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Practicing Criticism Paper

Wenjia Zhang

University of Denver COMN 2150

Professor Summer Preston

Feb 12, 2023

This paper will analyze the popular Netflix original series, The Crown, using Marxist criticism. It will focus on how power is presented in the show, how it operates in the narrative, and how it shifts throughout the series. By examining the different classes and power dynamics of the British aristocracy, this analysis will look at how this informs how power is depicted in The Crown and how it further suggests the limits and capabilities of the class system. Ultimately, this paper seeks to examine how this power structure reinforces and disrupts traditional power dynamics and how it can be used to dive deeper into the issues of class and power today.

The Crown is a historical drama initially released on Netflix in 2016. Created by Peter Morgan, the show follows the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II of England, beginning in the late 1950s and continuing through her later years. Though the show mainly focuses on the dynamics between the British Royal family, their inner conflicts, and their relationships with outside people, it also highlights the power dynamics of the British aristocracy. It denotes the traditional roles of power within the monarchy and the limited freedoms of public activities during the time.

The Crown’s exploration of power also extends to the perspectives of individual characters, especially throughout Elizabeth’s journey from young princess to Queen (Morgan, 2016). Throughout the series, the audience can witness her ascension to power and the strain and anxiety it creates within the family and its structures. In addition, The Crown also examines the power dynamics between various groups within society, like politicians, the monarchy, and the public. It touches on the struggle for power between the rival political factions and highlights how power shifts as events and decisions occur.

The Crown provides a unique opportunity to view the power dynamics within the British monarchy and its operation within the sociopolitical climate of England at the time. Through its exploration of social class and power, the show also offers insight into the current state of power, suggesting how much has changed and how much has remained the same. Ultimately, this detailed examination of power dynamics provides an essential frame of reference to understand better the establishment, function, and complexities of power both in the past and the present.

References

Morgan, P. (2016). The Crown. Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/