American Soaps

American Soaps

• “cheesy”
• Dramatic

• Exaggerated

• Reality becomes à unrealistic
• Non- diegetic scores in scenes to create atmosphere + tell audience how to “read” the scene

MES:  

• Glamorous= rich characters

• The American Dream  à big houses, expensive costumes, perfect hair + make up

•  Unattainable lifestyles 

Dallas

TEXAS:

• Oil à power + wealth

• The Ewings- family feuds, affairs, murders etc.  

• First aired in April 1978 up until 1991

• Ran in seasons

Opening credits 1978:

Estabalishing shot, flying over city

Cows, fields, the city, DALLAS

Funky, up beat, cheesy soundtrack

American football ground "Cowboys"

Introduce characters

Ranch

Opening credits 1991:

Theme tunes become modernised

Hoarding cows like cowboys

All about making money from oil

Old characters flash up but dont need to be introduced, as they are so familiar

New characters are introduced, new sexy modern look, to attract a younger generation.