How Brown's theory can be applied to a soap

When Soaps are being created, that put in mind Brown's theory to create a stable outline for their soap. The other main reason is because it relates to the main purposes that all soaps should have, which are also shown through the Uses & Gratifications theory.

Diversion - This is when a soap introduces a sense of humour into it, and is used as entertainment. An example of this could be Fatboy (Arthur Chubb) from Eastenders. Fatboy it always known for the comedy that he brings to the soap.

Surveillance - This is the information given that could affect someone, and gives out information about what is happening in the real world. For example, a few years ago, Patrick in Eastenders talked about the tragic death of pop star Michael Jackson.

Personal Identity - This is when a character in a certain soap can be associate with the audience, almost as if they can relate to them in some ways. An example of this could be the character Ryan in Coronation Street, who had a drug problem. People may not only be able to relate to Ryan in this situation, but his mother Michelle, who is worried and think it was because of his poor up bringing.

Personal Relationships - This could occur when there is a murder or affair in a soap, and the audience can make a decision on who they think are responsible, and can share this opinion with others. A perfect example of this could be when Archie Mitchell was murdered in the Queen Vic in Eastenders, as no body knew who it was, but everyone had their own opinion. This was a tricky one to work out, because Eastenders showed the killing, but not assaulter and the only thing visible was a pair of black gloves worn by the suspect. There was then a numerous amount of characters filmed taking of a black pair of gloves, so the audience would not know who it was.

Settings

I noticed through my research that often the soaps have similar locations, and they are based on what you would normally find in your average town or community.

Some of the main locations found in soaps are:

• Pubs
• Cafes
• Church
• Garages
• Laundrette
• Park
• Emergency Services
• Houses
• Bed and Breakfasts

The three main soaps that I am studying (Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale) all have a pub:

• Eastenders - The Queen Vic

• Coronation Street - The Rovers

• Emmerdale - Woolpack

The reason why soaps have all these similar locations is because they are communal locations for the characters to engage with other characters. Also, they can be relatable to the place that the audience live.

Successful Soap Trailers

Conventions of a Soap Trailer

• Faster paced editing
• Maximum of 3 storylines
• Shows main characters and setting
• Catchy and relatable theme tune
• Channel, time and soap name
• Inter titles
• 60 seconds in length maximum
• Voiceovers

Emmerdale - Live Episode

• Slow paced
• Effects Uses - Explosions of love hearts and money
• Non-Diegetic Sound - Music - Appropriate to soap
• Voiceover saying channel, time and title
• Greenscreen used for the abckground/setting

Eastenders Sharon Returning

• Showed the Setting
• Non-Digetic Sound - Music
• Metaphor - Hurricane describing how big her return was
• Voiceover
• Greenscreen
• Shows the characters of Eastenders

Eastenders Branning Week

• Shows characters relevant to event
• Voiceover
• Diegetic Sounds - Characters Shouting and speaking

Representation in Soaps

Types of Representation

• Gender
• Etthnic Backgrounds
• Sexuality
• Age
• Disability
• Occupation
• Income
• Family Background

Ethnic Background


Sexuality


Age


Disability

Male & Female Representation

Female Representation

• Gossip - This is used a lot in Soap Operas, and it's a useful way for the audience to gain information. Gossipping is stereotypical used by women, as men tend to discuss rather than gossip. The gossip is usually used by a certain type of character in each soaps, such as Audrey and Gail in Coronation Street, and Kim Fox in Eastenders.

• Awarded for their Independence - Women are awarded for their Independence through management roles in some of the main settings such as pubs, factories etc. A few examples of this are Carla from Coronation Street who owns the factory, or Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders and Chas in Emmerdale who both have ran pubs at some point.

• Sexuality - People assume that sexuality difficulties or problems only happen to the young characters, but this is false. Tanya Branning from Eastenders did not tell her husband, Max, about her Cancer because she was worried about the effects the disease would have on their relationship. A similar story also affected Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders. A different scenario was used in Coronation Street, as Eileen Grimshaw had an affair with Paul, who's wife was suffering from the disease Alzheimer's.

• Power - Women are also given a lot of power in Soap Operas, whether it be through their relationship or any other factors. Two examples of this could be Kat Slater in Eastenders who is in control of her relationship with Alfie, and Kirsty in Coronation Street who physically attacks her boyfriend Tyrone. This shows that women have been given more power in soaps, which is know the case in reality as well.

Male Representation

• 
  Fulfil a Secondary Role - Men in soap operas often fulfil a secondary role in the family unit. A few examples of this are the Masood, where Masood takes a secondary role, and does everything that Zaneb tells him to do, which is also similar in the other Eastenders couple Kat and Alfie.

• Demonised - Soaps contain many powerful characters, and a simple example of this is Ian Beale from Eastenders. However, the characters do struggle to be make friends and be included in the community. Derek Branning from Eastenders is another example of this, as he is very powerful with his money and gangster like style, but he is not friends with many people within the community. 

• Feminity - Many characters in soaps have this trait, and if they have this they tend to suit better in the community. An example of this could again be Ian Beale, as he was engaged to Mandy, but she ran out on him leading him to go into a breakdown, and then being isolated by his family, which ended up him giving away his business to his daughter.

