Soap Opera Textual Analysis

Soap Opera Genre –

Independent Textual Analysis

Name: Feargus BrackenCandidate Number: 4009Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic SchoolCenter Number: 64135

OCR Media Studies – A2 Level

Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

Coronation Street Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcVoNEhhICU

Verbal Codes – The non diegetic lyrics of the song ‘on the street where you live’ create a sense of home and camaraderie between the characters , along with the audience. But, also, due to the content of the trailer the song creates a feeling of dread and creates a ‘disequilibrium’ (Todorov) which unsettles the audience and creates apprehension. The lyric ‘Knowing’ creates a sense of familiarity between the audience and the characters within the trailer (De Saussure 2007), and increases the effect of the cuts to darker shots, where the song is not present. The only other sounds present in the trailer are noises that would occur naturally, whereby the use of diegetic sound further immerses the audience, and causes further shock at later events in the trailer.

Non-Verbal Codes – The setting parallels with the effect of the verbal codes, as the street is set on the streets where the characters (you) live. This is a urban setting and viewers who live in the same area would ‘personally identify’ (Katz 2007) with this representation because of the shots containing suburban housing in the background, and the various relationships shown between characters. Due to the soft focus lighting, lots of facial expressions and the clothing of the characters is a lot lighter, characters who are normally grim seem more lightened. The facial expressions change from happiness and bliss to shock, before being cut off before the expression is fully formed. The use of the non-verbal code of the colour red within the trailer ‘signifies’ (De Saussure). The juxtaposition of high and low key lightning clashes, and connotes the drastic difference in tone and theme of the trailer. The sudden changes in tone creates disequilibrium (Todorov) and encourages viewing of the full program

Technical Codes –There is low key saturation which directly contrasts with the high key saturation , as all the lights are somewhat faded and the only bright lights are the police and ambulance sirens. Due to being filmed in slow motion, there is a great contradiction created between the peaceful scenes and the scenes with emergency services. This creates ‘disequilibrium’ (Todorov) because the close ups of the emergency services direct contradict the close ups and soft focus medium shots of the other characters within the trailer. The camera movement used in this trailer is that so the camera follows the characters, almost as if the audience is following their daily routine. This creates a sense of familiarity and ease. The trailer makes use of angles to show the entire body language of characters, such as a low angle when a older couple are exiting the bus. There are small cuts to different camera angles, but ones that still have reference to the previous shot. Such as seeing characters from the previous shot in the background.

Coronation Street Screen shots

Eastenders Trailer- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p4xlLezos0

Verbal Codes – The traditional, non diegetic western soundtrack creates humor, as it has become a media trope for ‘cheesy’ western shows that play on western tropes.Cheesy western tropes are again enforced when there is a non diegetic sound effect when Kat withdraws her pocket mirror. It takes the place of a gun in ‘wild west’ mise-en-scene and connotes the power of her femininity by ‘signifying’ (De Saussure) her power with traditionally feminine items. Kat challenges the (Rebecca Feasey - 2007) traditional representation of the female gender by demonstrating power and not adhering to social norms of a woman. A non diegetic sound effect is present within the guitar, which further adds false tension to the trailer.Dialogue is used by someone who is watching, with a very comical, loud, colloquial exclamation of ‘flippin eck!’. This short section of dialogue is audible over the soundtrack. There is a non diegetic voice over at the end of the trailer with the statement “It’s all kicking off in the square.” Kicking off creates connotations of conflict, and combined with the non diegetic drum snares, the narration creates tension and piques audience interest. This could cause them to watch the episode to satisfy their curiosity.

Non-Verbal Codes – The main female protagonist, Kat, is wearing a black fabric poncho. This creates connotations of Kat as a powerful character by using a code that creates masculinity to demonstrate her power and femininity. This femininity is accentuated by a prop of Kat’s, which is a handbag. The significance of this piece of mise-en-scene is that it normally emphasizes femininity.Setting is used to enhance tension through a short cut to the sign swinging in the wind, which connotes tension and wilderness in the form of a wild west trope. To create tension in the trailer, Kat and Alfie are both presented with stone faced expressions. The lack of emotion and acknowledgment when they see each other hints towards conflict, and creates impact on the viewer by escalating the tension. The lighting in the trailer is not hard or soft focus, as the light is high key illuminates almost too brightly, which creates tension and a lack of comfort for characters.

Technical Codes –There is a cut to a close up of the boots , which is a western inspired trope. There is a camera tilt to highlight the entire costumes of Kat and Alfie, which is another western inspired trop which allows the audience to see the colors of all the clothing, which are black and connote confrontation. The use of high key lighting creates a atmosphere of tension. The use of pull focus on to Kat’s feet, and creates a emphasis on her western styled boots, which is again a reference to the constant use of wild west tropes to create a sense of conflict, but not of a serious conflict. The use of cuts to edit the camera shots to quickly maneuver to each other creates tension as it combines with the miser en scene of the characters facial expressions to connote conflict, and causes a potential audience to become interested in the ultimate confrontation of these characters.

Kat and Alfie (Eastenders) Screen shots

Evaluation of Textual Analysis – Compare and Contrast

Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995)

I would ‘exploit’ (Abercrombie – 1995) the soap opera convention of having the music choice and the lyrics to foreshadow the events of the show from the trailer. I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) the use of mise en scene to fully immerse a audience into a peaceful atmosphere , along with the use of soft focus lighting. I would also repeat the use of Todorov’s ‘disequilibrium’ to create apprehension within a audience, and to keep their attention focused on the trailer.

Trailer 2) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995)

If my goal was to create humor, I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale – 1980) the use of traditional tropes present within soap opera conventions, such as the over the top reactions. I would also repeat the use of lighting to create lighter atmosphere in certain shots. I would ‘exploit’ (Abercrombie - 1995) the use of cutaways to scenes of vastly different content to create tension.