An introduction to TV Drama: Blog task
Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #164 on Television Serial Drama. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the reading for homework. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to show your comprehensive knowledge of the television drama genre:
A serial TV drama has multiple episodes and seasons.
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?
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?
- Doctor Who
- The Avengers 1961-1969
- Danger Man 1962-1968
- The Sweeney 1975-178
- Starksy and Hutch 1975-1979
- Hill Street Blues 1981-1987
- Dallas 1978-1991 and 2012-2014
- Viewing in black and white to colour
- TV dramas are shot on film and made like a film with the same high quality production values
- changing the set narrative structure and delivering a resolution at the end of each episode to running a story over several episodes before offering any closure
- focusing on an ensemble cast rather than just one protagonist
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 - CSI, Road Wars, Criminal Minds, Hawaii Five-O
Medical - Scrubs, Chicago Med
Period - The Crown, Reign, Murdoch Mysteries, Down Town Abbey
Science-fiction/fantasy - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Teen Wolf, Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Family - The Simpsons, Modern Family, Black-ish, Futurama, F is for family
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 is when there is more than one story being told at the same time in an episode. E.g Eastenders
7) What is a cold opening?
This is when there is a small bit of film before the opening credits in order to introduce the episode and present to the audience what the protagonist will have to face up against. An example of this is in "The Flash."
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
Multi-strand narrative is when there is more than one story being told at the same time in an episode. E.g Eastenders
7) What is a cold opening?
This is when there is a small bit of film before the opening credits in order to introduce the episode and present to the audience what the protagonist will have to face up against. An example of this is in "The Flash."
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
TV dramas usually follow Todorov's theory of equilibrium and often return to the equilibrium at the end of the episode. Most police procedural provide a narrative resolution and reassurance to fulfil the audiences need for answers.
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
A lot of US commercial networks such as ABC, CBS and NBC schedule most drama serials in blocks of twenty-four one hour episodes. In order to attract advertisers, the content is more conservative and follows mainstream ideologies, excessive swearing and violence is rarely seen. The running time of a network drama is 42 minutes long which allows enough time for commercial breaks that can weather frequent interruption.
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, as mentioned in the question, have evolved TV Dramas by making their own TV Shows, examples being: Narcos, Orange is the New Black, Lucifer, Grand Tour etc. Doing this provides a unique selling point of the subscription service, giving people a reason to subscribe.
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.
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, as mentioned in the question, have evolved TV Dramas by making their own TV Shows, examples being: Narcos, Orange is the New Black, Lucifer, Grand Tour etc. Doing this provides a unique selling point of the subscription service, giving people a reason to subscribe.
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.
Top Boy
Setting - Set in East London, Leyton stone.
Characters - Follows the life of a bunch of teenagers who who become a product of their own environment. They live a life of crime and live up to the black stereotype but at they, all good things must come to an end.
Narrative - Each episode shows multiple sides to the story and how they interlink with each other.
Form - Distributor: Netflix, running time between 50-60 minutes.
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
Setting - Set in East London, Leyton stone.
Characters - Follows the life of a bunch of teenagers who who become a product of their own environment. They live a life of crime and live up to the black stereotype but at they, all good things must come to an end.
Narrative - Each episode shows multiple sides to the story and how they interlink with each other.
Form - Distributor: Netflix, running time between 50-60 minutes.
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
A Tv genre can evolve during the future by adapting to different narratives as it could be a crime drama turning into an action type one through the season e.g. Power.
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