Audience Theories

Maslow's - Hierarchy Needs

Blumer and Katz - Uses and Gratifications

Diversion - This is when a soap introduces a sense of humour into it, and is used as entertainment. An example of this could be Fatboy (Arthur Chubb) from Eastenders. Fatboy it always known for the comedy that he brings to the soap. 

Surveillance - This is the information given that could affect someone, and gives out information about what is happening in the real world. For example, a few years ago, Patrick in Eastenders talked about the tragic death of pop star Michael Jackson. 

Personal Identity - This is when a character in a certain soap can be associate with the audience, almost as if they can relate to them in some ways. An example of this could be the character Ryan in Coronation Street, who had a drug problem. People may not only be able to relate to Ryan in this situation, but his mother Michelle, who is worried and think it was because of his poor up bringing. 

Personal Relationships - This could occur when there is a murder or affair in a soap, and the audience can make a decision on who they think are responsible, and can share this opinion with others. A perfect example of this could be when Archie Mitchell was murdered in the Queen Vic in Eastenders, as no body knew who it was, but everyone had their own opinion. This was a tricky one to work out, because Eastenders showed the killing, but not assaulter  and the only thing visible was a pair of black gloves worn by the suspect. There was then a numerous amount of characters filmed taking of a black pair of gloves, so the audience would not know who it was.

Soap Trailer Research

Emmerdale - 40th Year Anniversary Trailer
Purpose

This trailer had a main purpose and subject, which was love. The trailer shows a number of characters in the soap walking up to the camera and then almost exploding, but instead of a fire like explosion, love hearts come out, which shows the subject.



Characters
 Most of the characters that are shown are in couples, such as Debbie Dingle & Cameron Murray, Chastity Dingle & Dan Spencer, Charity & Jai Sharma etc, however some approach the camera on their own, such as Kane Dingle and Carl King.


Music
The music is quite up beat for the type of situation, but part of the song has the lyrics 'Why was I a fool to fall in love with you'. These lyrics also relate to the subject love, and also connote that the episode will have some break ups and secret outbursts.

Mise-en-scene and Iconography
The clothing in this trailer was quite interesting in my opinion. The 2 male characters that enter on their own, Kane Dingle and Carl King, are both dressed in black, which connotes mysteriousness, death and darkness, which all were linked to the actual episode. The couple Chastity Dingle & Dan Spencer are in wedding gear, as Chas is in a dress and Dan is in a suit. This shows that a wedding is going to take place, and therefore drama. The weather in the background was gloomy as well, and the clouds were dark grey which could for shadow later events.

Voice Over
The voice over was spoken by a female with a clear voice. It says 'Celebrate 40 years of drama with an explosive week in Emmerdale. Starts Monday 15th October'. The word explosive explains the characters exploding in the actual trailer, and both of these suggest explosions, which can also be described as arguments and disagreeing. The voice over also describes what it is and the time it starts.

Why are Soaps considered to be a Female genre?

The soap genre has been always considered as a female genre, and many wonder why this is.

The main reasons for Soaps being classed as a female genre is because they generally enjoy watching this kind of television programme, where as men are more stereotypically known to watch Sports and Comedies.
Soaps also provide many different story lines and events that could be relateable by women, or just something they would enjoy. This could include money problems, and an example of this would be Bianca Butcher in Eastenders, who has had a lot of money problems, and also has four children to go with that. Recently, Bianca has been arrested for theft, despite her only ambitions being to look after her children. Other soap story lines can also relate to women, such as women who play the role as housewives in reality, can be portrayed in the soap, and therefore relateable.

However, the most obvious reason for soaps being considered as a female genre is the fact that they may have enough time to watch them. What I mean by this is that stereotypically, it is the men in the household that work, whereas there are many women in the UK who do not work, and therefore have a lot of spare time on their hands, so they have enough time to watch certain programmes that they enjoy.

The final reason for this is because women are very well known for gossipping and talking about certain subjects. Soaps like Eastenders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street provide more for women to talk and gossip about, and very similar character are portrayed in the soap.

Narrative Theories and Types

 Open Narrative - Runs on over several episodes - Soap
 An example of an Open Narrative is Eastenders. The soap runs on over several episodes and this is reminded through characters mentioning the past and also new characters coming in and having their own personal storylines.

Closed Narrative - There is an end - Films

Multistranded Narrative - Multiple stories - Could have an overlap


Narrative Theories

• Todorov- Equilibrium - disruption, attempt to repair - new equilibrium

 

• Propp - Russian - He started Russian folktales - Told through character function - People - eg. hero, villain, prize/princess, false hero - used in Soaps. 

An example of this could be Phil Mitchell from Eastenders because he acts like a hero one episode, and then the next he is mistreating others.

• Barthes - Understanding of signs - His theory was that it was shown through codes - This could be easily shown in soaps, such as a clinched fist connotes anger.

Action Code - Something happens  - see the police vehicle

Enigma Code - Clues or hints  -  sirens suggests crime

• Levi-Strauss - Binary Opposition

Old   New

In      Out

Rich  Poor