We studied the context of two soap dramas , which were Hollyoaks and Eastenders. I analysed many things such as the themes, mise-en-scene, storylines, stereotypes etc.
The themes most commonly used in soap operas/dramas are: -Death/Murder -Relationships/Love -School -Lying/Stealing -Bullying -Teenage problems -Depression -Fighting
Themes are used to create something to make the audience interested in the programme. Themes are also used to help join different types of media together. Most soap operas would use many different types of themes within one episode or segment to tackle different types of issues existing in real life. Soap operas are usually made for the middle and lower classed families , and consists of characters that come from that demographic to help the audience emphasise with the situations. Usually the themes that are used within soap operas are taboo subjects which means its good, because it speaks of subjects that many people do not really want to speak about. There are such subjects and themes that soap operas tackled, and brought in a new era of television for that subject, you could possibly say they sparked a phenomenon, as soap operas were the first to cover gay relationships when it was underground and a taboo subject which was a groundbreaking achievement. An example of a themes within Eastenders is one which involves relationships, which is the Jay, Phil and Billy storyline which is when Phil is taking Jay away from Billy by using boxing, Billy feels betrayed and this storyline is one which is tackling the theme of Relationships, many people could relate with this storyline because they have had someone come in between the relationship of them and some other, and it is a good storyline because parents who lose their children to death or possibly the street could also possibly relate. Another example of themes within Hollyoaks is the Love Triangle storyline which is when the three are stuck in the middle of a love triangle, and this is a good theme to talk about because there are many people in modern day situations that could relate to this. The themes in soaps are exaggerated a bit at times which make it seem extra dangerous, and more sinister, this is obviously done to keep the audience interested, because if it was done 100% by how life is the programme would be far less appealing, leading to the lack of viewers.
Stereotypes are commonly and often used in soap operas as selling points. Most the characters used are people that are stereotyped in modern day, for example they always stereotype young adults, also known as teenagers in a bad light, as they are actually nothing but trouble, rude , obnoxious , disrespectful and very violent. Or they may stereotype old people as really moody, grumpy and those who are eye sores and hate the youth. Soap operas usually make and blow all of the stereotypes out of proportion by making it seem, worse that the reality actually is. An example of a stereotype we see in the Eastenders clip is in the Billie's death storyline where his mother stereotypes his best friend as nothing but scum, yet she does not leave him alone but curses him and wishes bad fortune upon him. Billie's mother is stereotyping teenagers as negative, whilst Eastenders is also doing the same because they are saying teenagers drink too much, as drinking was the cause of Billie's death.
Mise-en-scene is the key product to making the soap operas seem realistic, and helping the audience to relate with the programme. The reason for this is so that the programme is good and realistic, they may even use a building or a setting to make it realistic, and add iconography to it , so that whenever you see that place or something similar you would instantly think of the programme, an example of this is EastEnders and the Albert Square. They may also used costumes which represent the class of the people being featured in the programme to make it more realistic , and to add a secret meaning behind it all. They may use props such as glasses, magazines and umbrellas depending on the situation to make the programme realistic, so that the audience learns to become one with the programme and relates to it fully.
