Analysis of 2 Soap Operas

1. OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Soap Opera Genre –
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: Charlene Serena Fernandes
Candidate Number: 6346
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic
College
Center Number: 64770

2. Trailer 1 – Home and Away- Who washes up trailer
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
A non-diegetic voiceover denotes a Female voice which is very low and direct- lots of rhetorical questions make it mysterious as it
causes the audience to think and question the characters they thought they knew. There is a change of non-diegetic music when the
voice over says “…leading to this” making it suspenseful because it is incidental music that carries on to the next set of shots, and this
sound bridge symbolises how the disequilibrium in the episode will be of the main focus. The female characters could be seen as a
binary opposition (Levi Strauss) to Rebecca Feasey’s (2007) ideology on the soap opera genre as these women don’t seem “strong” as
they are often asking for help, where as the men, with one exception, seem very strong and display how they are the alpha males, which
is shown through the diegetic dialogue when a male character says “Back off or you’ll regret it”.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting,
Lighting, Costumes, Facial Expressions and Characters
There are graphics on screen to accompany the voice over, and for the dialogue- Jack
says “You’ve got until tomorrow” and previous to this is the graphic code of “tomorrow”
which is also referring to the time when this episode will show, which is very effective
because it has a dual purpose that is embedded very subtly. A lot of the facial
expressions during but mainly at the end of the trailer connote anxiety, fear and they
seem very negative expressions, which also connotes that this episode will be very
mysterious because it illustrates how many of the characters could be in the ‘blame’ for
this death that has come to light. In opposition to what might be expected in this genre,
the trailer has a lot of high key lighting instead of low key that would really be
appropriate for a death.
Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles,
Shot Types and Camera Movement
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=djWE3a0sFd4
The audience are presented with a broken frame shot of a curly haired woman behind a fence, displaying how she is feeling trapped or
caged in and is in need of help, which is expressed in the next shot when she says “I'm begging you, you're the only one who can help
me”. This verbal code, paired with the fast paced cuts to other characters, really emphasizes who is on her side and who she is referring
to. Additionally the fast paced cuts denote the frantic movements of the characters who are trying to find out who the body belongs too
and who is the most suspicious. The majority of the shots are all close up shots depicting the emotions of all the characters easily, which
is essential as the drama of the soap needs to be expressed through the facial features of the characters. In addition the close up shots
between characters also denotes the close relationship between the characters for example Irene and Marta as they discuss Sam.

3. Trailer 2- Hollyoaks- Enchanted Forest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxociJjpKKo
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
Non-diegetic music – sound track- “You shoulda gotta a better bed, better for your head”. The trailer begins with these lyrics while at the
same time showing a young female with crazy hair, perhaps a subtle allusion to how she is maybe in the wrong ‘bed’, as in she maybe be
sleeping with the wrong person and there will be consequences which is illustrated through her hair, which is unfashionably poufy with
corkscrew curls where as most girls prefer to have straight controlled hair which relates back to the lyrics –”better for you're head”, so if
she got with the right person then her life would be better; more controlled . The other lyrics are very in tune and synchronous with the
action on screen which is other wise very abstract. Brandon seems a very sketchy character on screen as soon as the lyrics “better off
dead” are sung. There is no dialogue in this trailer which adds mystery to those who like myself are not familiar with the characters and
it also adds to the abstract feel the trailer has since its not actually scenes from the episodes
like other shows often do
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting,
Costumes, Facial Expressions and Characters
One character, Brandon, has already made a negative impression though the lyrics, but with the non-verbal
code of the fox mask, is made to seem even more sketchy and ‘villainous’ (Propp) than before with many
children's stories including the cunning fox that is the antagonist. Thus it can be concluded that all the
animal masks in fact represent the characters personality and way of behaving. The Lighting itself is very
bright and high key despite being set in a forest, which has a stereotype of being dark and scary, which could
connote how on the outside, everyone's happy which is reflected in the bright lighting. In another scene the
audience see two male “stags” at a game in a fair, including a hammer and a bell; it’s a test of strength that
is meant to catch the other male out, however he surpasses his assumptions and hits the bell, which
connotes how other males shouldn’t underestimate him, because he is in the same league as them.
Competition between males is a very normal thing, and therefore I think its perfect to depict in this trailer,
as Soap’s depict everyday life, but in a more dramatic way to add an entertainment factor for the middle
class viewers who need some diversion for their lives.
Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera Movement.
A range of shots are used in this trailer, all quite fast paced to match the idea of this being a party in the woods, but the actual action is made
slower to let the audience really have a look at the facial expressions of the characters. Similarly the zoom movement of the character nearing
the end signifies her horror at what she is playing in front of her, or at the man in front of her. The low angle up at the lanterns could connote
how the light contains their hopes and dreams, however as they fly away, the viewers are given the impression that maybe these dreams are
higher than themselves, and impossible to reach.

4. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or ‘exploit’
(Abecrombie – 1995)
The use of the broken frame shot I think is very effective because it quickly establishes how the character is feeling and
their position in the episode. I think for our own trailer, ‘repeating’ this type of shot inside the church with a high angle
looking down from the railings above the church will be successful since it will connote not only that the bride and groom
are lower in status than the church and God itself, but how this marriage is trapping them, with them being binded
together due to a lie. Also having Lyrics with match on action is very effective because with no dialogue, the lyrics have to
convey what is going on. I also really liked the fast paced cuts at the end, which increased the suspense and mystery.
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or ‘exploit’
(Abecrombie – 1995)
The whole abstract notion of the the trailer is very attractive, however its very hard to ‘exploit’ because a big budget
will be needed due to the number of props. Also the hidden allusions with the masks is very original, and so in a
different manner, we will be conveying character personalities/stereotypes through the colour of their costumes. The
use of low and high angles also denote the class status very quickly, and that is why in our own trailer we will be using
any high levels we can- for example in church up above.

5. Songs covers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijlbAEJElPY – Tanner
howe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGIwP5dOSI8 - Josh
breaks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LJOwQklIzQ - Studio
cover by sunderland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqajRqYOZiI - amy
geis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQnf8tlSRRE ithacappella
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy6BjtKCoUA- breath
of soul 1:01