The document discusses how the media project conforms to and challenges conventions of soap operas. It identifies several key conventions used in soap operas: 1) non-linear narratives with multiple interlinking storylines, 2) cliffhangers at the end of episodes to entice viewers to continue watching, and 3) a strong female protagonist to appeal to the primary female audience. The media project incorporates these conventions in its soap opera trailer, including using a non-linear narrative, ending on a cliffhanger, and featuring a strong female lead. It also adds elements of realism around mental health issues to connect with audiences.

1. Evaluation Q1
Q1) In whatwaysdoesyour mediause,developorchallengeformsandconventionsof real media
products.
In the beginningof the projectandbefore creatingthe soapoperatrailer,Icompletedresearchon
the soap operagenre inorderto have a clearunderstandingof the formsandconventionsinvolved
insoap operas.
Interestingly,Icouldidentify features, whichare presentinsoapoperas, andthisincludesnon-linear
narratives,which are presentinall soapoperas.Non-linearnarrativescanhave fouror five different
story lines,which couldinterlinkandconclude inamajorepisode.Thisinturnisa convention,which
keepsthe viewerinclinedtowatchmore of the soap operaas theyare interestedinthe outcome of
a certaincharacter or how theirfavourite charactermayevolve tobecome somethingdarkeror
lighter. Byintegrating(DenisMcQuail - 1987) a non-linearnarrative itgivesthe viewersinsightinto
the circumstancesof othersand createssocial empathy,whichthereforeteachesthe viewerto
understandotherpeople’ssituations, andevokesthemtohelpone anotherinordertoimprove
societyas a whole. We usedthe non – linearnarrative inorderto conformto the featuresthat
make a soap opera, bydoingthiswe were alsoable to introduce amulti strandednarrative which
createsa varietyof differentstorylinesforthe audience tofollow. The soapmagazine Icreatedalso
followedthe convention
Furthermore,soapoperaepisodesusuallyendin cliff-hangers,which are commonfeaturesinsoap
operas. Thispresentsthe audience with anenigmacode’(RolandBarthes) sotheycontinuetowatch
the showin orderto see howthe story unravels. Cliff-hangersare acommon conventiontoalso
shape the story anddevelopthe characters.Inour soapoperatrailerwe endour clipon a cliff-
hangerinorder to successfullyenticethe audience toeagerlywantmore of the new soap.We used
the conventionfrominspirationof the insanelypopular Eastender’s (KatandAlfie) trailer,which
incorporatesthe conventionandwasverysuccessfulbecause of itingaining over500,000 viewson
YouTube (5/03/16).
The presence of a strongwoman (RebeccaFeasey - 2007) is ideal ina soapoperaand we utilizedthis
conventionwiththe upmostimportancewhencreatingoursoapoperatrailer.Thisisdue tothe
majoraudience beingfemale forwatchingsoapoperas.The use of a strongwomanenablesusto
connectwiththe target audience,thatbeing female 15-24year olds.The ideaof empowering
womenhasbeenusedinsuccessful soapssuchasEastEnders(Rosie) andSkins(Effie),italsoreflects
on society,aswomenare becomingafigure of strengthandby usingthemas the protagonistit
mirrorshowsocietyhas changed.

2. The graph showsthe percentage if womenwhowatchsoapoperas.Thispie chart includesall ages
and we can clearlysee that15-24 isthe prime targetfor soaps.So bydevelopingoursoapoperaand
targetingthatspecificaudience we are clearlyable tosee thatthe mostsuccesswill be comingfrom
targetingthe 15 – 24 yearoldfemale audience.
Our soapopera alsohas a touch of realism, oursoapoperaunderlinesthe issuesof mental health
and the dangersithas on oneself andthe peoplearoundthem. We usedthisinorderfor the
audience to PersonallyIdentify(Katz) withthe characterswe have usedinoursoap.Mental health
has become akeyissue insocietyandby targetingthisissue we are able toraise awarenessfor
mental healthproblemsspecificallyinyounger ages,which are becomingmore prevalentastime
goeson.We alsousedthe realismof everydayactivitiessuchasourpark scene;thisshowshow our
soap operaconformstoreal life aswe have embedded keyconventionsessential increating
escapism(DenisMcQuail - 1987) for the audience.
In our soapoperatrailerwe Repeated(SteveNeil)the conventionsof soapoperatrailers.We useda
flashbackinorderto setthe scene and enable the audiencetofigure the directionof the trailer
before the trailerends.Thisspeculationaddstothe intense guessinggame of how the soapwill play
out andkeepsthe audience onedge asthey begintowantto watch the soap opera. By doingthis
we ensuredtokeepthe successful elementsof asoapoperawhile incorporatingourownideasin
orderto make the productour own.