How is Authenticity Constructed In Episode 1 of ‘Life On Mars’?

How is Authenticity Constructed In Episode 1 of ‘Life On Mars’?

Life on Mars is a fairly recent TV show about a male character, Sam Tyler, who ends up in a coma but goes back to 1973.

This show is set more then 30 years in the past, so lots of things and details have changes since then, including ethical changes, technological and cultural differences. It is a certain eye-opener for viewers to see just how much the changes have been set in place and how different today’s society is to the past.

Technological wise, in the show in 1973, it is made clear that no other character, other then Sam, knows what a mobile phone is, since it does not exist during this time whilst the idea of not owning a mobile phone in modern society is bizarre. There are also no computers, so desks in the workplace are visibly seen, stacked with paperwork in the show.

Police Equipment and Medical Testing has also changed since 1973. The majority of the police equipenrt is different, regarding more guns are used in today’s society then sticks. In the show, it shows that Sam is getting irritated by the idea that no one has checked for fingerprints or run DNA testing on the body found, because this is medical research that is not known in this particular time.

Things are ethically different, in some ways that people are treated and others, the way they are spoken to by other characters. There is unprofessional banter in the workplace and lots of sexual innuendos that perhaps would not be considered appropriate in today’s society for the workplace.

Women are also treated badly and in a way that would not be deemed acceptable in the present day. They are referred to as ‘Skirt’ and ‘Bird’ throughout the episode.

Police are also able to be abusive, physically and violent towards the criminal which is not tolerable in today’s standards.

The police also refer to the criminal getting caught, as ‘Done in’ which is not politically correct by today’s standards. There is also only one black character throughout the entire episode, which shows how more culturally diverse society is now then it was back in 1973.

It is culturally different regarding difference in clothing, old adverts are shown in the episode to show consistency with the past and the way media was produced. In the 70’s it was also legal to smoke in the workplace whereas it is illegal now and anyone caught could be fined.

The value of money has also changed since the 70’s and some drinks have yet to be invented such ‘Diet Coke’ Sam is looked at bizarrely as the characters have never heard of this drink.

This is not the only time this takes place during the episode, Sam is also reacted to bizarrely when he sees a music shop that sells music on Vinyl as tapes and CDs have yet to be invented.