This document outlines an exam for analyzing representations of identity in TV dramas. Students will analyze camerawork, mise-en-scene, editing, and sound in a 5-minute TV drama clip and link it to a representation of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity, class, ability, or regional identity. Common TV drama genres are listed, such as period drama, crime drama, science fiction, and medical drama. The document defines regional identity as a sense of belonging to a particular area of the UK, from broad regions to specific towns, and notes how it is often linked to social class. Students are tasked with researching stereotypes of various regional identities in the UK and Ireland and how they are constructed through dialogue

1. Exam outline and contents

2. Section A
You will be analysing a 5 minute TV Drama
extract:
• You will need to carry out a textual analysis
of four technical areas:
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Camerawork
Mise-en-scene
Editing
Sound.

3. You will need to link this analysis to a
discussion of how the clip constructs a
REPRESENTATION of one of the following
areas:
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Gender
Age
Sexuality
Ethnicity
Class and status
Physical ability/disability
Regional identity

4. TV Dramas are generally scripted to reflect the life of their intended
audience, and primarily being broadcasted in a series, the audience tends
to grow with the characters and feel like they can relate to the issues on
screen. Content will generally always be realistic and applicable to real life
situations, and you as an audience are led to believe that what you see on-
screen can happen in real life.

5. 1. Period Drama: Emma, Downton Abbey, The Tudors, Mildred Pierce
2. Police / Crime Drama : The Wire, Luther, Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes,
Inspector George Gently, Jerry Bruckheimer’s Chase, CSI, NCIS, 24, New Tricks,
Hustle, Bones, Dexter, Cold Case…
3. Science Fiction: Torchwood, Doctor Who, Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes
(arguably), Primeval
4. Medical Drama : Holby City, Casualty, Scrubs, House, ER, Doc Martin
5. Teen Drama: Skins, OC, 90210, Waterloo Road
6. Melodrama / Soap Opera: Hollyoaks, Eastenders, Coronation Street,
Footballer’s Wives and Hotel Babylon borrow from the conventions of Melodrama
7. Political Drama: West Wing, Spooks (Spy Drama), The Kennedys
8. Comedy Drama: Shameless, Trollied (although arguably a SitCom)
9. Action/Adventure Drama: Lost, 24
10. Fantasy Drama: Merlin, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Highlander, Lost, True
Blood

6. Regional Identity refers to the part of the
United Kingdom someone is from. It could
refer to a general area such a north or
south.

7. Or country such as “English” or “Scottish”
or specific towns such as “London” or
“Manchester.”

8. Regional identity is a sense of belonging similar to
that of national identity but on a smaller scale or
level.

9. Research Task
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Research into the following stereotypes of regional identity:
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- Irish/Southern and Northern Irish
Notice how regional
identity is often linked
to social class?
How are they constructed? Consider the following:
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Northerners
Southerners
Scottish
Welsh
Scouses
Geordies
Mancs
Brummies
Dialogue/ dialect
Clothing
Location/setting
Props
Costume
Make-up
Class/status
Choose an image of stereotypical character that epitomises this
regional identity