Representation of East London through 'Top Boy' (2011-2013)

Top Boy was a TV drama which was broadcasted on channel 4 throughout the years of 2011 to 2013, it was set in east London and was based around the underground drug business and the complications around it all. Within this TV drama it shows the gang rivalry all the way to the younger generation trying to get into the drug way of life, trying to get rich and earn money.

One of the main characters in this TV drama is Dushane, who is played by Ashley Walters, and he would be described as the drug lord. Even though he may seem to be an aggressive character he does look out for the younger generation, for example a character called and refers them as to 'family and friends' rather kids that help him sell drugs. Even though this is a bad thing, because it is like he is promoting selling drug he still see's them as family therefore would make sure that nothing bad would happen to them.

This TV drama does represent east London in a bad light, because it makes it seem that the area revolves around drugs and gang violence. It also represent race in a bad light from where most of the characters that are involved in the drugs and gangs are black, yet again making east London seem like  rough area which is mostly populated by black people. But though out the show it does show the rise of Ra'Nell's football career therefore showing that even thought it may be represented as a bad area there is potential for people to not follow the crowd and do well for themselves, yet in the end he does end up getting himself into a bit of trouble because of his friend Gem, below is a clip from the episode showing when he started to go down the wrong road.

As seen in the clip even though Ra'Nell is getting himself in trouble Dushane still recognises how much potential that Ra'Nell has and looks like he feels sorry for him when Sully begins to say that he isn't smart and that they are going to rob his 'grow'. In this clip it also shows that the white drug lords, the rivals, are dressed more smartly and are more careful about how they go about things which yet again represents white people being more wise and aware then black people.

Armani Moffatt

1203387

401 Words