Channel 4: Benefit Street
In relation to my chosen subject for my dissertation, which focus' on the way in which the British working class are being portrayed through medias such as photography and television, Im choosing to research programs which have been aired in recent years such as 'Skint' and 'Benefit' street. Benefit Street has been the most recent program to air which looks at those in Britain currently living in poverty. Coincidentally as I have started my research of the Biritish working class in my local area of the County Durham and the North East of England, the most recent series of Benefit Street has actually been filmed here also. Benefit Street's second series covers the stories and lives of those living upon Kingston Road in Stockton-on-tees. Although the term working class would suggest I intend to look at the 'workers' of Britain, I see this economic class being seen as the lowest class of Britain's social class system, meaning it covers those on benefits or out of work and those working the lower payed jobs across the country.
Benefit street seems to be a very controversal subject, with many disagreeing or having negative opinions about the program. As i intend to research the way the British class are being portrayed in todays media, i want to find out whether todays people see Benfit street as a positive or negative way of documenting and presenting the working class to the rest of the nation. To start this research i have been looking at online articles and newspaper articles to see what the general media have to say about the program.
The Mirror
"Regrettably, as with the first series, the producers have yet to provide irrefutable evidence that the street in question, Kingston Road in Stockton, deserves that nickname.
I’m afraid poverty porn is what Benefits Street undeniably remains.
From the opening shots of a washing machine in the street, to the tales of doorstep lenders, to jailbird drug dealer Maxwell outlining his other earnings – Income Support and Disability Benefit."
Personal Response
As most will know, 'The Mirror' is classed as a 'left wing' newspaper, meaning the views expressed are mostly Labour views; Labour being the political party which fights more so for the 'working class' of Britain, the majority of people, which obviously are what these people of Kingston Road would be classed as.
The Guardian
"Yes, they might be poor, and on benefits, and facing further cuts and sanctions. And it might be a bit loud and a bit boisterous sometimes.
But look at the community spirit, "
Personal View
I would agree that the program does emphasise on the strong community spirit amongst those on Kingston Road. But in all honestly, I don't think those from this area would see that being shown as a favour to them, it would be more like a given. The strong community spirit will be natural to them. Something which would offend those from kingston Road more would be the title of the program, and the fact a camera crew would even want to come and film their community, like they are alien to the rest of Britain?
The Daily Mail
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/benefits-street-national-papers-say-9237912
"This was vividly proved on the vile Benefits Street (C4), when the residents of Kingston Road in the North-East town of Stockton turned on a trio of polite freelancers who had come to report on the making of the programme.
First, they subjected the journalists to a barrage of abuse and threats.
Then the teenagers started throwing eggs. ‘It’ll be bricks next,’ warned one.
Finally a masked man ran at them with a bucket of water, picking out the only woman and chasing her down before trying to soak her.
The truly ludicrous thing was that a Channel 4 crew was standing by, watching all this smugly, and all the residents were happy to be filmed."
Personal View
Known for its controversial opinions and lacking of fear to hold back with opinions it's no surprise to me that the Daily Mail have written this about the Channel 4 program. I completely disagree with the way in which the article has been written as i don't feel its fair to speak this offensively about about any social class or community. Rather than speaking about the program itself, the article seems to pick on the actual people of the community, calling them 'pretentious bigheads' and 'Attention Seekers'. In my own person view the article doesn't even seem worthy of reading and is evidently written by very small minded, un educated people. However this is one example of how some of todays people in Britain view the working class and how they chose to judge the working class through the media they have been shown by modern day Television programs. Its worrying to think that a British social class can be viewed so negatively due to this kind of media coverage. Is this the intentions of Channel 4? Or is this just unfortunate that this is the way some people view the working class of Britain.
"The real villains, this episode wanted to suggest, are the press, who began descending on the neighbourhood in droves once word got out."
Benefits Street does make space for much-needed context but it still seems disingenuous of the show to declare itself entirely innocent.
Lest we forget, this programme provides the press with the necessary fodder to demonise benefit claimants, then sits back and enjoys the resultant ratings."
Person View
In relation to my chosen subject for my dissertation, this article struck me most. My first inspiration for my dissertation came from the book "Chavs: The demonisation of the working class" By Owen Jones. Here this article mentions "demonise benefit claimants". I am interested in researching into the way the working class are portrayed, whether media shows them in a positive light or does indeed 'demonise' them. This article therefore suggests the channel 4 program choses to focus on the press and make them out to be the evil ones, when really, its the channel 4 program providing the press with a platform to go ahead and demonise these people, then they will sit back and "enjoy the resultant ratings."
