The document discusses codes and conventions used in soap operas and scripted reality television shows. It provides examples of how codes like unrealistic storylines, stereotypical characters, and exaggerated poses are used in shows like The Only Way is Essex. It then explains how the student developed on these conventions for their media product by further exaggerating traits like tanning and fashion choices to create a parody that challenged conventions through humor.

1. How did I USE, DEVELOP or CHALLENGE
codes and conventions of real media
products?
USE: How I followed codes conventions
DEVELOP: How we developed on codes and
conventions
CHALLENGE: How we went against codes and
conventions

2. Soap Opera
• A television show, often on more than once a
week, between 23-27 minutes long.
• They often follow characters lives and deal with
problems to help the audience to escape from
there own.
• They often have a recognisable theme tune
usually reflecting the region in which the soap is
set E.g Coronation Street has a brass band at the
start of every episode, this is an example of
Regional identity shown in soaps

3. Soap Storylines
There are different types of storylines in soaps.
Realism soaps tend to include realistic storylines,
that deal with the same problems as the
audience such as love affairs, finance problems.
E.g In Hollyoaks the University Students always
have money problems, as students are the target
audience to this soap they can often relate to
story lines like this.

4. Soap Storylines
In contrast Catharsis Storylines are more
dramatic, and exaggerated, which are
problems the average person would not
have. These types of storylines are often
found in Spanish Telenovelas, or American
fantasy . For example in the American Fantasy
Sunset Beach Virginina drugs Vanessa so she
can impregnate her with Turkey Baster. The
problems in which these characters are
dealing with help the audience to escape and
often make them feel better as they are
watching characters go through worse than
they are.

5. SCRIPTED REALITY
Scripted reality is a new hybrid genre of Soap. It includes real people and
follows real lives, but they are often put into situations. This genre came
from The Osbourne's, a show that followed the Osbourne family, however
this show was not scripted and now most Scripted Reality is scripted.
EXAMPLES ARE:
•The Only Way is Essex (which we focused on)
•Made In Chelsea
•Geordie Shore

6. Most characters in scripted reality are rich and follow their wealthy
lifestyle, however they can be portrayed in different ways
In contrast this picture shows the characters
to look messy, hungover from the night
This picture connotes wealth and before with the
prestige, with the chandelier, expensive •broken leg suggesting he broke it from
outfits, expensive furniture. the crown being drunk and fighting
•The posture and pose making them look
on the logo shows the people are like tired by leaning
royalty. This makes the audience aspire •The heel in the hand and the messy dresses
to have this lifestyle. as though they have stayed out all night
This makes them look like party animals and
depicts a very different lifestyle to Made in
Chelsea.

7. Character Stereotypes
My group chose to create a parody of The Only Way is Essex,
as we thought it was full of codes and conventions that we
could use for our characters.
The characters from The Only Way is Essex follow the conventions of:
•Over the top poses
•Orange skin from too much fake tan
•Lots of make-up
•Dressy clothing
•Come across as having Dumb personalities

8. I used these codes and conventions in my
product:
Harley wore a suit
to match the
smart and rich life
style
Orange faces
The girls wore
lots of make-up
to make us look
fake
The girls wore
dresses or dressy
clothing

9. Costume
The Only Way is Essex Well Jel
Goggles and Bandana
Leopard Print Dress

10. However as we are doing a parody this gives us the
opportunity to develop these conventions, as we took these
conventions and exaggerated them.
•We used bronzer to make everyone’s face look extremely
tanned.
•Ollie wore swimming goggles instead of the Joey Essex Ski
goggles to reflect Joey Essex’s distinctive fashion style
•On the trailer we all walked up a cobbled street slowly
whilst over the top posing

11. Location
We chose to record this scene in a
posh location, in Manchester near
the wealthy and designer shops,
as we thought this would reflect
the money that the people have
in Essex.
The Only Way is Essex also uses
locations similar to this to show the
characters lifestyle, so we used this
convention

12. Shot Types
This is a freeze frame from The Only
Way is Essex’s trailer. Here they seem
to have high key lighting which
highlights the characters faces. Also
the pink of the background reflects the
fakeness of the characters, like Barbie.
I also used a pink background. High key
lighting and used a two shot of the
characters to match with TOWIE’s
conventions.