Powerpoint on American Fantasy Soaps

1. Soap Operas
Sub-genre – (American) Fantasies
By Rowan Kirby

2. Definition:
• An extreme version of the bourgeoisie’s life
styles, portrayed in its’ extremist form –
involving money, land, and appearance.

3. Characters- All desirable people
DALLAS DYNASTY
SUNSET BEACH

4. CHARACTERS
Characters in American Fantasy soap opera’s typically follow the
conventions of having these features:
• They have wealth, property, and some have rights
• They are members of the upper class bourgeoisie, and follow
hobbies associated with them respectively. (I.E Horse riding)
• The casts costumes involve formal wear, as well as very good
condition casual wear. Accessories such as watches, belts, jewellery
are extravagantly portrayed reflecting the wealth they own.
• Have important jobs
• Are flawless, inspirational characters
• Men are often business men, usually looking after family businesses

5. DYNASTY
Lots of make-up to make
them look flawless
Extravagant costume
Billionaire, playboy, philanth
ropist
Lots of gold and silver
jewellery
All of their hair is done,
they look like they have
spent lots of time getting
ready to make
themselves look good, or
have enough money to
pay someone to do it for
them

6. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOZBnIhR
F9Y

7. This clip contains
• Big expensive houses
• Start of the clip is all gold and orange colours connoting
wealth
• Lots of scenery shots, showing lots of land with horses, horse
riding high class sport.
• All men in smart suits, holding champagne bottles
• Shallow depth of field pulls focus onto important characters

8. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOQX_Q
5mhJc
This clip also contains shallow depth of
fields, that pulls focus onto important
characters to increase the seriousness of their
dilemma.

9. Shots of big rich
houses, surrounded by
land- Not realistic
locations, demonstrates
how rich and wealthy the
characters are DALLAS
The Establishing shots
from far away emphasize
how big the houses are
and how much space
they have

10. Lots of shots including words that represent the wealth
and money the characters have

11. Storylines
American Fantasy Soaps consist of similar storylines
such as:
•Blackmails
•Poisonings/ drugging- Sun set beach Virginina drugging
Vanessa to impregnate her with Turkey Baster
•Flamboyant
•Bitching / Affairs leading to Cat fights-
•Business/ Family related- John in Dallas wanting to carry
on his fathers oil business
These storylines tend to be driven with profit or
revenge as the source of stimulus, within a capitalist
society.