TV drama Steph Webb, Amelia Barrett, Amber Bush

Definition of Genre

Genre is a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Examples include: comedy, horror, action, romance.

Definition of Subgenre

A subgenre is a subcategory within a particular genre.

Examples include: crime, medical, costume (period) and soap.

Narrative TheoristsRussian theorist, Tzvetan Todorov: suggests that all narratives follow a three part structure. They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored this is used in the TV drama’s crime, medical and costume.

Vladimir Propp: who came up with the theory that there are only a certain number of characters, who appear in narratives. It is easy to spot the hero and villain in most cases. Example is the hero who leads the narrative, is usually looking for something to solve like a mystery.

Soap OperaConventions that are found in soap operas

include:

Domestic themes and personal or family relationships occur repeatedly between the characters.

Setting – The setting of soap operas are usually set around a small, central area where the soap opera is filmed.

Central meeting points – These are points in the soap opera where all the characters regularly go.

Cliff hangers – These are used when a dramatic situation happens in the soap but the end is not shown until the next episode.

Characters – these are used to allow for the audience to relate to the situation and the help pilot the plot.

• On going – Series do not have a particular start or end as they usually run all year round.

• Scheduling – Soaps are usually scheduled for target audience and is usually shown on specific days and specific times related to the target audience.

• Includes real life issues – things like death, birth and marriage are often shown to make the soap as real as possible.

Examples include; • Eastenders. • Emmerdale.• Coronation Street.

Conventions of CrimeSetting- Crime genre are set in a well known city or capital that is created to be a dangerous place this is because there is a high crime rate there.

Characters- Two crime solvers (to discuss thoughts and feelings), criminals, victims, family and friends of victim.

Narrative- includes a crime that needs to be solved, at the end the crime is solved and criminal is punished, lead characters will have a back story and include there personal life in the narrative, there is also a mystery for the audience to solve.

Camera angles- the camera normally follows the detective who is solving the crime, there is close ups and extreme close ups when the crime is on the verge of being solved or intense moments.

Lighting- the lighting is often dark when showing the criminal.

Mise-en-scene - include guns, weapons, laboratory equipment, police cars/banners, magnifying glass and newspapers and the criminal wears dark clothes.

Music- Monotone humming in the background to create tension towards the audience.Examples include:• Criminal Minds• CSI• Law and Order

How do we know Crime is a TV Drama?

Involves a crime and a criminal.

Is a program not a film.

Follows the different types of characters.

The crime is always solved by the end of the episode or series.

Medical drama A medical drama is a television drama in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical area.

Medical/hospital dramas play on the human fascination of witnessing  horrific events.

They often share narrative similarities with soaps but can also be more informative/educational than soaps

Examples include:

Casualty

Holby city

ER

conventions between all medical dramas

A convention is a widely accepted device used in television dramas.

Setting – ambulance, hospital, etc.

Characters – doctors, nurses

Mise-en-scene – hospital, clothing, props and equipment

Narrative – Experience for caring for their patients and helping with the recovery from their illness.

Technical language

Conventions of costumeAny costume dramas are set in earlier

times.

Costume dramas give the audience a sense of how life in those days were different to how life is today.

Relies heavily on mise en scene due to the costumes, props, lighting and setting.

Plotline usually concentrates on love, family and relationships.

Costume TV dramas as usually based upon/or simply includes a distinguished historical event that occurred.

Examples include;• Downtown Abbey.• Gladiators.• Spartacus.