Soap opera

basics: Originated in 1920’s in the USA.

Since there wasn’t television at the time it was broadcasted on the radio.

It actually started and its aim was to advertise soap powder to American housewives.

Soap is a feminine genre - the genre is primarily aimed at women.

This affects scheduling – soaps are usually built around the lifestyle of traditional women

whose work is based in the home and soaps are usually aired after mealtimes when there is

a lull in the day.

Target audience also affects storylines, narrative perspective, characterisation, settings, and

costume.

Soap operas usually run continuously, in the same time spot, on the same days, broadcast by

the same institutions, for years. Because they are repeated so often, they become part of

the cultural psyche. They become a part of who ‘we’ are.

The characters become ‘people’.

Storylines usually are relatable – audiences can watch and understand what is happening,

and empathise with characters. Or hate them.

Some storylines can be outrageous e.g. baby-swapping in East Enders.

Most soap has between 10 – 15 main characters, with overlapping, interweaving storylines.

Storylines overlap to keep audiences interested. Different strands can run alongside each

other but develop at different times.

Catharsis: emotional cleansing. The purging of negative emotions by watching another

person goes through something similar/worse.

Soaps become an escape from everyday life.