Understanding Soap Operas: The Origin, Uniqueness, Misconceptions And Ethical Concerns

Table of Contents

Analyzing Soap Operas. A Brief Histories

Differential technical features of modern soaps

Preconceived notions

Soaps can be a good place to discuss moral and current issues

In conclusion,

Analyzing Soap Operas. Brief History

The genre of soap operas originated in American radio during the 1930s. Its name is a result of large soap powder companies sponsoring the shows. The programs were aimed at women and housewives to keep them entertained while their husbands worked.

The episodes were designed to be easy-listening and had multiple Storylines interwoven into each episode. There was no end point, only a storyline. This is different from radio plays and melodramas. This assignment includes a review of modern soap operas that have evolved into television and examines the ideologies and traditions behind them. The recording I chose was Eastenders taken from UK Gold. It was fascinating to analyze and break down the Scene, both in terms of technical details and the subtext.

The title is simple. It starts in the Thames and then, for a few seconds, all of the screen turns green. Suddenly, the camera zooms out while rotating clockwise revealing a colour-coded map of London. Within the golden triangle, the River Thames remains the main focus. The map’s primary meaning is a map of London. It’s a lovely aerial pictorial view.

The semiotics however, are quite different. They suggest entertainment, scandal, and perhaps it is time to stop working on your current project. Eastenders is a one-word title that has captivated people’s attention even before the title appears. The distinctive theme song has become a code to evoke the same reaction from viewers, even if the viewer is not present in the room. It’s an alarm clock to let them know that the show has started. Eastenders is more than a simple word. The word Eastenders has become a symbol and is used for all advertising. The title is only about 20 seconds long, but there are many messages that can be conveyed in this time.

Technical differences between modern soapsBritish televised soaps are quite similar to each other in how they are constructed and what they cover, as well as the characters and scenes they shoot. But they all retain their individuality and artistic originality. Eastenders Scene 1 was made up of only 10 shots. There were also 3 very simple angles of camera. All the shots were rhythmic and even. They consisted of a long shot followed by a series of mid-shots of the characters. There were two different shots taken over the shoulders, depending on who was speaking.

There are two main reasons for this. First is the logical technical one, due to the tight time schedule, the directors and cameramen do not have the resources necessary to come up with new and interesting camera angles. Second, this type of camera work, and the lack of editing, has become a standard in most soaps. This helps to avoid distancing viewers. The goal is to get people involved in the story and have them become part of it. D. Chandler’s Providing a Windows on the World is a naturalist tradition. The lighting was made to appear natural, and it is filmed using a documentary-style realism. The first part of the scene is fairly boring. Two individuals are talking in private about their financial issues. This creates a mood for the rest of the film. Audiences know that the show will reveal gossip and other intimate details about characters. This is the case with all soap operas. These shows are based largely on gossip. That is why the audience becomes engrossed in the story and wants to know what will happen next. The viewer, unlike other genres, is able to speculate about future events before they happen.

Coronation street follows the same camera angles, but shows their characters with a lighthearted approach. There are many characters in the show that have a stereotyped fool image (such as Curly). But the issues that are dealt with by the show, such as drug abuse, rape, and other social problems, like unemployment or affairs, are handled in an appropriate manner. Coronation Street’s longevity has led to criticism that the show is getting old. Ken Barlow and other characters who have been with the show from its beginning (1960) represent a more tradition-based approach, which is similar to Pauline Fowler playing in Eastenders. It is not a part of many large-scale plots. But it does provide a good way to get other characters off. She has a strong sense of belonging to the community. The characters and settings are often stereotyped. Coronation street, for example, presents a nostalgic view of a rapidly deteriorating industrial town in Manchester. The majority of characters are working-class, and most women are strong-willed, opinionated northerners.

This allows characters to be stereotyped and then developed based on their storylines. After the storyline is finished, they can go back to being stereotypical until another situation comes up. Because they are not familiar with the characters, audiences will suspend their disbelief if a character does act out-of-context. The Characters have been said to be kept one-dimensional in order for the audience to feel more comfortable when dealing with a controversial or topical subject.

StereotypesI suggested earlier that every soap opera chooses their own way to portray the Characters. However, there is one common element which must be applied to all. The soap opera must offer certain conflicting Characters to create tension. The Bastard and the Tart are all types of Characters that can be found in soaps. These characters are all present in the storylines. This is why, when one of these characters is written out (there could be a brief morning process to benefit the audience), another character similar is written in. The episodes were old because they were recorded by UK Gold. I was not interested in the story as I already knew the ending. The plots of the episodes were outdated. The current episodes may be disposable, designed to only be watched one time.

As with Characters, we are entertained by them and they become part our lives in some cases. We are quickly distracted from the character’s departure by the next scandal. You forget the character was ever on the Show. I found this out when I watched my recorded episode. In many instances, I would think “Oh I forgot he was there etc.” It’s also a way to prove that a leading actor or actress isn’t disposable.

BBC’s motto is to inform, educate and entertain. This includes moral and current issues within soaps. Eastenders is produced with the intention of being a service to the community and to be taken seriously. Julia Smith said that we don’t create life, we just reflect it.

She said that no social issue would be left unaddressed in any way, including using characters that were gay, unemployed or single mothers. We didn’t want any issues to be fudged, except for swearing and political issues.

I think that the BBC’s statement, In My Opinion, could apply to any British soap from any commercial TV station. Eastenders is a soap opera that has always featured many ethnic minorities. The cast has been very diverse and the portrayal of these people has always been realistic. Other British soaps don’t! The soaps that portray a black family or man are far from the majority of soaps.

A theory I find a bit far-fetched is the idea that people can learn to read faces by using close ups of actors. They will be able to distinguish between what they say and the subtext. This statement is a bit native, even though I can see its influence.

Dallas and Dynasty in the 1980s were American soaps with a completely different way of hooking their audience. It was set in exotic locales and featured high-powered business dealings. This gave the audience an alternative fantasy world to British soaps that are more grounded.

The answer to whether soaps still have any tradition of the radio days is yes. They have certainly updated themselves with the technology and social issues of today, but the repetition and redundancy of the show allows for interrupted viewing. Many women can also catch up on the soaps from their friends the next day.

It is also important to note that soap operas are in competition with one another. It is clear that soap operas are in a constant struggle for ratings. This is made worse by the fact they have invaded our lives and not only on television. There are many magazines that have articles about soaps and the personal lives of the stars, including their battles against alcoholism and illness. Does this make the soaps more soapy? You can also find unofficial fan sites where you can chat with other fans and discuss the newest stories, characters, and updates.

There is no doubt that the soap opera industry has grown beyond its original scope, perhaps to the point where it is now Britains mini Hollywood.