Existing Media Texts - Soap Conventions in Eastenders - Episode Four in Comparison with Modern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoxu1WgNaEc - episode four
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm4spAD-2ps - 2010 episode

The episode in comparison to the earlier fourth episode of eastenders is taken from mid-2010, the storyline is based around a controverisal storyline - the arsonist attack on the soaps main forum, the Queen Vic. By looking at the opening to this episode and the opening of the fourth episode (EE4) it is clear that the complexity of soap operas have developed over time yet the basic conventions remain important and evident.

When comparing the storylines and themes within the two opening it is clear that the storylines have become more complex with at least three to five running parallel in each modern day episode, the themes dealt with are also much more controversial. In the first four minutes of the modern episode we are introduced to three storylines: Stacey Slater’s confession of killing Archie Mitchell, Janine’s Wedding and Phil’s drug use and five themes (rape, murder, drugs, marriage/love and violence) some that would have been considered taboo in the time of EE4. In the first four minutes of EE4 we are introduced to two storylines, a party happening later at the Queen Vic. and a police investigation and homelessness and three themes family disagreements and murder. The pace and content of the storylines and themes have developed dramatically; in modern day the storylines are introduced straight away, again including many controversial issues – this makes it more enjoyable for the viewers, keeping them interested.

The shift in characters has also dramatically changed since the EE4 episode. The obvious change is the amount of male and female characters. Within the EE4 episode the majority of the characters introduced are male, this is because of the time era it is produced in – within that time era males would dominant most careers, even simpler things such as working on the market. It was around this time that female equality was beginning to change, and that is kept current in the soap through the female worker in the café. We are introduced to one stereotype early on into the EE4 episode, a wayward teenage character called nick. Most soaps feature this type of stock character as it is one that is common with society that will always be around no matter of the time frame. Within recent episode we get introduced a stock character featured in every soap, the strong female – Peggy Mitchell and Pat Butcher. They are normally women who have big, problematic families yet tackle and face up to everything no matter what happens; stereotypically these women will always have a least one wayward son. The stock characters and stereotypes within the Soap Operas stay relatively similar throughout time as these as realistic people the viewers can relate too. It is the image, gender, age, race, sexuality or disability that changes over time as people become more open-minded to difference. The soaps also have to include these variations of characters now-a-days to represent a realistic microcosm of the city they are portraying otherwise the theory absence presence would be picked apparent.

The basics of Soap opera conventions have not changed overtime, instead they have devloped to include more controversial issues and complex, interwined plotlines. The two episodes both introduce big storylines - the dead person and the fire; controversial themes – murder and arson; both feature stereotypes making the Soap realistic and easier to relate too and the forums within the soap have remained the same – the pub, the café and the market. Both use simple camera shots mainly at eye level close-ups, mid-shots and wide-shots to keep things as realistic as possible. Editing is often unheard of within Soap Operas unless it’s a big storyline being broadcast or an anniversary for the Soap. This transfers to our soap opera mainly by the inclusion of storylines, we need to make sure that we include a range on on-going, intertwined storylines to keep our modern audience interested and in suspense.