Although the media regards religion as “outdated” and “amusing,” their broadcasting schedule does coincide with the multicultural society in the UK. Examples of these programmes are “Marrying a Stranger” and “Rooted” which were both aired in November 2002. “Marrying a Stranger” which was aired at 21.00-22.00 (prime time), illustrates the struggle for young Muslims to both satisfy their parents needs and their own. “Rooted” which was aired at 11.55-12.30 (non-prime time), presented Indian children taken back and introduced both to their country of origin and their religion (Sikhism).
The Broadcasting companies also show reflection-style programmes for special festivals such as Ramadan, which is mainly targeted at that particular faith living in Britain. The companies do try to keep a managed balanced on what religious programme to show, so that everyone watching their channels is satisfied. This is a very clever way of attracting more viewers to that particular channel.
A2
A soap opera is a dramatic programme that is broadcasted on TV or radio as a series of programmes. Soap operas have significantly evolved since they were first introduced on television in the 1950s. In the 1950s soap operas mainly were about middle-class families living in small towns; were good always triumphed.
The soap operas shown in the UK at present illustrate the usual problems and joys of life. There are times of celebration and times of sadness. Today’s soap operas also represent many other races and backgrounds, because of the fact that we live in a multicultural society. They mainly deal with tough moral and religious issues which go in parallel with what people are faced with everyday.
The reason why soap operas have an audience of around 17 million is because in my opinion they show reality, which people can physically relate to it. The reason why we do not have as many people watching religious programmes is simply because people cannot physically relate to religion, whereas to soap operas they can.
A moral issue is an issue where there is a difference of opinion about what is right and wrong, such as abortion. This is another reason why Soap operas are immensely popular, because they deal with a vast range of moral issues, which people have different opinions over. These different viewpoints are expressed through the different characters in the soap opera. Of course there are moral issues which are also religious such as divorce and euthanasia.
A tough moral issue was revealed in Eastenders in 2001 on the subject of Euthanasia. This was when Ethel, a confirmed atheist was in excruciating pain and wanted to end her pain and suffering, but she couldn't do it on her own so she turned to her best friend; Dot to help her, presenting Dot with the biggest dilemma that she's ever been faced with. Dot eventually seeks advice from the local vicar, Alex about what she should do, and the vicar stoutly rejects the idea of Euthanasia. Therefore Dot, as a good Christian refuses to help Ethel, until her love for her friend overcame her own fear of damnation, and eventually assisted Ethel in committing suicide.
Dot can be described as a chain-smoking religious woman in Eastenders with an endless capacity for the latest gossip arising in Albert Square. Dot’s character is also deemed to be quite eerie and bizarre.
Vicar Alex also embarked on a secret affair with Kathy Mitchell who was a married woman, and was even prepared to give up his priesthood up for her. The fact that both of these religious characters are presented in this way clearly suggests that the production team in some ways are ridiculing religion.
From the production point of view, the central aim of introducing such a dilemma was to attract viewers and therefore make the soap more popular. In the process of attracting viewers the Soap is also educating the observer on the different viewpoints concerning Euthanasia. In religious terms the way this ethical issue ended, only suggests that Dot’s friendship with Ethel is certainly more important than her religion, and therefore highlighting the limitations to having a Faith. In moral terms what Dot did seems completely justifiable in the circumstances that she was in.
In my opinion the way in which this issue was dealt with does not represent religion in a positive way. Although this may not have been the focal objective, the way this particular subject was dealt with, in some ways reinforces atheistic beliefs about the non-existence of God. It does this by displaying that even the most puritanical believers of God bend the rules that God has set out.
I think that Eastenders should have put more thought on deciding how to end this moral issue, so there is a fair equilibrium on what the Soap represents. I am not suggesting that they should exalt religion and not take into consideration the moral side of things, but what I am saying is that there has to be a fine balance.
Christians believe that life is sacred and that no one has the right to take away this gift that God has given us. The sanctity of life is first described in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”. From this biblical quote we can conclude that if God has created us in the image of Himself, then therefore each human exists as an expression of God and his character. Then this would surely mean that human beings cannot destroy this sacred image in anyway.