Existing Media Texts - Coronation Street Opening Credits

Opening Credits

Coronation Street

Coronation Streets opening credits begin with a birds-eye shot of a ‘housing estate’ and the title ‘Coronation Street’ shown in a simple white font at the bottom of the screen. The font is similar to that of a street sign, connoting this is the name of the street – it also portrays that the show will be based around a close-knit community living on this street. The shot pans across the area onto the main street (see picture one), on the ground a milk-van is visible, something an audience could associate with traditionalism and close-knit communities. It could also trigger nostalgia amongst the older audience, drawing them into the program. The mis-en-scene of the show represents a stereotypical urban, gritty street. The red-brick houses are associated directly with Britain as is the red post-box in the corner of the shot, showing this is a British soap.

The next shot is a long shot under showing further houses under a bridge (see picture two). Visible on the bridge is graffiti, connoting the program contains the stereotype of ‘unruly’ youths. In the background of the shot the houses and streets appear very close together again, representing the close-knit community.

The next shot is another long shot, this time of the backs of the alleys – an important forum within the soap (see picture three). This shot highlights the close proximity of the houses showing the close-knit community, connoting how they all depend on each other. On the other hand, the by highlighting how close the characters ‘live’ to each other it also illustrates that if a problem was to arise, they would be no escape. A black cat is evident walking along one of the garden walls, this is an omen of bad luck – matching the use of pathetic fallacy via the rain showing that the street does not constantly live in happiness and bliss.

The credits end with a long shot of the main street, this time at eye level (see picture four). In the foreground of the shot is the most important forum the ‘Rovers Return’ – the streets pub, visible in the background another important forum the corner shop. As all the previous mis-en-scene leads us to think of traditional, old Britain the only piece of evidence that this is modern day soap is the train that goes by in the background of this shot; this will help the soaps viewing figures as by being a modern soap the younger generation will be more attracted.

The soundtrack uses brass instruments which connote to the audience the program focuses on a working class area, it also triggers an indexical reference to the closeknit working communitys that were around during the time of the mining strike. The opening credits for coronation street are shorter in comparison to Hollyoaks and offer a much more realistic insight into the the soap opera about to be viewed. They do not feature characters but instead focus on the setting and important forums. Instead of the heavy editing and sharp cuts that are used in the Hollyoaks opening credits, the only editing Coronation Street uses is the dissolve transitions to merge each shot; the continuity and whole atmosphere of the credits is smooth and traditional.