Benefits Street

Benefits Street is a series that was aired on Channel 4 originally released between the 6th January 2014 and the 1st June 2015
It has been met with some criticism due to alleged misrepresentations of the people living on benefits.

On viewing the show, I found that there was a rather happy disposition among the residents of benefits, most simply being presented as people who make the most with what they have. We feel that there is a sense of a family connection within the community. These present the residents in an understandable manner; or at least at first. 

Even in the opening monologue, we see from the rapidly cut footage that there is going to be some conflict within the community. When these moment happen however, they are treated like a soap opera, with dramatic music to punctuate whatever is happening on screen.

It is moments like this that take away from the reality of the subject matter and thus makes the street appear to be part of an ongoing drama.

I believe this to be because the documentary filmmakers chose to use footage for entertainment factor, depicting the benefits community in a darker light and taking the viewer away from the actual truth. If this is the case, could Benefits Street even be considered a documentary? Events are turned into more dramatic set-pieces so I believe that this is definitely not an accurate portrayal of this type of life.