1. Soap Opera Genre â
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: Liam De Costa
Candidate Number: 6146
Center Name: St. Paulâs Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
OCR Media Studies â A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced
Portfolio
2. Trailer 1 â Who killed Lucy Beale? â Eastenders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vDuvkmOyXQ
Verbal Codes
Dialogue: The first verbal code in the form of the diegetic dialogue, âWhat if the person that killed her, was someone
that she knew?â, sets the scene for the investigation into the murder of the character Lucy Beale by the cast in
Eastenders. This âsignifiesâ (De Saussure) a new story arc that can now be explored and dive into the inner
personalities of individual characters who are deeply impacted by this death. Next, the verbal code of the diegetic
dialogue, âYou killed Lucyâ, foreshadows the confrontation of who may have done the murder. The connotations of
the dialogue not being accompanied by a scene of the conversation emphasises the trailer to allow audiences to
evaluate the potential suspects from the characterâs voice. This would further increase the suspension of the
following episodes for audiences, leading them to want to know more within the soap opera; captivating potential
viewers as well as existing.
Voiceover: The verbal code of the non-diegetic voiceover, âYou never know what goes on behind closed doorsâ,
emphasises the tension the audience will feel between all the characters in the soap opera. This comment also
connotes that there are many secrets and events that are kept hidden by individual characters which are to
eventually resurface and continue the storyline.
Sound effects: The non-verbal code of the increasing clashing sound that is played during the fast paced cuts of the
different characters signifies the mass amount of potential suspects who may have killed Lucy. The increase in
volume also suggests that this tragic event is to come crashing down on someone when the murderer is found guilty,
further increasing the suspense within the drama.
Soundtrack: The non-verbal diegetic instrumental music throughout the trailer âsignifiesâ an impending question that
requires it to be answered. The music coincides with the pace of the transitional cuts between clips to increase the
suspense. This connotes that the killer is on the run and the chase is coming to an end to which the audience and the
characters will find out who killed Lucy Beale.
3. Non-Verbal Codes
Setting: The setting of the trailer is mainly indoors, with characters conversing in their homes about who is the
suspected killer. In relation to the dialogue, âYou never know what goes on behind closed doorsâ, it connotes that the
conversations that the characters are having are in private and âbehind closed doorsâ as it is scandalous and something
the audience would expect from the soap-opera genre.
Lighting: The lighting is dark and dystopian, even in bright rooms, to represent the effect of a dark deed that has been
done. It also represents the emotions of the characters as they deal with the tragedy of Lucyâs death as they are
distraught, upset and angry.
Costumes: The outfits worn by the characters are casual and those typically associated with working class people. One
of the characters are shown to be wearing a formal blazer, shirt and trousers suggesting that he may have escaped the
working class stereotype associated to this genre.
Facial expressions and characters: The focus of the characterâs facial expression are shown to be of distraught, anger
and worry. In one scene, a female character questions a male characterâs whereabouts to which she presents a facial
expression of doubt. This connotes an implication that the male character is hiding something from his interrogator and
the audience. This is an example of a âstrong, dominant femaleâ (Rebecca Feasey â 2007) as the female character takes
charge questioning the whereabouts of a male character, role-reversing the stereotype.
Technical Codes
Camera angles: The use of a high angle at the end of the trailer looking down on the cast of Eastenders connotes that
they are all vulnerable to the audience in that any one of them could potentially be the killer. In conjunction to this
high angle, the characters all glance up to the camera which connotes their appeal for innocence or even an apology.
Shot types: The technical code of the use of close up shots of the characterâs faces allows the audience to focus on
their expressions and what their implied meanings are. This allows the audience to early identify who may possibly be
suspects to the investigation, further including them into the narrative. The use of medium close up shots provides the
setting of where the characters are which collectively is in isolation by themselves. This connotes the impact of Lucyâs
death on that character emotionally, which is anchored by the diegetic monologue of âitâs like we never knew her at
allâ.
Camera movement: There is evidence of a zoom onto a characterâs face, Max, which suggests that he may be the main
suspect of the murder. This camera movement is accompanied by the characterâs expression of worry or concern which
further presents him in guilt and could be the enigma clue (Roland Barthes) the audience crave to see.
7. Evaluation of Textual Analysis â
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) â Areas of Strength and what you would ârepeatâ (Steve Neale - 1980)
and/or âexploitâ (Abercrombie â 1995) â You need to use this theory in your analysis
The strengths in the trailer lie in the voiceovers and dialogue that are used while the clip transitions quickly between worried
and concerned facial expressions of different characters. This accompanies the fast paced music, which increases the impact
of the trailer on the audience by speeding up the action to grab the audience into wanting to know what is happening.
I will ârepeatâ (Steve Neale â 1980) the synchronous music accompanying the cuts of the clips because I believe the theory of
âless is moreâ in terms of cinematography is very effective of providing a point that will engage audiences but not spoil the
story. I would have perhaps changed some of the shots of the various characters to possibly more shots of characters looking
guilty or add a few shots of Lucy with various characters before her death, arising suspicion between more characters within
the audience.
Trailer 2) â Areas of Strength and what you would ârepeatâ (Steve Neale - 1980)
and/or âexploitâ (Abercrombie â 1995) â You need to use this theory in your analysis
The area of strength is in the dialogue spoken by the characters who provide an idea of the storyline that is to follow in the
forthcoming episode. It provides audiences with an insight into individual characterâs views and attitudes towards Sienna and
the foreshadowing of her downfall. I would have chose to use voiceovers and dialogue with fast paced cuts to present this
trailer in a way that sympbolises Siennaâs âdarkâ personality. I believe that this current plot in the soap should have been
presented as a crisis rather than a contrast of Siennaâs two personalities tumbling into one another. By the use of fast paced
cuts and voiceovers, the audience would be captivated by the minimal shots of different scenes and further attention would
be focused on the words spoken, providing for a more exaggerated output.