Case Study: Benefit Street

Benefit Street Analysis

In today's lesson we watched a 15 minute clip of controversial channel 4 documentary Benefit Street where 5% of the street were employed and the rest were claiming benefits. 

What type of documentary is this and give three examples that back this up.

Benefit Street is an example of expository documentary. One example is the narrator speaking over the documentary which gave the audience a better insight into what was happening, it also gave the audience more information about the episode; before it went to a different family the narrator would give the audience some beforehand knowledge like explaining who these new characters were, there family and employment status so you already have some understanding of what is happening. Another example would be the changing of locations, sticking with one location wouldn't give a range of opinions as it be documenting the same people, switching from 'White Dee' who was described as the 'Mother of James Turner Street' would although continue the theme of the documentary (giving a depressed and harsh look of life on benefits) she would still have a more positive look on life. Whereas ex heroin addict Sam really showed the audience how dark and harrowing being on benefit's really can be. The documentary followed her walking the streets at midnight to get her monthly benefit pay check and debate whether or not she should splurge her long awaited money on drugs. This scene was shot with Sam walking down a dark alley and some random person asking her 'if she wants any' (referring to drugs) this adds drama and shows how real this documentary is. Another scene which highlighted the contrast of people living on James Turner Street was when Sam read a letter to the cameraman which explained her losing her two children; both a very heartbreaking and shocking scene. The last example which shows Benefit Street being a expository documentary was the interview scenes between the characters and cameramen. The participants openly explained life on the streets and the daily struggles they have to go. They also showed real life actions which would happen on a daily basis therefore again makes the documentary expository.

Who are the main subjects of the documentary? List and sum up the most important participants.

In Benefit Street there are multiple main characters which try and portray life on the street as real as possible. One main character was White Dee (actual name Deirdre Kelly). 43 year old mother of two Dee whom is a popular figure on the street, caused a big impact on the documentary, her flamboyant personality and warm reception to fellow benefit claimers made her an instant hit with viewers. The majority of participants on Benefit Street portray a difficult life which for the outside world (the viewers) its not what you'd really expect. So the main characters 'job' is to show what life really is like on benefits but also at the same time express there struggles and there own story. Throughout the documentary White Dee would often open up to the viewers by telling stories about life, problems she's been through and her place in the street, all of this combines to her importance in the documentary. Making her overall the most important participant. Another important person on Benefit Street is Sam, who is a former heroin and crack addict trying to regain custody of her son after he was taken away because of her heroin addiction. Sam's impact on the channel 4 documentary was to show the extent addiction can go and brings a sympathetic view to the show. The audience feels compassion towards Sam and her story making her a very important participant. Other important characters are Becky and Mark who are a young couple struggling to raise their two young children. The scenes with the couple consist of them dealing with their four year son Callum's difficult ways which a lot of the audience can relate it. Becky and Mark both show how difficult life can be on benefit's and also having to raise two young children making them important participants as they are showing a different side of Benefit Street, not everything is so lighthearted and casual. Potentially displaying the media perception of people on benefit isn't really as true as it is and this documentary using genuine people is a good representation.

How does this documentary make you feel towards the subjects?

This documentary makes me feel mixed emotions towards the subject for many reasons. At first I felt irritated by how the participants showed themselves, I thought their careless and reckless behaviour really didn't help peoples prejudged opinions. Certain scene's made me question whether this documentary was as true as it makes out to be as some scenes were so shocking you feel it must of been manipulated to look that way. One example of this was the parts between Becky, Mark and Callum, all of the young couples scenes involved them trying to deal with their disobedient son which makes you think surely not everyday could be this difficult and is this documentary just showing a heightened and extreme version. Another emotion I feel towards this documentary is astounded, how its possible for people to live in such a way and want to actually expose it to the British public in my opinion is shocking. Scenes like Sam debating whether to spend her monthly benefit's allowance on class A drugs is extremely astonishing and for people not aware of this style of living its very eye opening.

What issues are raised in the documentary?

