Blog structure – work done so far….

1. Exam outline & content: slides 1-8

2. Research task. Include your findings on regional representations stereotypes. This

should include notes you added from the various clips I showed you: slides 9-10

3. Coronations Street. All CONVENTIONS (What happens in the soap) linked to TECHNICAL

(how it’s filmed)

4. All work for Mr Bland on GENDER

Section A

You will be analysing a 5 minute TV Drama extract:

• You will need to carry out a textual analysis of four technical areas:– camerawork– mise-en-scene– editing– sound.

EXAM

• You will need to link this analysis to a discussion of how the clip constructs a REPRESENTATION of one of the following areas:

– Gender– Age– Sexuality– Ethnicity– Class and status– Physical ability/disability– Regional identity

TV Dramas are generally scripted to reflect the life of their intended audience, and

primarily being broadcasted in a series, the audience tends to grow with the characters

and feel like they can relate to the issues on screen. Content will generally always be

realistic and applicable to real life situations, and you as an audience are led to believe

that what you see on-screen can happen in real life.

DEFINITION

1. Period Drama: Emma, Downton Abbey, The Tudors, Mildred Pierce

2. Police / Crime Drama : The Wire, Luther, Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes, Inspector

George Gently, Jerry Bruckheimer’s Chase, CSI, NCIS, 24, New Tricks, Hustle, Bones,

Dexter, Cold Case…

3. Science Fiction: Torchwood, Doctor Who, Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes (arguably),

Primeval

4. Medical Drama : Holby City, Casualty, Scrubs, House, ER, Doc Martin

5. Teen Drama: Skins, OC, 90210, Waterloo Road

6. Melodrama / Soap Opera: Hollyoaks, Eastenders, Coronation Street, Footballer’s

Wives and Hotel Babylon borrow from the conventions of Melodrama

7. Political Drama: West Wing, Spooks (Spy Drama), The Kennedys

8. Comedy Drama: Shameless, Trollied (although arguably a SitCom)

9. Action/Adventure Drama: Lost, 24

10. Fantasy Drama: Merlin, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Highlander, Lost, True Blood

Regional Identity refers to the part of the United Kingdom someone is from. It could refer to a general area such a north or south.

Or country such as “English” or “Scottish” or specific towns such as “London” or “Manchester.”

Regional identity is a sense of belonging similar to that of national identity but on a smaller scale or level.