An introduction to TV Drama

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:

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

A drama that is shown consecutively on a channel, sometimes with more than one series. It can have a narrative arc or an episodic narrative depending on the nature of it's story line.

2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. 


Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979) 
The A-Team (1983-1987), 
Pride and Prejudice (1996) 
Fox’s 2016 adaption of Stephen King’s 11.22.63 
EastEnders 
Casualty

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.

Crime - Luther
Medical - Casualty 
Period (costume) - Downtown Abbey
Sci-fi - Doctor Who
Family - Eastenders
Teen - Vampire diaries

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

The setting contributes to realism of the show, especially in reality dramas. In costume dramas or sci-fi dramas there needs to be an element of coherence between the story line, the characters and where they are.

5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)

Producers usually create characters that people can identify with so the story line resonates with the audience. In terms of personal relationships the characters show emotion so the audience develops sympathy or empathy for them.

6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.

This is when more than one character has a story line in the show, usually crossing over with each other. This most usually happens in soaps (Eastenders, Coronation Street) and sometimes in series'. For example in stranger things when Barb got taken into the Upside-down while people were still looking for Will.

7) What is a cold opening?

Occurring before the title screen  has been shown, the cold opening begins the show immediately so the audience doesn't lose interest and switch off.

8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?

Almost every drama begins with an equilibrium that is disrupted that grips in the audience. They continue in order to see whether the equilibrium they created a personal relationship with gets restored.

9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?


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?

People are using less regular TV and are instead streaming / OD because it is cheaper than services like Sky. More people are watching TV on demand because they can entire control over when they can watch it.

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.



12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?

It is likely that streaming and OD sites are going to become increasingly popular and perhaps even bought by rupert murdoch because hasn't the guy bought

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