Why have soap operas become an integral part of British culture?

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 Soap Operas

 Why have soap operas become an integral part of British culture?

    My definition of a soap opera is a reality tv programme, screened most days of the week, in which families and individuals, in the same neighbourhood, present to the viewer a way of living.

    My views on soap operas are as follows:

    Soaps that portray good messages, for example, Neighbours and Home And Away, are the ones that I tend to watch and enjoy the most. Whereas soaps like Eastenders, Family Affairs and Emmerdale portray an almost evil outlook on life.

    I notice while watching these soaps that the nice harmless soaps are Australian, whereas Eastenders, Emmerdale and Family Affairs are set in England. This tells me that the lifestyle of an Australian differs from the lifestyle of an English person. England tends to have a dull outlook on life, whereas Australians have a happy, sunny outlook. The weather mainly helped to make this impression on me.

    I watch some soaps more than others because I can't stand how some are over-dramatised. An example is Eastenders. There's never a dull moment in the soap, although it's often for the wrong reasons. Eastenders always concludes with a cliffhanger, which is normally a violent, malicious act towards another character, or a death or casualty, that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

    It is true to say that these very different lifestyles affect and influence the lives of viewers. This is especially true with young, manipulative minds when they're too young to know right from wrong.

    On the otherhand, I think it is good to follow a soap regularly because it stimulates and interests your mind.

    Some viewers become literally obsessed with soaps. They have to have their daily fix and no-one can dare to disturb them. It's just them and the box for half an hour or so, which is the usual duration of an episode.

    Nowadays there are lots of fan clubs, websites, etc, for viewers to catch up on the latest gossip, storylines, pictures and other fan-related information.

Join now!

    I think that some soap followers have an unhealthy obsession, and if it gets to the point where you can't possibly miss an episode and you rearrange your life around the soap, then you really do need help. Following a soap to a certain extent is perfectly normal, ie, you watch a soap when it is convienient for you and when you have nothing else better to do. I admit that I have a slight obsession with the soap opera, Neighbours, but mine is a fairly healthy obsession. I enjoy watching and keeping up with the storylines, although ...

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