An introduction to TV Drama: Blog task
1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.
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?
EastEnders, The Sweeney, Minder, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
There is usually a large ensemble and usually use characters that we would all expect to be in a typical drama such as the hero, villain (Propp's 7 stock characters) etc. The lead characters are a part of the narrative arc and typically change and grow - although starting not too far from the original. Each character can pose a different attachment to the audience and these attachments are based on how the audience consume their media. These uses and gratifications outlined by Blumler and Katz(1974) can be 'diversion', 'personal relationships', 'personal identity' and 'surveillance'. If the audience can relate to the character with things such as struggles in relationships, an emotional attachment is formed to the character with the use of personal relationships as the gratifications the audience get from seeing the character in the show.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
A teaser scene is shown at the beginning of each episode before the title sequence is shown. This is to hook the audience to watch the rest of the episode and stick through the commercial breaks.
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
An equilibrium is usually released by the end of the episode but with police procedurals, there is a narrative resolution given to fulfil the audiences need for answers - it provides a closure.
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
With American sitcoms, a typical serial usually lasts one hour but with commercial breaks, the episode lasts 42 minutes. To attract advertisers the content is usually conservative and is close towards mainstream ideologies.
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?
Blindspot
Setting: Usually at the FBI NYO office and the main briefing room.
Characters: The main crew of 5 solving the crimes are against forces that try to cause harm.
Narrative: Try to solve crime and bring order. Multi strand narratives being solved in one or two episodes with each episode leading to a narrative arc.
Form: Running time 42 minutes. Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
Shorter runs of dramas are more likely to be produced to attract an international audience instead of the traditional domestic audiences. This moves closer to streaming services which offer shorter runs and are successful with international audiences e.g. Netflix. Hollywood actors are moving to TV to play more morally ambiguous and harder roles, increasing interest in these types of dramas.
A long-running show spanning many years with each episode having a narrative but reaching a narrative arc overall.
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?
EastEnders, The Sweeney, Minder, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team
They were filmed on film which was expensive, usually high quality and could be sold to foreign markets like America. Usually, they were filmed before a live audience but later evolved to be filmed like a traditional film with the same high-quality production values. Early Dramas like The A-Team solved a narrative during the episodic time frame. This allows audiences to follow the narrative and episodes in no specific order for it to still make sense. but US dramas like Hill Street Blues (1981 - 1987) followed many protagonists and the narrative would be solved over a few episodes with the narrative arc being solved over the whole serial.
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.
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) or Legal: 24
Medical: Holby City
Period(Costume): Casanova
Sci-fi/fantasy: Doctor Who
Family: Full House
Teen: Smallville
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
The whole narrative can be based on a location. If the setting is wrong it gives the wrong ideas about what the show is about. Some familiarity is given to audiences if characters change because the setting stays the same. It gives them reasons to keep watching as the shows they like don't change too much. An example of this would be Doctor Who, each regeneration brings in a different Doctor but the TARDIS setting gives audiences some pleasure in knowing that the setting will always be the same or revolve around this place in some way.
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
There is usually a large ensemble and usually use characters that we would all expect to be in a typical drama such as the hero, villain (Propp's 7 stock characters) etc. The lead characters are a part of the narrative arc and typically change and grow - although starting not too far from the original. Each character can pose a different attachment to the audience and these attachments are based on how the audience consume their media. These uses and gratifications outlined by Blumler and Katz(1974) can be 'diversion', 'personal relationships', 'personal identity' and 'surveillance'. If the audience can relate to the character with things such as struggles in relationships, an emotional attachment is formed to the character with the use of personal relationships as the gratifications the audience get from seeing the character in the show.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
Where many stories run in parallel to each other that are usually solved within one or two episodes, running along the narrative arc.
7) What is a cold opening?
7) What is a cold opening?
A teaser scene is shown at the beginning of each episode before the title sequence is shown. This is to hook the audience to watch the rest of the episode and stick through the commercial breaks.
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
An equilibrium is usually released by the end of the episode but with police procedurals, there is a narrative resolution given to fulfil the audiences need for answers - it provides a closure.
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
With American sitcoms, a typical serial usually lasts one hour but with commercial breaks, the episode lasts 42 minutes. To attract advertisers the content is usually conservative and is close towards mainstream ideologies.
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?
Paid subscription services like HBO they can use content like Breaking Bad which contains a lot of strong language and can get income as advertisers wouldn't want their brand to be associated with programs like this.
Netflix and other services commission shorter runs (6-13 episodes) and allow audiences to binge watch TV shows, rather than stick through commercials when they pay a flat fee for a monthly subscription.
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.
Netflix and other services commission shorter runs (6-13 episodes) and allow audiences to binge watch TV shows, rather than stick through commercials when they pay a flat fee for a monthly subscription.
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.
Blindspot
Setting: Usually at the FBI NYO office and the main briefing room.
Characters: The main crew of 5 solving the crimes are against forces that try to cause harm.
Narrative: Try to solve crime and bring order. Multi strand narratives being solved in one or two episodes with each episode leading to a narrative arc.
Form: Running time 42 minutes. Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
Shorter runs of dramas are more likely to be produced to attract an international audience instead of the traditional domestic audiences. This moves closer to streaming services which offer shorter runs and are successful with international audiences e.g. Netflix. Hollywood actors are moving to TV to play more morally ambiguous and harder roles, increasing interest in these types of dramas.
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