to
television dramas but are interested due to the big casting names.
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5. GENRE AND AUDIENCE RESEARCH TASK!5