I am a media student that is researching the topic of soap operas and society/ A broad question but could anybody give me their opinion on soap operas relating it to this question

Do you think soap operas portray society? And why?

Cheers

Caitlin x

hiya

im doing pretty much the same topic for my media A Level and iv come to the conclusion that coronation street is the most true to real life.  but the actor/actresses do not all have northern accents.  but the storylines are still pretty accurate. you have the same sort of format in hollyoaks.  all in all no soap truly depicts life as it really is.

hope thats been helpful lol

& good luck cuz i know i need it hehe

ness xxx 

Hey thanks for the info much needed. I agree with what you said as it tackles issues in an older perspective, which is probably more realistic.

lol good luck with the exam

caitlin x

 

I only watch Corrie and Eastenders... but why should football take presidence over the soaps.. it's very irritating grrrrrrrrrr

 

caitlin:

I am a media student that is researching the topic of soap operas and society/ A broad question but could anybody give me their opinion on soap operas relating it to this question

Do you think soap operas portray society? And why?

Cheers

Caitlin x

hi caitlin,

no.. soaps are nothing like  real life,its all too nice and neighbourly, dont think neighbours chat like they used to unless its to complain about one thing or another, you dont see the reality of violence ,cruelty abuse,teenage pregnacies,yobbish behaviour,drunkeness,benefit scams,lack of morals immigration ect... some soaps show a certain degree of reality but it doesnt scratch the surface of how we live today.maybe if we were still in the 50s/60s it would be nearer to reality , the odd teenage pregnancy, a few naughty kids, neighbourliness, corner shops that didnt sell booze ,not a gun to be found on the streets,and a good night out at the local ..and a bag of chips on the way home without fear of being attacked or worse......good luck hun. xxxx kendra.

Hi Kaitlin

I agree with Kendra they are only scratching the surface when it comes to relating soaps to reality. Maybe if they portrayed more of the following it would be more realistic ...fuel shortages, mp's pay rises, government incompetency, inflation, wars and death, world poverty and high rents and taxes. Maybe it's a good thing to have the soaps light-hearted life is depressing enough!

aliceinwebland:

Hi Kaitlin

I agree with Kendra they are only scratching the surface when it comes to relating soaps to reality. Maybe if they portrayed more of the following it would be more realistic ...fuel shortages, mp's pay rises, government incompetency, inflation, wars and death, world poverty and high rents and taxes. Maybe it's a good thing to have the soaps light-hearted life is depressing enough!

lol..how very true alice.........incidentally, how many bedrooms in the Rovers..?..when charlie stubbs locked shelly in, there was only one bedroom, yet we have liz, vernon, steve ,michelle, ryan , and amy..... and the same at eileens, that is a 2 up 2 down, yet we have had, eileen, jason, sean,and boyfriend.. lauren all staying there.  haha.... talk about topping and tailing. x

Soap operas do not generally portray society, they are a fiction written to entertain, make money and sell advertising space.  Compare soap operas with British films made in the 1950s, and note the absence of slums, bombed-out buildings, grimy factories, poverty etc. Coronation Street was probably the first drama to portray the reality of life in an industrial city.  The early story lines were mostly petty intrigues and gossip of the type you could hear anywhere.

pink_banana:

hiya

 but the actor/actresses do not all have northern accents.  

 

People do not always stay in their town/city of birth!!! I am from the Black Country but now resident in the Cotswolds, it is amazing what can be done since the advent of the motor car!

In response to the original question. Of course soap operas are not indicative of real ife. How many families do you know who have had so many tragedies to contend with? Take Gail Platt for example. Also, now using Emmerdale as an example, how many places do you know which have seen so many tragic incidents - fires/plane crashes etc. etc. etc.?

How people relate to each other is very far from real life too, lucky if we get a hello out of most of our neighbours certainly don't know them all like they do in soaps and the use of pubs and cafes in soaps is quite ridiculous - how they afford the use and how close they are to their homes when they just have to stop for acup of tea or coffee just doesnot happen in real life.