A lot of issues are raised in this documentary, specifically money related. One big issue is whether people are given enough benefit to be able to live a comfortable life. Characters in Benefit Street argued that the benefits they get given are not enough, even to live the most basic life. A lot of people who aren't on benefit's would find this topic frustrating as if you haven't got a serious reason to be unemployed then why would you expect to be given more money for not actually doing anything. However this documentary shows the other side of the story and lets the participants have their chance to speak, which doesn't happen a lot. So this documentary is good at raising issues. Other issues raised in the documentary are poverty, neglect, crime, addiction, abuse, hopelessness, the abject living conditions some unemployed people and their children are living in. Which all the make the documentary very thought provoking and eye opening.

What codes and conventions of documentary film-making are used here?

Some of the main codes and conventions used in Benefit's Street are a narrator, opinions, facts and rhetorical questions. The narrator plays a massive role in the documentary, throughout he is giving the audience an idea of whats going and whenever a new character is introduced the narrator would give a small summary about who this person is, their background ect. Without the role of a narrator the audience wouldn't have so much beforehand knowledge making it more easier to understand what this actual documentary is about. Opinions is another code and convention used, the majority of the characters in Benefit Street are extremely opinionated and aren't afraid to express a controversial comment. An example of this was when at the start of every episode an elderly man from the street says 'You see this street here, James Turner street - it was one of the best. Now it's one of the worst!', which is a powerful quote and sets the tone of the documentary. Facts and rhetorical questions are also used throughout Benefit Street. The residents would often say how the small income just isn't enough for people to live on which in there own is a fact. The main rhetorical question said was from Mark in his first introduction to the documentary, he says 'How are we supposed to live on £50 a week?', which makes the audience reflect on the struggles some people have to go through.

What style of interview is being used here?

The style of interview used in Benefit Street is direct and one on one. The theme is casual and isn't staged, as if the participant and the filmmaker are just having a normal conversation but its just being filmed at the same time. The location of the interviews are either at the participants homes or local areas around the street which makes the interview seemed relaxed and real; the scenes were so unstaged the viewers could feel as if they were actually apart of it. These types of interviews are effective as they allow the participants being filmed to speak directly about events and also to be prompted by the filmmakers questions. They also are effective, as documentary interviews give the viewers a sense of realism because they are set up in a way in which it looks as if the filmmaker has simply passed on the filmed footage to the viewers. However these style of interviews are often manipulated in a certain way. An interview can be filmed for hours but because only a few clips are needed the filmmaker (in this situation) would use the most controversial comments to make the documentary more interesting.

What is the purpose of this documentary? Do you think it achieves this?

The purpose of Benefit Street is to show a new perception of people who choose benefits over employment. For many years benefits have been a controversial topic and a lot of people have different opinions on it. Before the channel 4 documentary was aired only one side was really shown which made this documentary even more shocking. Another purpose was to show that life isn't really as easy it may be shown in the media. Specific characters like White Dee and Sam are examples of that, as through their tales of struggle and suffering you get instant sympathy for them both. Which I think is what one main purpose is; to understand these normal peoples lives and sympathize with them. Overall I do think Benefit Street has done that as I after I just watched a 15 minute clip I instantly felt mixed emotions. But specifically the purpose of the documentary, and although it has a lighthearted theme it isn't a joke and people do have to live like this.

This documentary caused a great deal of controversy. Why was it so controversial?

It caused such a great deal of controversy because people aren't used to seeing topics like this so straight up and real. A lot of people do prejudge this topic and just assume things through others opinions. One of positives which has come out of this documentary is that it allows the other part of the debate to express their argument and finally have their say. Due to it being such a controversial issue it may not have completely changed everyone's opinion, but it will have educated people a first hand experience of what it's really like. Others find it so shocking because there's never been a show similar to it in the past and usually people who live like this wouldn't want it publicized and do it get so much media attention. However this documentary isn't a poverty parade show, or though it has a lighthearted feel it isn't actually a joke and I feel its been portrayed as a distressing but touching documentary highlighting the lack of hope and opportunity which now blights entire communities. Another reason Benefit Street caused controversy was its participants outrageous behaviour. A few examples of some of the most jaw dropping moments was when a young couple on the street had to resort to a Food Bank to feed their two toddlers. The '50p Man' selling small beakers of coffee, sugar and washing powder for the residents who couldn't afford large quantities. Another unexpected moment was when former drug addict and alcoholic existed 8 weeks without electricity and survived 5 years without having a bath.