In the opening sequence of the soap opera ‘Home and Away’ it is apparent that the atmosphere appears to be much brighter and more contented, sounds of seagulls (usually found on beaches) and crashing waves can be heard. This instantly hooks the viewer into the surreal get away imitation of a perfect world. The colours are vivid and exotic, and the dark blue background can be easily associated with the ocean.
The camera then pivots around and then flashbacks from the previous episodes appear to let the viewer get an understanding of what the content of the present episode will contain. Small images of individual characters become visible with affirmative, joyful expressions on their faces, a majority of the cast appear to be in their youth. This will attract a younger audience. Another thing that will exert a pull on a younger audience is the soundtrack it is memorable and idealistic. The soundtrack has featured vocals from a male and female individual and includes the soap title.
Through watching and studying two different soap operas it appears to me that in the Australian soap opera the producers tend to incorporate positive messages in their shows and focuses on the lives of teenagers in the small fictional town of Summer Bay, where-as the in the British soap tends to focus on day-to-day dilemmas that can occur to the average Londoner. Nevertheless the Australian audience may have a larger appeal to a younger audience because of its surreal appearance and there seem to be younger characters. East Enders seems to be more of a family soap opera because of the different events appeal to a range of age groups.
Soap Operas
GCSE Coursework Assignment
Television is becoming an increasingly important part of society. We have more televisions in our homes, and on those televisions there are more soap operas for the viewing public for example, East Enders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Neighbours, Home and Away, Brookside and Hollyoaks. Soap operas have become a modern day phenomenon. Individuals undoubtedly get a lot of pleasure from them, and although the soap opera is viewed as entertainment.
The industry have cunningly organised a viewing schedule so that a certain type of soap appeals to a particular target group. For example in Television guides there are a variation of different showing times. Neighbours is shown once at 1:45 am and a second time at 5:35pm, this suggests that this soaps target group are 11-16 year olds returning from school prepared to watch their favourite soap. Where-as Eastenders is shown just the one time at 7:30pm this suggests that their target are of all ages especially families, because families will presumably be together at this point of the evening.
Television companies have developed soaps into a competitive atmosphere because there is a constant battle over viewers. The more ratings the soap has the more successful it becomes.
Soap Operas were originally presented on radio in the United States after the Second World War. Formerly soaps were only aimed at one gender, women. During World War II, women had taken the jobs of men in the military service, however when men had returned to civilian life women returned to a domestic role. Unlike today, soaps weren’t shown as television dramas for long periods of time (1 hour ½ hour shows), they were short radio drama serials, which dealt with ordinary life. Soap companies eager to establish themselves in the new post-war prosperity sponsored these short drama serials. This is how the evolution of soaps transferred into the growing medium of television.
Soap operas have developed ideas, which have proved successful in the cinema technique that makes the viewer determined to watch the next episode. Melodramatic scenes are predominantly evident in the extended episodes of soaps such as, emotional and sentimental stories essentially about love. Music also plays a great role in soap opera episodes. Music in Soap operas is usually used to intensify the sense of emotion.
Soap operas today have proved to be very successful. Soaps such as Hollyoakes, Eastenders and Coronation Street are just three out of a list of many popular soap operas. It seems that soap operas will still be around within many years to come, with the new, over exaggerated and extreme story lines that have our society glued to our seats watching whichever soap opera appeals to us the most.
