TV: Introduction to TV Drama

 1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.

They are dramas that have a continuous plot that is unravelled episode by episode. They follow many story arcs of many characters which makes the narrative quite complex.

2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time?

The Avengers, Danger Man, The Sweeney, Minder, Doctor Who. They went from 

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.

Family - Modern Family
Medical - Greys Anatomy
Police Procedural (crime) - NCIS

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

It has to create a sense of familiarity. For example family dramas like Modern Family is often in their house so it has an effect on us. Because TV dramas tend to take place in recognisable settings with regular locations that characters can inhabit. Most dramas are defined by their location.

5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)

TV dramas often use well know characters. for example in family dramas the dad tends to be goofy and dumb.

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

It's when a TV drama has two or more stories running together in an episode.  Kumovi is a Balkan TV drama that is focused on financial problems and love problems of a dozen characters.

7) What is a cold opening?

Producers tease the audience in the beginning to keep them watching.

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

Every episode or story arc has that equilibrium at the start and then there is a disequilibrium 

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

The length of a season as well as the length of individual episodes, vary according to the institution producing and distribution the programme. For example in the UK episodes are typically 1 hour long.

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 presented on subscription cable channels are not governed by the same considerations, therefore their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content. For example Breaking Bad with their anti-hero protagonists would not play on free-to-air network television as many potential advertisers would not want to associate their products with such content. 

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.

Reacher season 1:

Setting- Margrave, Georgia,
Characters- Jack Reacher, Roscoe Conklin, Oscar Finely
Narrative-ex-military cop who is suddenly dumped out into the civilian world. He doesn't fit in, and he spends his time wandering America, seeing the things that he's never had time to see before. He's trying to stay out of trouble but trouble always seems to follow him, even since he was a kid.
Form-Distributors-Amazon Prime Video. Episode length- 42 to 56 minutes 

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

By adopting new technologies and varied viewpoints, while also exploring new themes and societal issues relevant to modern audiences the TV drama genre may continue to evolve. Additionally, online programmers are beginning to produce shorter form content, which is resulting in drama serials that are only 30 or less minutes long.

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