The scheduling of cuffs was significant because it was before watershed at 8pm. this means children and families were allowed to see a mans naked behind, suicide, homosexual and a brothel. by having this shown its almost like everything is desensitised as younger kids now are used to things like this happening and they aren't out of the blue. this is why it is shown before the watershed.
How were the following areas represented in the episode:
- Ethnicity:
- Gender:
- Sexuality:
The episode is a good historical document of political, social, cultural climate of the 2010s.
Ethnicity is represented in cuffs throughout, this is highlighted throughout the episode as the main character P.C Ryan Draper is a coloured and is seen as the main hero in the play, this would never be seen during the 1980s and is a significant change during the 2010s. The only negativity that is shown in the episode is the racism that occurs in the shop, where a white man and his gang stab a muslim whose in the shop with a screwdriver, they begin calling him names and assaulting the man. Racism still acts today though and in the media it is highlighted against muslims due to current terrorist attacks and the country wanting to leave the EU. Cuffs highlight the ongoing acts of this and use it in the episode as an awareness to others that racism is still on going.
Gender is represented in a negative format by having two female officers speak about P.C Jake Vickers asking if they think he's fit, this portrays the writer of cuffs as being very against females even tho they are given a powerful roll as they are still seen to being helpless towards the bank robbery that occurs. We also find out that Jo Moffat, who works at the station had a current affair with Jakes dad, the chief whose wife has cancer, this again is portraying females in a negative light into society.
Sexuality is portrayed in a positive light throughout the play as one of the main characters P.C Jake Vickers is gay and is shown to be sexualised when he has a shower, this is very uncommon in older series, but due to Cuffs presenting the new 2010 ideology of life they zoom in on him washing himself and rubbing his hands through his hair. We also see him flirting with the lawyer and getting his number, this shows how very common same sex relationships are, and this is mainly because David cameron had only recently legalised same sex marriages a few years before cuffs was released.
Sexuality is portrayed in a positive light throughout the play as one of the main characters P.C Jake Vickers is gay and is shown to be sexualised when he has a shower, this is very uncommon in older series, but due to Cuffs presenting the new 2010 ideology of life they zoom in on him washing himself and rubbing his hands through his hair. We also see him flirting with the lawyer and getting his number, this shows how very common same sex relationships are, and this is mainly because David cameron had only recently legalised same sex marriages a few years before cuffs was released.
