English media - soap operas

Authors Avatar

English GCSE media coursework

Examine the conventions of the soap opera genre with reference to at least two programmes

The soap opera genre originated in America in the 1930s as a radio programme.  It was targeted at housewives who tuned in while doing their household chores.  Soaps included many domestic issues to keep the audience interested.  The name “soaps” came from advertising slots between programmes.  As the soaps were aimed at housewives, the adverts mainly consisted of products of a domestic nature.

“Coronation Street” was Britain’s second soap, following “The Groves”.  It began in 1960 and is set in Weatherfield, Manchester.  It is a successful soap that has been running for over 40 years.  “Eastenders” is a more recent addition to the genre that first started in Britain in 1982 and is set in Albert Square, London.

Both “Coronation Street” and “Eastenders” soaps are about day-to-day life in the city for working class citizens.  They refer to real life issues but are very overdramatic and plots are exaggerated.  These qualities keep the audience interested and make the programme more exciting, addictive and enjoyable to watch.

The soap opera genre has been a successful genre.  This can be measured by the very high audience figures that the leading soap operas regularly achieve.  The fact that for instance “Coronation Street” has been running for 43 years also demonstrates the success of the genre.  In this essay I will address the conventions of the soap opera in the context of this high level of success having determined a set of common characteristics that have resulted in a winning formula for success: it is exactly because of the demand for success that the makers of soap operas have tended towards the common adoption of the conventions of the soap opera.  

Continuity is an important factor whilst examining the conventions of the soap opera genre.  One aspect of continuity is the theme tunes played at the start and the end of the programme.  At the beginning of all soaps there is a main theme tune.  In “Eastenders” the programme begins with the drum roll.  It is loud and easily recognisable.  As this is playing, a large birds eye view of London is shown.  It gradually zooms in onto Albert Square as the soap begins.  This sets the scene effectively as the audience instantly know where the soap is set.  It also makes it seem more realistic as it is set in a real location as opposed to the setting being in a studio.  

In “Coronation Street” the theme tune is a violin melody.  This also has easily distinguishable shots of Weatherfield shown as it is played.  The theme tune is distinctive and one that the audience will recognise when they switch on to watch the soap.  Theme tunes help to create habits for viewers who hear them and sit down to watch the soap.  They set the scene allowing the viewer to become more quickly absorbed into the action.

Another aspect of continuity is the reliance upon the cliff-hanger scene at the end of an episode.  A cliffhanger is when the audience are left in suspense after an event that is not concluded within the episode, ensuring they will watch next time.  Often soaps finish with a cliffhanger and the theme tune will begin playing.  An example of this was in a recent episode of “Coronation Street” that concentrated on a court scene.  Emma swore upon the Bible that as a witness she would tell the truth about what she had seen.  The audience are left questioning “Will she tell the truth or will she risk loosing her job, husband and being locked up in jail?”  The theme tune indicates the end of the programme and entices the audience to watch the next episode to find out what will happen next.

Cliffhangers are present at the end of most episodes as the soaps are ongoing.  A famous one was in “Eastenders” when Phil got shot at the end of an episode.  The audience are left with a close up shot of Phil laying in a pool of blood at the bottom of some steps in the dark.  This is tense and dramatic as the audience are left in shock at what has happened and wondering “Is he dead?” “Who shot Phil?” and “What was the motive?”  The audience keep watching the soap to find out the answers to these questions, meanwhile getting absorbed into other sub-plots and storylines.  

Join now!

A close up shot of a character’s facial expression or a freeze on some dramatic action is often shown at the end of an episode in all soaps.  At the end of an episode of “Coronation Street”, a close up shot of Emma’s face was shown after she swore upon the Bible that she would tell the truth in court.  Her face expressed mixed emotions, clearly of guilt and anxiety.  This camera action is dramatic as the audience can tell what a character is feeling inside without them having to speak their emotions.  Often the audience know more than ...

This is a preview of the whole essay