We start by looking at the soap opera genre and identifying genre codes and conventions in class.
We discuss what we already know about soaps and identify how they relate to audiences, how they introduce characters, what their narrative structure is like, how narrative strands work, how drama and comedy may be used and how they use title sequences.
PREP Investigate a soap opera for 14 -18s of your choice, such as
BYKER GROVE, here
GRANGE HILL, here
or TRACY BEAKER here
Take 4 screenshots that show genre conventions and label each one, as below.
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| The establishing shot shows the Yorkshire Dales (where the soap is set) and the title of the soap anchors the meaning (Emmerdale). |
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| Soaps are usually realistic with realistic mise-en-scene and lighting (like this ordinary, messy kitchen). |
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| Characters are usually easy for the target audience to relate to, such as these teenagers who would provide 'relatable' characters for teenage viewers. Some stereotypes are used, such as 'the rebel', 'the bully' |
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| The title sequence is always the same and cues the waiting audience with its easily recognisable theme tune. |
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| There is often conflict in the narrative to make it dramatic (as well as humour, which is not shown here) |
