2. Fiske Idea 1: Formal Conventions:
‘Representations in television drama is different to film and news due to ‘formal
conventions.’
• Series, serials – representation lives beyond the end of the episode, unlike film which
has finite ending
• The camera focuses on individuals 2 & 3 shots show relationship between characters
• Plot development
• Performance of actor
In series 1/episode 3 – Thorpe Park, we see Simon talking to his dad at the end, as his
car door broke, indicating that he is trying to get it fixed which could continue into
the next episode.
Camera shots are very important as well as they show a connection and relationship
between characters and this is shown with various shots of the boys, whether their as
a four or 3 e.c.t, also in Series 3/episode 2 – The Gig and the Girlfriend, you see a few
2 shots of Simon and Tara e.g. when they are sitting on the couch about to kiss. This
shows in the scene what is about to happen or potential could happen because of they
way the camera angle presents the characters.
3. Fiske Idea 2: Relationship With
Character
‘Our relationship with characters is ‘unique’ compared to other media
forms, due to this structure’:
• Constant repetition of character means characters ‘live’ in similar
time scale to us
• They have a post, present and future
• We are invited to relate to them
• We therefore develop different relationship with the characters from
that offered in film
In episode 2 we see a familiarity with the characters with references to
previous episodes for e.g. when Tara mentions Will having an
accident in the exam hall (which obviously means it happened in a
previous episode) and this creates a past with the character. There
was reference to the blond girl Carly and also Take That concert.
4. Fiske 3: Constructing Representation
(Formulating Model)
• Where the writers and producers construct the representation
of the characters in terms of what they look like, their values
and personality. And the audience view these representations.
For example, throughout the to episodes, Will is presented as
the smart, posh boy who dresses conservatively and therefore
looks like a mini adult in a formal blazer, tie and briefcase
which he carries to school. Simon is the love sick character
who dresses casual, and this fits with his age. Neil is the dopey
character, and Jay is the disgusting (sex) crazed immature
one. The writers have created these characters all differently,
as individuals and their values are portrayed through certain
characteristics. Their hair styles are all different, they act and
dress differently.
5. Fiske Idea 4: Multiple reading
(Polysemic)
TV drama results in may readings:
• Audience is diverse (own experiences and view points)
• The audience imagines how he/she would have behaved had they been in a
characters shoes at a particular moment.
• The viewer is less of a subject of the dominant ideology and more control of
the process of identification through his/her own meanings.
• Audience judge the characters on how they really seem.
As the target audience for the show is from a wide range, there are many
viewers that interpret the show differently according to their own
experiences and whether they can relate to the characters or not. And they
would also think about what they would do if they were in the characters
situation, for example in the Thorpe Park episode, when Simon’s car door
broke off; each character had an individual response to the situation like
Simon panicking and Will not really caring and being focused on riding the
roller coasters. The audience then would pick which character they would
most relate to, hence connecting with them.
