An introduction to TV Drama: Blog task
1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.
A serial television dram tells a story and delivers narrative resolution, in a number of parts over a period of time. They are usually adaptations of novels that get serialised over multiple episodes.
2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time?
3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV dramas to fit each category.
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
Allows the TV drama to develop over a long period of time, weathering the comings and goings of the cast members by replacing one archetypal character with another. TV dramas a defined by their location and setting and the use of bringing in new characters helps prevent the show from going stale and losing viewers.
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
TV dramas use character to ensure that their show will continually be popular for a long period of time and stay relevant. To make sure modern audiences are satisfied and meet society's needs, characters that are gay and lesbian or come from ethnic minority backgrounds have seen an increase to make sure that the show doesn't receive any scandals and maintain view count.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
Multi-strand narrative refers to multiple stories being told at the same time during an episode or series. These stories eventually conflict and come to together towards the finale of a show. This is a good way of hooking and maintaining their audience and keep them watching.
7) What is a cold opening?
A cold opening is at the beginning of an episode that shows a teaser to keep the audience hooked and continually watching the show throughout. Similarly, serialised dramas end each episode on a narrative hook or plot reversal to create suspense for the finale.
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
Todorov's theory of equilibrium can be applied easily to TV drama serial as through out a season or seasons we see the encounter of disequilibriums where the main protagonist normally suceeds in solving the problem. The series is continued with the result of more different problems being introduced into the show where the protagonist has to overcome them throughout the series.
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
UC Commercial networks schedule most of their drama serials in blocks of twenty-four-one hour episodes. In an effort to attract advertisers the content is more conservative and violence is also rare along side any anti social behaviour.
10) How have subscription channels (such as HBO) and streaming services (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime)
changed the form and content of TV dramas?
Subscription channels such as HBO are not governed by the same considerations hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and explicit content. The anti-hero protagonists would not play on free-to-air network television as many potential advertisers would not to associate their products with such content.
11) Choose a TV drama and do your own analysis of it using the SETTING / CHARACTERS / NARRATIVE / FORM headings as featured on page 3 of the factsheet.
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
As the growth and evolution in technology has caused for TV dramas to be aired and shown on online subscription programs which may lead to serial dramas becoming more diverse ans targeted towards niche groups due to the way people are viewing these shows. Due to this evolution this has caused for channels such as the BBC to be under pressure as people are now more likely to be intrigued by programs shown online which have a high budget with short screen time. This is completely different and difficult for channels such as the BBC to keep up and the audiences attention span decrease and preferences differ causing it harder for the BBC to produce content which is enjoyable for the modern audience whilst also remaining relevant.
A serial television dram tells a story and delivers narrative resolution, in a number of parts over a period of time. They are usually adaptations of novels that get serialised over multiple episodes.
2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time?
- The Avengers
- Danger Man
- The Sweeney
- Minder
- Doctor Who
3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV dramas to fit each category.
- Police Procedural (crime) - Narcos
- Medical - Scrubs
- Period - The Crown
- Science-fiction - Star Trek
- Family - The Simpsons
- Teen - Teen Wolf
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
Allows the TV drama to develop over a long period of time, weathering the comings and goings of the cast members by replacing one archetypal character with another. TV dramas a defined by their location and setting and the use of bringing in new characters helps prevent the show from going stale and losing viewers.
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
TV dramas use character to ensure that their show will continually be popular for a long period of time and stay relevant. To make sure modern audiences are satisfied and meet society's needs, characters that are gay and lesbian or come from ethnic minority backgrounds have seen an increase to make sure that the show doesn't receive any scandals and maintain view count.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
Multi-strand narrative refers to multiple stories being told at the same time during an episode or series. These stories eventually conflict and come to together towards the finale of a show. This is a good way of hooking and maintaining their audience and keep them watching.
7) What is a cold opening?
A cold opening is at the beginning of an episode that shows a teaser to keep the audience hooked and continually watching the show throughout. Similarly, serialised dramas end each episode on a narrative hook or plot reversal to create suspense for the finale.
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
Todorov's theory of equilibrium can be applied easily to TV drama serial as through out a season or seasons we see the encounter of disequilibriums where the main protagonist normally suceeds in solving the problem. The series is continued with the result of more different problems being introduced into the show where the protagonist has to overcome them throughout the series.
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
UC Commercial networks schedule most of their drama serials in blocks of twenty-four-one hour episodes. In an effort to attract advertisers the content is more conservative and violence is also rare along side any anti social behaviour.
10) How have subscription channels (such as HBO) and streaming services (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime)
changed the form and content of TV dramas?
Subscription channels such as HBO are not governed by the same considerations hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and explicit content. The anti-hero protagonists would not play on free-to-air network television as many potential advertisers would not to associate their products with such content.
11) Choose a TV drama and do your own analysis of it using the SETTING / CHARACTERS / NARRATIVE / FORM headings as featured on page 3 of the factsheet.
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
As the growth and evolution in technology has caused for TV dramas to be aired and shown on online subscription programs which may lead to serial dramas becoming more diverse ans targeted towards niche groups due to the way people are viewing these shows. Due to this evolution this has caused for channels such as the BBC to be under pressure as people are now more likely to be intrigued by programs shown online which have a high budget with short screen time. This is completely different and difficult for channels such as the BBC to keep up and the audiences attention span decrease and preferences differ causing it harder for the BBC to produce content which is enjoyable for the modern audience whilst also remaining relevant.
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