1. Soap Opera’s
Sub-genre – (American) Fantasies
By Timothy Clarke

2. Definition:
• An extreme version of the bourgeoisie’s life
styles, portrayed in its’ extremist form –
involving money, land, and appearance.

3. Characters
DALLAS DYNASTY
SUNSET BEACH

4. CHARACTERS
Characters in American Fantasy soap opera’s typically follow the
conventions of having these features:
• They have wealth, property, and some have rights
• They are members of the upper class bourgeoisie, and follow
hobbies associated with them respectively. (I.E Horse riding)
• The casts costumes involve formal wear, as well as very good
condition casual wear. Accessories such as watches, belts,
jewellery are extravagantly portrayed reflecting the wealth
they own.
• Have important jobs
• Are flawless, inspirational characters

5. Lots of make-up to make
them look flawless
Extravagant costume
Billionaire, playboy,
philanthropist
Lots of gold and silver
jewellery
All of their hair is done,
they look like they have
spent lots of time getting
ready to make
themselves look good

6. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOZBnIhR
F9Y

7. This clip contains
• Big smart houses
• Start of clip is all gold colours connoting wealth
• Epic editing
• Lots of scenery shots, showing lots of land with horses, horse
riding high class sport.
• All men in smart suits, holding champagne bottles
• Shallow depth of field pulls focus onto important characters

8. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOQX_Q
5mhJc
This clip also contains shallow depth of fields,
that pulls focus onto important characters to
increase the seriousness of their dilemma.

9. Shots of big rich houses,
surrounded by land- Not
realistic locations,
demonstrates how rich and
wealthy the characters are
DALLAS
The Establishing shots
from far away emphasize
how big the houses are
and how much space
they have

10. Storylines
American Fantasy Soaps consist of similar storylines
such as:
•Affairs
•Blackmails
•Poisoning
•Flamboyant
These storylines tend to be driven with profit or
revenge as the source of stimulus, within a capitalist
society.