Introduction to TV Drama: Blog tasks
Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to show your comprehensive knowledge of the television drama genre:
A serial television drama is something that it tells a story, and a narrative resolution, in a number of parts over a period of time.
Doctor Who, The Avengers, Danger Man, The Sweetener and Minder.
3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV drama to fit each category.
Police Procedural (crime)- You
Medical- Greys Anatomy
Period (costume)- The Crown
Science-fiction/fantasy- Doctor Who
Family- Wizards of Waverly Place
Teen-Euphoria
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
Serial dramas play out in a ‘precinct’ or communal location inhabited by the ensemble cast of characters. In police serials, this is literally a police precinct, like the Miami Metro Police Department in Dexter, or the upstairs and downstairs worlds of Downton Abbey. Serial dramas that tend to focus on a story of the week, invariably ‘cops and docs’, are generally based around a location
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
In a similar vein to soaps, serial dramas often employ archetypal characters. In subgenres like the crime drama archetypal characters, such as the maverick cop, are frequently deployed.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
A multistrand narrative is when there are more than one or two storylines going on in between.In euphoria there is a main focus on protagonist Rue but the other characters also have storylines not intertwined the protagonist.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
A multistrand narrative is when there are more than one or two storylines going on in between.In euphoria there is a main focus on protagonist Rue but the other characters also have storylines not intertwined the protagonist.
7) What is a cold opening?
A opening that to generate enigma or intrigue before the title sequence or first commercial break.
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
The theory moves through the narrative stages often without the return to equilibrium at the end of each episode
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
Most of the drama serials in blocks of twenty-four one-hour episodes, effectively spanning half the calendar year.
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?
They are not not governed by the same considerations, and therefore their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content. Also they often commission shorter runs (between six and thirteen episodes) and do not need to stick to rigid running times.
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.
HIMYM: Ted Mosby
Setting: New York City
Character: Tells his love story to his kids in the future
Narrative: As he’s retelling the story you see it happen so he gets into many dilemmas which get solved by the end of each episode.
Distribution: Disney(ABC) episode running(20/22mim each)
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
The tv drama might evolve in the future by having a time jump where the characters start to grow and have other characters or storylines opposed to when they were younger
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