Intro to TV Drama

 

    TV Drama

1) What is serial television drama?

A drama serial varies from a drama series in that it tells stories and provides narrative resolution in a number of sections over a period of time. Typically, novel adaptations have been serialised for television and aired over a set number of episodes. 

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

. The Avengers

. Minder

. The A Team

. The Sweeney 

. Danger Man

3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet.

. Period

. Teen

. Medical

. Horror

. Romance

. Fantasy

. Crime

. Mystery

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

Setting is essential for a TV drama because it allows the plot to evolve over time, despite the cast members' arrivals and departures.

5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? 

Archetypal characters can be found in subgenres such as crime dramas. Similarly, strong female characters, as well as black and ethnic minority characters, are more prevalent to represent modern audiences. Television serials are increasingly featuring gay, lesbian, and transsexual characters. This can offer audience pleasures such as personal identity or personal relationships to the audience.

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

Multi-strand narrates a tale from the viewpoints of several main characters, each with their own small story line within the narrative. These storylines often collide and overlap, allowing the audience to see themselves through the eyes of others. An example is Modern Family.

7) What is a cold opening?

A cold opening is when the creators use a teaser at the start of an episode to entice viewers to keep watching. This creates a sense of mystery or intrigue prior to the title sequence.

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

In general, stories progress through Todorov's narrative stages, though they rarely return to equilibrium at the end of each episode. TV dramas can begin without incident, only to have a conflict in the middle of the show. This would be the new-equilibrium after the conflict was settled.

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

The commercial networks in the United States (ABC, CBS, and NBC) air most of their drama serials in blocks of twenty-four one-hour episodes, effectively covering half of the calendar year. Because it is reliant on advertising for financing, it has a number of negative effects on the text.

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 broadcast on subscription cable channels such as HBO, AMC, and Showtime are not subject to the same restrictions, allowing for much more adult and demanding content in their dramas. Drama serials broadcast on subscription cable channels such as HBO, AMC, and Showtime are not subject to the same restrictions, so their dramas will contain much more mature and demanding content.

11) Choose a TV drama and do your own analysis of it using the SETTING / CHARACTERS / NARRATIVE headings.

Friends

Setting: It is set in Manhattan. A few episodes were set in London and Barbados.

Characters: The main characters are Monica, Chandler. Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross and Joey.

Narrative: Friends is about six friends who go through nearly every life experience together, including love, marriage, divorce, children, heartbreaks, battles, new jobs and job losses, and all kinds of drama. 

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

The television drama genre, which combines action, crime, drama, mystery, and thriller elements. The genre may evolve over time as technology improves, resulting in an increase in special effects. furthermore Serial dramas may become more diverse and targeted toward niche groups as audiences consume content in different ways.