Soap Opera Characteristics

The characteristics of a soap opera are significant to what we see and recognise when we are watching.

Narrative - audiences are eavesdropping on the characters lives.

Character Representation - the way characters are presented to the audience in soap operas.

Cliffhangers - the unfolding action is cut off at a crucial point which entices audiences.

Realism - a soap opera must have the state of being actual or real.

Relating to everyday life - soap operas attract audiences because the things that go on can relate to audiences.

Relationship problems - this is a key feature that is shown in soap operas which is why it can relate to audiences.

Interweaving of stories - this is a characteristic of a continuous serial is the way in which two or three stories are happening at the same time.

Sensationalised - soap operas are contradicting as they have a realistic element but then events like people being shot are sensationalised.

Current Affairs/Controversy - Events like Christmas, Easter and holidays are viewed in the soap operas to show that they are in the present.

Mise en Scene - the arrangement of scenery which represents where soap opera is enacted.

Archetypes - Soap operas include different Age, Ethnicity, Gender, Social class, Homosexuality which makes it versatile.

Real life Issues - such as disabilities and illnesses are shown on soap operas which show a gritty and realistic side to soap operas.

Audience - is a major aspect of soap operas as they have to cater to different types of audiences.

Resolution - the stories resonate to the long term viewers but just begin for the new viewers.

Regional Accents- this can indicate the representation of social class.

Repetition - when things happen to characters, which can repeat later one for example affairs and fortunate affairs.

Time - audiences keep up with the pace even when the narrative goes on.

Peak viewing time- the time in which soaps are on TV (5pm-9pm)

Theme tune - all soap operas have a significant and memorable theme tune which most audiences recognise.

Gossip - Audiences, magazines, newspapers, radios all gossip about soap operas which spoil or trick the audience on the upcoming events.

Age group varies