how culture can shape society
top boy
Top Boy is a drama that takes viewers into the housing estates of East London. There is tension between the drug gangs that operate almost openly and those who strive to live honest lives against the odds in the crime-ridden area. The tension is explored through the interlocking stories of the 20 something-year-old drug dealer Dushane, who is determined to become the area's 'Top Boy', and good-natured but vulnerable teenager Ra'Nell, who is forced to grow up quickly following his mother's breakdown and enforced absence. The series combines the elements of a tense gangster thriller with subtle social realism, some tenderness, innocence and humour.
I chose the TV series Top Boy as I found it can be a good starting point. This is because the series gives the audience a peek into a rough environment rich in culture. Also, the societal differences portrayed in the series is a good basis of research for me to understand and recognise the style of life in some areas of London. As this book is inspired by the environment of cultures in the urban jungle I want to create some pieces based on the concrete structures depicted by Top Boy in London.
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Below are some images from the series that showcase the environment I am researching.
This collection of tracks inspired by the UK show, Top Boy, voices the hardships of those living among deprivation, oppression and violence in London’s housing estates, featuring talents like Dave and Little Simz to drill artists like Headie One and SL, among many others. The music in the album is played throughout the series and explains the struggles of those living in the vulnerable areas of London.
These billboards created for the marketing of the series show a style of how closely linked the personality of people are to their environments. The building scapes representing different areas of London also refer to the gang theme of the series and the importance of postcode and territory.
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Interestingly in the series, a young teenager is depicted to follow a path of dealing drugs in order to cope with the eviction of his mother. This comes as a consequence of the poor environment in which he lives, and as a result, leads him towards a path of struggle and crime. This shows how the culture and environment where a person lives can influence life decisions and potentially, in this case, cause corruption.
These adverts above show the places along with the main characters in the series. I like this work as it highlights the character's environment and surroundings as being part of their personality. This is done through the transparent portrait of the character which allows the building to seep through creating a layered piece that represents the series in an excellent way.
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With this in mind, I decided to use one of the series protagonists in my own take on the adverts. I used the words 'urban jungle' to link to my project and created an edit with a relevant East London tower block behind.