Luther Essay –
The media
production ‘Luther’, in the form of a TV crime drama, can have multiple
theorists and theories applied to it. Specific theorists include those of
Propp, Straus and Barthes.
Firstly,
Propp’s theory outlines common character traits that are typically featured
within media texts. The character archetypes featured in the drama include
anti-hero, helper, dispatcher and villain. The anti-hero of the production is
DCI John Luther who completes his role as a police officer in a series of
immoral events. For instance, whilst Luther is on the side of the law he
carries an illegal weapon that he could use if circumstances demanded nefarious
behaviour. Furthermore, Luther also kidnaps a crime boss, George Cornelius, and
handcuffed him to a radiator in an abandoned building in order to gain
information on a case, which he was not to be involved in. The helper of the
program is DS Emma Lane who aids the anti-hero, Luther, in his endeavours to
solve the cannibal killer case and capture the criminal. For example, DS Emma
Lane takes the law into her own hands when she steals Luther’s weapon and
shoots the criminal in order to rescue a civilian family. Also, the dispatcher
is Megan, the fake psychic, who drip-feeds Luther information that she has acquired
through previous connections allowing Luther to complete a previously
unfulfilled promise. Moreover, the villain of the episode is Steven Rose who is
the serial killer responsible for the string of murders and cannibalism of the
bodies.
Secondly,
Straus’ theory revolves heavily around opposites such as binary opposites
between good and evil and conflicting moral characteristics represented in the
anti-hero. Binary opposites bear a striking resemblance to the foil method; this
discusses the way in which the audience learns more about both of the
characters presented due to their differences exposing their characteristics. The
most significant opposites present in the episodes are that of the criminals
and the law enforcers, the anti-hero DCI John Luther and the criminals of each
episode and finally, more implicitly, the conflicting opposites within Luther’s
mind of morality and actions governed by his emotions.
Finally,
Barthes’ theory describes narratives as “a ball of string” that “can be
unravelled in either one or many ways”. Barthes created five narrative codes,
three of which were featured heavily throughout the two episodes of ‘Luther’.
The three theories depicted within the characters of the program most
significantly are the Enigma code, Action code and the Semantic code. The first
code is the Enigma code that refers to elements of the story that are not fully
explained therefore creating a mystery for the audience to unravel.
Additionally, this code works with the Action code to develop tension and
engage the audience. For instance, examples of the enigma code within ‘Luther’,
as a series, include the mystery surrounding Alice Morgan, her relation to the
diamonds and how and why she died. Although, there is also another episode
specific plot enigma code revolving around the acts of a deranged, cannibal,
serial killer; the audience are unaware as to why the killer has contracted Cortard
Delusion and why he devours the specific body parts from various victims. Furthermore,
the Action code is also apparent within the media production ‘Luther’ for
example the return of the character Luther was solely down to the fact that
Alice Morgan died, the serial-killers murder of the first victim lead to an
investigation involving Luther, the death of Theo leading to Emma’s somewhat
immoral investigation into the murderer and Luther kidnapping a crime boss to
receive information about Alice Morgan’s death resulted in him being targeted
by hitmen. Also, the Semantic code is blood connoting death and the
dismembering of bodies whilst the sudden death of the pigeon, which the first
murder victim mistook for an intruder, foreshadowed and connoted the death of
the victim.
To
conclude, multiple theories can be applied to the media production of ‘Luther’.
