Texual Analysis of Luther

Luther Extract

In the extract ‘Luther’, mise-en-scene is used to create meaning.

The location is a typical place where crime would occur. It is located in an alleyway within the busy streets of London. This is used because it's a quiet place where no one tends to go, however it is day light which goes against the typical dark alleyway idea.

The blue, cold colour in this extract is a perfect fit to this crime drama as it makes the audience feel a bit uneasy and low. However, it might make a person feel the opposite and make them feel relaxed as they connote a ‘cool’ colour instead of a ‘cold’ colour.

Luther is first filmed  walking, the medium shot shows him from the waist upwards showing his clothes. He is well dressed and this is challenging the common representations of an African male. In our modern day society there are many representations and stereotypes and one of which is that an African may be seen as one of Propp's theory character types, the villan. But in Luther he is the ‘hero’ and that is going against the common representation of an African criminal.

The ‘villain’ is revealed to the audience with a crane shot, showing his attire. He is dressed in all black clothes making the audience presume and feel that he is the criminal, not only because the stereotypical criminal is usually seen in all black but because the connotation of black normally suggest evil and crime which once again makes the audience presume that he will be evil.