1. Guess
the TV
Drama

2. TV DRAMA
Learning Outcomes
• Identify generic conventions of TV Dramas
• Discuss how different social groups are represented in
the media
• Analyze the representation of different social groups
in TV Dramas.

3. ASSESSMENT
•
•
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G322: Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)
The exam is 2 hours (including 30 mins for viewing and making notes on the clip) .
Candidates are required to answer two compulsory questions - each question is
marked out of 50.
There are two sections to this paper:
• Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation (50 marks) TV Drama
• Section B: Institutions and Audiences (50 marks) The Film Industry

4. SECTION A
•
Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation
•
You will watch an ‘unseen’ TV extract from a TV drama (a one-off drama series or serial
drama programme scheduled on British TV, including some sourced from other countries).
•
You will answer one compulsory question dealing with textual analysis of various technical
aspects of the languages and conventions of moving image media. Candidates will be asked
to link this analysis with a discussion of some aspect of representation within the sequence:
•
•
•
•
Camera Angle, Shot, Movement and Composition
Mise-en-Scène
Editing
Sound

5. TV Drama is…
• A story that is presented in a dramatic way and
explores a range of genres
• Dramatic programming that is scripted and normally
fictional

6. TV Drama Sub-genres
A ‘sub-genre’ is where genres are subdivided into even more specific
categories.
TV Drama subgenres:
•Period Drama
•Crime Drama
•Science Fiction
•Medical Drama
•Teen Drama
•Melodrama / Soap Opera
•Political Drama
•Comedy Drama
•Action
•Fantasy
Identify the generic
conventions of your assigned
sub-genre.
Take screen shots & embed
videos to illustrate / support
your points.
Extension task: what is the
appeal of the subgenre for
audiences?

7. Representation
• How specific social types, groups, events or places are
depicted / portrayed within in the media.
Gender
Age
Ethnicity
Task:
1. Brainstorm some initial ideas
about the group are portrayed.
Think in terms of stereotypes.
Sexuality
Class and status
Physical ability/disability
Regional identity
2. Create a document which reflects
how the group is portrayed in the
media. Make it as visual as
possible. Only include five words.

8. TV Drama and Representation
–
–
–
–
Camera
Sound
Mise-en-scene
Editing
– Representation
And how they link to…

9. Representation???

10. YOUR TASK
1. Research examples of the following TV Drama sub-genres:
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•
•
•
Teen Drama
Period/Costume drama
Police/crime drama
Medical/hospital drama
2. Look for representations of the following within each genre:
• Class, Sexuality, Disability, Regional identity, Age, Ethnicity,
Gender
YOU WILL FEED BACK YOUR FINDINGS TO THE REST OF THE
CLASS!