Synopses & Reviews
As the most popular and enduring television genre worldwide, soap opera is an essential element in any Media Studies course. This teaching guide looks at four key areas in TV soap opera: forms and conventions, representations, institutions, and audiences. It provides an accessible and concise overview of theoretical approaches to TV soap opera and offers four comprehensive case studies--on EastEnders, Coronation Street, Neighbours, and Hollyoaks--to support and illustrate these approaches. Topics covered include the history of the soap opera genre, narrative conventions, ideas of realism, current TV production contexts, approaches to soap opera audiences, links with other media, and issues of ideology. Written by teachers, the guide combines challenging theory with accessible and up-to-date practical teaching ideas.
Synopsis
This guide is written by teachers, combining challenging theory with accessible and practical teaching ideas. It is suitable for use in: advanced level media studies courses; AQA A2 communications studies; Edexcel AVCE in media and Scottish Qualifications Authority's media studies Higher.
About the Author
Lou Alexander has taught film and media since 1990, currently at Brighton Hove and Sussex VI Form College. Alison Cousens is Head of Media, Film and Communication Studies at Brighton Hove and Sussex VI Form College.