Sky News article on issues of social networking

This is a real life event which shows the dangers of social networking. Our soap highlights some of the common issues faced with chat rooms and social websites, we hope to send out a clear message for teenagers to be careful when using the net.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090930/tuk-web-pervert-teacher-jailed-for-four-45dbed5.html

Soap Audiences

The table shows the most viewed soaps and the times they are most viewed at. Using this information we can estimate the perfect time to show our new soap,avoiding clashes with popular soaps. Monday at 19.30 for example would not be an ideal time to show our soap as this is when popular soap Coronation Street is shown. I assume this is the time when a typical British family has just finished dinner and they are having quality family time so they sit down and watch Coronation Street. Because our soap is aimed at teenagers and not the entire family, perhaps late night shows, such as after the 9 pm watershed, would be ideal.

Primary Reseach -Chronology of Soap Opera's

This is a table from a media studies text book showing a range of soaps from 1948 to present day soaps. I wanted to focus on how the themes vary between the years. Initially the main focus of soaps was profession, in particular woman in the workforce perhaps because the concept was controversial due to woman not being allowed to work in those years. 2 years on domestic and community issues were introduced as the nation became more comfortable with publicising domestic and community issues which would normally have been kept a secret in households. Between 1992 and 1993 soaps began to focus on exile as the nation became more ethnically developed and focused on themes such as immigration and racial issues. In 1995 young domestic issues and profession were introduced and young people had their own soap in the form of "Hollyoaks." At this point , teenage actors/actresses were on a rise and soaps began to target teenagers with themes that appeal to them.

Why we chose the name 'Flex'

After we agreed on a social networking soap targeted at teenagers, I created the name 'Flex' which sounds hip and modern. This word comes from the popular song 'Flex' by Dizzie Rascal. I thought young people could relate our soap to him meaning it would be stylish and 'cool'.

Because our soap is aimed at girls as well as boys, we needed a name that any person would find appealing. For example, calling our soap something like girltime would not appeal to boys. 'Flex' will also be the name of the social netwotking site since it's catchy and easy to remember such as 'Bebo' and 'Facebook'.

Quote from Advanced Level Media textbook

"If anybody has the right to get angry at Eastenders it is the people of the East End of London who for more than 10 years now, have been collectively labelled by this series. Albert Square seems populated by hopeless alcoholics, juvenile delinquents, rapists, arsonists, muderers, serial adulterers, psychopaths and sad misfits. And that's just the Mitchell family."

This quote highlights some of the typical stereotypes of a soap opera. Typically, themes such as crime, drugs and sex run through British soaps.

Dizzee Rascal "Flex"

Click here to watch the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUPleuj42w0

21/09/09

Today we brainstormed some ideas for the soap. We thought of ideas on what appeals to teenagers, issues facing teenagers and potential characteristics of the characters in our soap. We have decided on naming the soap "Flex" as it is cool, hip and appealing to a teenage audience which is our target audience.

Conventions of a 'Soap Opera'

Today we researched conventions of British and American soaps to help us a gain a better understanding of what to include and to help us think of ideas for our own. Typical features include events such as affairs, underaged pregnancy, drugs and relationship problems. Micro features like location are also important and I realised soaps have strong regional identities like Eastenders being in London and Coronation street in Manchester. Most British soaps are set in a community, school or work place.

Although we have not decided whether we want to create an American or British soap, we now have the knowledge of what they are about and the different approaches we could take.

This is an image of a huge American Soap 90210 which now has a new cast due to popular demand.

Definition of "Soap Opera"

soap opera - a serialized program usually dealing with sentimentalized family matters that is broadcast on radio or television (frequently sponsored by a company advertising soap products)

Research Begins

Today we started the initial planning process. We looked at past coursework folders and made a mind map to help us decide what types of research to include.

Task Delegation

We have decided to divide the work between each group member.

Initially each member will focus on a particular media concept.
We have delegated the following tasks;

• Emma will be focusing on representation and new Soap delivery systems.
• Laura will be focusing on narrative,conventions and target audiences.
• Yollanda will be focusing on the history of soap and soap institutions.

Introduction to A2 Media Coursework

Hello,


Welcome to Laura, Yollanda and Emma's blog!!

We have decided to do a soap opera trailer so watch this space!!