Introduction to TV Drama
1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.
A television series drama tells a story, delivers a narrative over a period of time.
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?
Doctor Who, The Avengers,Danger Man,The Sweeny,Minder.
3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV dramas to fit each category.
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
Setting is important in a TV drama as it goes on over a long period of time so the setting establishes the bases of the series and the audience to get used to it.
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
The audiences may be watching the series to use it as a diversion from their reality so watching characters that don't mirror reality is a pleasure for them .The audiences could also be watching because they identify with a character or watch to make up for the lack in their own lives e.g romance.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
Multi strand narrative is telling a story from different perspectives of characters who have a story line within the narrative. E.g 90210
7) What is a cold opening?
The technique of directly jumping into the story at the beginning of a show without the opening sequence or credits being played.This is used to generate enigma and intrigue,
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
Todorov's theory could be applied if a show begins with peace and harmony but then a dilemma arises which causes disequilibrium. On the other hand, if a show begins with a cold opening it could begin with disequilibrium but then it could be resolved. Generally, stories move through Todorov's narrative stages 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?
In the US, the commercial networks schedule most of their drama serials in blocks of twenty-four one-hour episodes.In the UK, many serial dramas fill one-hour or a ‘commercial hour’(about 50 minutes).
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, such as HBO, AMC and Showtime are not governed by the same considerations, hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content.Cable channels and services like Netflix and Amazon Prime also 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.
Brooklyine nine-nine
Setting-99th precinct of the New York City Police Department in Brooklyn
Characters-follows professional and personal lives of the diverse and quirky detectives that work in the precinct.
Narrative-procedural narrative
form-NBC Universal Televison Distribution,21-23 minutes
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
With BBC 3’s move to an online only platform, and the rise in the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix andAmazon Prime, the form and content of the serial drama is likely to evolve further. As audiences consume content in different ways serial dramas may become more diverse and targeted toward niche groups.
A television series drama tells a story, delivers a narrative over a period of time.
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?
Doctor Who, The Avengers,Danger Man,The Sweeny,Minder.
3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV dramas to fit each category.
- Police prodecdural series-Law and Order
- Medical-Grey's anatomy
- Period-The Crown
- Science fiction-Doctor Who
- Family-The fosters
- Teen-Gossip Girl,90210
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
Setting is important in a TV drama as it goes on over a long period of time so the setting establishes the bases of the series and the audience to get used to it.
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
The audiences may be watching the series to use it as a diversion from their reality so watching characters that don't mirror reality is a pleasure for them .The audiences could also be watching because they identify with a character or watch to make up for the lack in their own lives e.g romance.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
Multi strand narrative is telling a story from different perspectives of characters who have a story line within the narrative. E.g 90210
7) What is a cold opening?
The technique of directly jumping into the story at the beginning of a show without the opening sequence or credits being played.This is used to generate enigma and intrigue,
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
Todorov's theory could be applied if a show begins with peace and harmony but then a dilemma arises which causes disequilibrium. On the other hand, if a show begins with a cold opening it could begin with disequilibrium but then it could be resolved. Generally, stories move through Todorov's narrative stages 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?
In the US, the commercial networks schedule most of their drama serials in blocks of twenty-four one-hour episodes.In the UK, many serial dramas fill one-hour or a ‘commercial hour’(about 50 minutes).
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, such as HBO, AMC and Showtime are not governed by the same considerations, hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content.Cable channels and services like Netflix and Amazon Prime also 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.
Brooklyine nine-nine
Setting-99th precinct of the New York City Police Department in Brooklyn
Characters-follows professional and personal lives of the diverse and quirky detectives that work in the precinct.
Narrative-procedural narrative
form-NBC Universal Televison Distribution,21-23 minutes
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
With BBC 3’s move to an online only platform, and the rise in the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix andAmazon Prime, the form and content of the serial drama is likely to evolve further. As audiences consume content in different ways serial dramas may become more diverse and targeted toward niche groups.
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