Introduction TV Drama

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 Introduction to TV Drama: Blog tasks


Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or on Google Drive here (you'll need your Greenford Google login) to find Media Factsheet #164 on Television Serial Drama. 

Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to show your comprehensive knowledge of the television drama genre:

1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.

A TV split into a series of episodes where the plot unfolds after each episode as opposed to one-off dramas, this plot will be finished by the end of the series.

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?
-The Avengers
-Danger Man
-The Sweeney
-Starsky and Hutch
-Minder

Until the early 1980's, most US television drama series followed a set narrative structure, comprising of a story of the week delivering narrative resolution at the end of the episode. Crucially the following episode starts afresh with no reference to the previous story. 

3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV drama to fit each category
.Police Procedural (crime): Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Medical: The Good Doctor

Period (costume): Downtown Abbey

Science-fiction/fantasy: Westworld

Family: My Wife and Kids

Teen: Euphoria

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
The viewer can be influenced by or make decisions based on when and where the piece is set or on what problems have been highlighted.

5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
To reflect modern audiences, there is a greater presence of strong females as well as black and ethnic minority characters. Bringing in new characters prevents the audiences from being bored of the same characters. Uses and gratification theory focuses on the fact that society and in particular the media try to focus on the audiences gratifications when watching TV drama.

6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
It's when a TV drama has two or more stories running together in an episode. An example of this can be Neighbours or Home and Away

7) What is a cold opening?
Starting the episode without opening credits or a title in order to get the audience to invest in the characters.

8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
The stories generally move through Todorov's narrative stages through often without the return to equilibrium at the end of each episode. Most TV Dramas do give audiences a new equilibrium in order to satisfy the audiences needs.

9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
The length of a season, as well as the length of individual episodes, vary depending on the producing and distribution of the programme. Many serial dramas fill one-hour or a commercial hour, with some dramas commissioned to span a two- hour slot. In an effort to attract advertisers the content is more conservative and adheres to 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?
Drama serials presented on subscription channels are not policed by the same standards, hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content. Cable channels and services like Netflix and Amazon Prime commission shorter runs and do not need to stick with the same run times as subscription channels.

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.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Setting: Police Station

Characters: Wear casual clothing with police badges, except sergeant, who wears a suit with no blazer.

Narrative: It's a multi-strand narrative that is usually resolved by the end of each episode.

Distributor: NBC Universal Television Distribution
Running time: 21-23 minutes

12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
Online programme makers are starting to create more short form content, leading to drama serials that run for much less than 60 minutes. As well as this, the BBC is now under pressure to create shows that are more ‘distinctive’ and different to what commercial channels offer. This has led some to speculate that the BBC may be forced into producing shorter runs of medical dramas like Casualty and making less crime shows. 

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