Pre production work

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Lucas Kirkland
Candidate Number: 1159
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Masthead- Reading “What’s on
TV” the masthead of the magazine
is bold and eye-catching to the
readership. The color red ‘signifies’
(De Saussure) the dangerous and
evil themes that are often featured
in soap operas.
Web address (Cross media
convergence) forces readers to take
on further reading into the programs
that are featured within the
magazine across the e-media
platform.
Verbal codes such as “Shock”,
“Horror”, “Crash” and “Dies” are
utilized to attract the target audience
of the programs featured in the
magazine. The language used is very
emotive. This is because it makes the
audience want to find out more
about the latest plots.
The date at the top of the
magazine is very prominent. This
convention is made clear to the
readership who are considered
‘Survivors’ (Maslow) who feel the
need to always be up to date with
the latest soaps.
The non verbal code of the main
image, depicts three characters
who could be linked to the
“crash” talked about in the main
headline. The images of the three
characters are positioned, as
hanging over the headline which
further illustrates the importance
of these characters. Eye contact
(mode of address) of all three
characters represents the anger
and suspicion that surrounds the
plot of the story.
The verbal code of the main
headline stretched across the
middle of the page, conveys
the main story that will feature
in this magazine. The colour
yellow is very eye-catching and
entices the reader to take the
magazine of the shelf.
Additionally the distressed
lines cutting through the verbal
code “crash” signify the
destruction that will happen in
this “Crash”.
In addition to the main headline
the subline, provides readers with
even more clues to the story
featured within. The verbal code
“who dies?” ‘informs’ (Katz) the
reader that there will be a death,
therefore hooking them into buying
the magazine to find out more.
Cover lines are featured in bubbles at the bottom of the page. Each features a different soap to cover
a broad range of audiences preference. Images from the soaps are utilized to attract audiences to the
‘Star Appeal’ (Richard Dyer) that the characters might have. The verbal code “New” will entice
audiences to watch the soaps.

3. The strapline of this magazine,
located directly underneath the
masthead features bold statements
to hook in buyers. “Every Story!
Every Story, Every Week!” This
‘signifies’ to the reader that this
magazine prides itself on producing a
magazine that is consistent in its
distribution.
A bold masthead connotes the
importance of soap for many
audiences, Additionally there is no
space between the two words
which could signify the collation of
soaps featured within this
magazine.
The non verbal code of
the main image features
main characters within
Eastenders, perhaps the
most popular soap. The
technical code of the
medium close of Vonnie,
placed behind a male
creates a stereotype. The
male gender is pictured as
being more dominant
because of this
positioning.
The main headline is
positioned across the
center of the magazine.
Printed in a vibrant
orange color the text
reads “Revenge”. This
connotes to the
audience that this is the
main story. The verbal
code “killer” written in
bold red and black,
‘signifies’ the evil that
will feature within the
text.
The price of the magazine comes in at £1.65, which is very
cheap compared to other genre of magazines. For a
working class reader this is very affordable.
Plus section features extended
sublines, that will lure magazine
fans into wanting to buy the
A subline quotation featured at
the top left hand side of the
page, include never seen before
quotes that will entice readers
to buy the magazine to find out
more about up coming episodes.

4. Conclusion
and
From completing this task I will be able to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale – 1980) certain areas of the
magazines I have analyzed. First of all from both magazines I can establish that bright colours
are a must have convention for soap opera magazines, as it is very eye catching. In addition I
will utilize large text and bold images that really catch readers eyes. I would also like to
‘repeat’ loads of cover stories. Controversial language in the straplines will be a convention
that I would like to include in my own magazine. I would like to do this because It attracts
audiences with shock. Finally I feel that lots of images are needed to create busy layout that
is typical for the genre. Overall I prefer ‘Whats on TV’s” , magazine as it is very bright and
bold and presents all of the subline effectively. I really like the cracked masthead as it has
multiple connotations.