Soap drama representation research

Soap operas have conventions that make them distinct from other forms of television drama. These conventions collectively add up together to portray the idea of a 'domestic' real life, and tries to be recognisable to the public as 'everyday life', as well as being exciting and melodramatic at the same time. The distinctive conventions include:

• the constant illusion of real time
• precise continuity
• tease devices and cliff hangers
• combinations of action (information for the viewers) and enigma (questions raised for the viewer)
• the dominance of two shots and over the shoulder shots of conversations
• establishing shots (of locations) and tableaux (groups of people composed dramatically)
• coverage of current social issues
• meeting places that allow for gossip to circulate
• narrative flow and a nostalgic and perhaps outdated depiction of community
• interweaving storylines in each episode
• partial closure of storylines
• music used as a motif
• the dominance of diegetic sound
• highly symbolic costumes and set designs
• mise en scene