Life on Mars - Analysis

Life on Mars Analysis

Genre

Life On Mars consists of two genres which is seen to be a 'drama' series which has 'sci-fi' and 'fantasy' sub-genres from the first episode revealing the genre and plot for the series. The main character who plays as a police officer who is hit by a car and wakes up in the year 1973, still as a police officer and in the same city. After the scene where the police officer wakes up in 1973, the audience may be able to recognise that whilst the show has still maintained the 'drama' genre, it also introduces the 'sci-fi' and 'fantasy' subgenres to make the audience realise that the plot of 'transporting to a different year in the past' raises the element of 'fantasy' being introduced as a genre. This relates to Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference' which is what he sees as forming the genre of a television show or movie. Life On Mars follows this theory by including aspects of drama that the audience are likely to be familiar with. The difference that makes this show unique is the fantasy subgenre that is hardly seen in other 'police-drama' shows and therefore attracts an audience.  

The genre conventions of the police-drama genre are followed through the police officers having to solve the crimes in 1973 and also through the characters. This is evident through the main character 'Sam Tyler' having do adapt to living in 1973 however is a rank below his original rank where he is a detective inspector and has to follow the commands of the detective chief inspector. This is similar to other police-drama shows where members of the police team have to cooperate to solve the crimes. However, the show does differ from the conventions of normal police-dramas as Tyler is seen by the audience as the 'hero' despite being a rank lower. Another difference is that most of the audience may not be used to the 1970s environment and so are placed in Tyler's shoes and so are being acquainted with the setting.

Narrative

The first episode follows a restricted narrative which puts the audience in the main character's perspective. This is likely to have been done on purpose as it fits in with the scenario of the episode where Tyler wakes up in the year 1973 and appears in the moment to be as confused as the audience. The audience becomes part of the narrative as they are 'in Tyler's shoes' where they are unsure of whether it is a fantasy or a possible time-travel to the past. The first episode follows the enigma code by making the audience have many questions towards the events taking place. The enigma allows to keep the audience involved and prompts them to attempt to solve the mystery before Tyler does. The narrative works by luring them to watch the next episode in order to find the answer to the mystery however only small details are revealed to allow the audience to predict what it is and are left with more questions.

Todorov asserted his theory that narratives tend to progress in a chronological order where 'cause and effect' take place throughout. The starting point is the equilibrium where the narrative is flowing at a steady pace before a major disruption will interrupt it. The equilibrium is finally replaced by the end with a resolution. This theory fits into the show through the events of the first episode. The equilibrium is when Tyler is introduced as a police officer living in Manchester in the year 2006. A disruption then occurs when he learns that his girlfriend has been kidnapped and is unexpectedly hit by a car. The disrupted equilibrium is of Tyler waking up in the year 1973 and figuring out what is happening to him. The episode ends with a resolution where Tyler contemplates whether jumping off a building will make him return to present day however Annie convinces him to not jump off the building. 

Representations

The representations of the 1970s compared to modern day are significant for the structure of the series. Part of the reason why the series attracted an audience was due to the portrayal of 1973. The show maintained a realistic depiction of the year and the differences of the environment and lifestyle at the time. The series focuses mainly on the 'police' aspects of the year and how the police are represented as corrupt whereas in modern day, the police would be seen as honest. 

Gender is also emphasised in the show, where men in 1973 were depicted as dominant. Compared to the modern day police team, the police team in 1973 consisted of almost all males which further highlights the dominance that men were represented as having in the 1970s. Women in the series are shown in a stereotypical way of being sexualised and weak compared to men, however in the series Annie seems to defy the typical representation of females and instead act as a companion for Tyler as well as being one of the most important characters of the series.

'Time and place' are represented through the way the setting of 1973 is filmed. The modern day Manchester is filmed in a high-key lighting to show how developed the city is. On the other hand, the Manchester that is represented in 1973 is filmed in low-key lighting to focus on the darkness of the world that Tyler is in. This relates to the 'structuralism' theory of binary opposition where the audience can sight the opposition of many aspects of the life in the 1970s compared to modern day and become immersed in the environment.