For this piece of Media work i was asked to look at 3 different soaps and talk about the conventions of each and then explain the codes. I looked at Hollyoaks, Eastenders and Coronation Street. I took videos of each off youtube watch and anaylsed them. I wanted to focus on the first 5 mintues of each and this is what i thought...
Hollyoaks 4th November 2011 In this episode of Hollyoaks the story line is that Mercedes (in the wedding dress) has been locked in a cellar for weeks following the wedding disaster. The man who has kept her there is the grandfather of the man she was about to marry. In the other story lines people are being put to blame for the situation, teenage love and more drama. The first ever episode of Hollyoaks aired 23rd Oct 1995.
Conventions of hollyoaks;
Storyline conventions.
Drama
Pregnancy's/ New life
Murders
Lies/Secrets
Cliffhangers
Dilemmas
Technological conventions.
Village (mis-en-scene)
Theme tune (sound)
Sirens (sound)
Dramatic music (sound)
2 person Dialogue (sound)
180 degree camera shot (camera)
Panning (camera)
Medium shots (camera)
Cross cutting (editing)
The conventions help us understand the codes of Hollyoaks because the way its perceived helps understand the characters, setting and story. A lot is happening in this particular episode of Hollyoaks pregnancy's, giving birth, lies, secrets, dilemmas and much more. I believe the effect of doing this is to build a lot of tension right before the truth comes out for something. I watch hollyoaks so i know that this story line has been building up for a very long time so they've made it a very big explosion. When doing my research on Hollyoaks i found out that Tim Burton was the creator of the advert for this weeks episode. I personally like this advert and found it a very interesting way of presenting the show. Other codes of the episode was of background music such as the sirens which creates the feeling of panic and emergency. On the original show there is a very long introduction of the shows titles and theme tune. Just before this they introduce the show by showing main points from previous episodes, this helps to set the scene, let people catch up and create an atmosphere. The convention of Village would come under the subtitle of mis-en-scene as it is setting. Using the setting of the village creates a very small and cute feeling throughout the show. As all soaps 2 person dialogue is used to help the audience engage with the stuff going on around them, characters and the story. Medium shots are used to help establish who's speaking and who to. Some shots are sometimes closer to show importance. We dont even realise this but if done wrong looks out of place and doesnt fit at all.
Eastenders 3rd November 2011 In this episode of Eastenders there is a lot of conflict between characters. There are arguments between the masood family about a perternity test that was tampered with. On other sides of the street Phil is back causing trouble, the start of teenage love and Roxy is fed up with money problems. The first ever episode of Eastenders was shown on the 18th February 1985.
Conventions in Eastenders;
Storyline conventions.
Arguments/Shouting
Lieing
Problems
Stereotypes
Technologicial conventions.
Theme tune (sound)
Dialogue (sound)
Different cultures (mis-en-scene)
Establishing shot (camera)
POV shot (camera)
Medium/Long shots (camera)
Cross cutting (editing)
All these conventions are turned into codes by the effect they create. Arguments, problems and lieing has always been a strong convention of soap operas. In eastenders they use these in their story lines to help capture the audiences attention and to make them want to watch the next episode. Technological conventions include things such as different cultures. This is leads into a code because the audience is boarder and the show isn't seen as racist and applies to everyone. The theme tune is used so that everyone can relate it back with the show, they know what they re watching and it grabs attention. The establishing shot in the theme tune is a very good way of setting the scene so us as the audience understand the background, lifestyle and helps us to engage with the story lines more. The loud beats in the theme tune grab attention but also creates an atmosphere so that its dramatic.
Coronation street 3rd November 2011 In this episode of Coronation street there is conflict between workers and their employers, family issues and many more. Coronation street has been running for over 50 years. The first episode of coronation street aired 9th December 1960.
Conventions of coronation street;
Storyline conventions.
Bisexual love not being accepted
Arguments
Engagments
Secrets
Different views and opinions
Prison
Technologicial conventions.
Theme tune (sound)
Dialogue (sound)
Non-diegetic music (sound)
Medium shots (camera)
Over the shoulder shot (camera)
Close up shots in theme tune (camera)
Shot reverse shot (editing)
The conventions help us understand the codes of Coronation Street because the way its perceieved helps understand the characters, setting and story. For example the 2 person dialogue would show 2 people talking to one another, the way its shot using a 180 degree angle shot would help us link the two people together. It would help the audience understand that they are speaking to one another. In this clip of Coronation Street there is alot of over the shoulder filming i believe this is easy to show the eye to eye contact between the two characters and is slightly easier to film and get correct. In the theme tune we are given lots of marstershots including close up shots. I think this is effective as it helps us work out the setting of a small street but also makes it interesting. Also the close up shots make us think about all of the street being realistic and not just the street as a boring street. It also shows us parts of the 'city' we havnt seen before which shows us its a small part of a big place.
No comments:
Post a Comment