The opening to the Netflix TV drama Stranger Things is not entirely conventional as it is an online series rather than broadcast on TV. It begins with something dramatic to intrigue audiences but lacks traditional TV elements like sponsors. The genre appears to be sci-fi thriller based on scenes set in a small Indiana town in 1983, featuring flickering lights in a laboratory and a panicking scientist. The main characters introduced are four young boys playing a board game.

1. TV Drama title: Stranger Things
MEDIA LANGUAGE
Is the opening conventional in how it is structured? Explain why/why not.
The opening to this tv drama is not conventional as itas onlineseries rather than being on tv, even though
it started with something dramatic that will intriguethe audience,the fact that it is an onlineseries mean it
is slightly less conventional.This was the pre-title sequence; this was longer than 3 minutes, so I hadn't
reached the title yet. However, there was no sponsor atthe beginning as itis on Netflix, which is something
some tv dramas have, however, the basic conventions such as itfollowsa story and the genre and also
characters followa convention tv drama.
DENOTATION CONNOTATIONS
Mise en scene - setting,costumes, lighting,bodylanguage
and facial expressions.
 Flickering lights
 Set in small town in Indiana
 laboratory
 Opening set in the night
 Panic in facial expression of scientist
It is setin a small town in Indiana,USA, in 1983, which
suggests it could be like the style of Stephen
Spielberg. The flickeringlights and dark create a tense
and suspenseful atmosphere, liking in with the setting
of a Laboratory,suggests a Sci-Fi genre. The panic and
sweat on the scientist's face inflict fear in the
audience, and the fact it is also fast paced suggests
something is following him, something we done see,
further creating suspense and tension
Camerawork – shot sizes, camera angles,movements, depth
of field.
 Establishing shot
 Close ups
 Following shot
 long shot
There is an establishing shot to start with, which
shows us the laboratory, setting the scene, it also
shows us it is at night which had connotations of fear
and mystery.
There were closeups on the door before he burst out
of it which created tension and suspense.
There was also a following shot of will cycling home
and as we were behind him it creates a sense of
danger and fear as it created the idea someone was
following him home.
Editing – continuity, montage,paceofediting, transitions,
screen time, order ofshots,etc.
 Continuity
 Sharp cuts
 Establishing shots before we meet
characters
There was continuity editing in the fast paced,
suspense scene. This was when the scientist ran out
of the lab. They used this editing because they want
the audience to feel as though they are experiencing
it. And by following him running it creates fear in the
audience too. There was also a quick and harsh cut
from the scientist being taken by the creature to the
sprinkler on the grass, which also shows an instant
change in mood, but because of the first scene, the
viewer is on edge.
There are also a few short cuts from each character
during the game playing scene, this introduces us to
each character individually.
Sound – diegetic, non-diegetic, ambient sound,soundeffects,
stings, music, etc.
 Alarm
 Breathing heavily
 Sprinkler
 Running
 Doors shutting and locking
 The creatures sound
There is not much noise in the first part of the
opening before we are introduced to the scientist,itis
ambient noise from the outside, this then
immediately contrasts with the alarm and the running
and the door being swung open, this creates a jump
scare and tension.
There is also the sound of the sprinkler,which is calm,
with the ambient noise of crickets from the outside
which contrasts with the noise of the scientist
previously screaming, this creates a shift in
atmosphere.
Title Graphics – font style, size,colour, transitions, effects,
etc.
 Colour
 Light
In the first 3 minutes of this opening we don’t get
shown the title graphics as it is more of an
introduction to the whole series. However, the title
was based on a font style in the 80s in which they

2. would shine light through it to project in on old TV.
The colour of it being red suggests there could be
danger throughout.
Genre i.e. sub-genre-crime,thriller, soap opera, comedy, etc.? Or Mixed/hybrid genre? Whatsuggest this? Icons?
The genre of this showis a Sci-Fi drama series.The Laboratory and the unknown creature suggest this,there
also unexplained things duringthe opening such as the flickeringlights.
Narrative i.e. Whatwill the story beabout? Howit is going to betold? Any binaryoppositions/conflict? Storythemes?
Conventionalnarrative?
From the opening and the name of the opening episode being ‘The vanishingof Will Byers”itsuggests that
the narrativewill beto do with the disappearanceof one of the characters, and also thediscovery of the
creature in the firstpartin the laboratory.
Character(s) i.e. Who arethey? Whatare they like? Main character? Protagonist/antagonist? Conventionalcharacter type/role?
The main characters fromthe first3 minutes of the opening seem to be the four young boys. They all are
shown to be into a sci fi,board game that was popular in the 80s so may have been categorised in the
stereotype of ‘nerds’ or ‘geeks’. There isn’tcurrently, shows to be a protagonistas there are four of them
REPRESENTATION
Social Groups– which socialgroups arerepresented? How –as simplestereotypes or as morecomplexcharacters? Is everyonein
a social group represented as being the same? Positive/negative? (seelesson Ppt. for a recap onrepresentation).
The stereotype that is being shows ais the‘Nerds’ due to their interest in Sci - Fi,fictional game.They aren’t
represented negatively however, as they are shown to be enjoyingthemselves.
Ideology– what values and beliefs are being reinforced?(i.e.romantic relationships represented as something tobe desiredand
that they should bemonogamous.)
They aren't any beliefs beingreinforced at this partof the opening
Are these representationsconventional ofthe TV drama genre/sub-genre?
Yes, I believe that the representations that have been shown are conventional for the Sci -Fi sub genre for
dramas.
Do they reinforce dominantideologyor offeran alternative?
They reinforce dominantideologies of a Sci- Fi drama.
AUDIENCE
Whois the target audience? Demographics?
Psychographics?
The target audienceis for older teens, probably
16+ to probably 25,this is becausethe main
characters areall a younger age and the plotwould
probably interestyounger viewer.
What tellsyou this? Genre, narrative, representation,
mode ofaddress, language used, etc.?
A lotof the main characters areof a younger age
group. This could suggest that it is aimed at a younger
audience. Furthermore, the storylinebeinga teen
goes missingdueto an unknown creature is one that
a younger target audiencewould perhaps enjoy more.
How have the producerstried to attract the audience? Consider Gen Z short attentionspan, etc. –how does the
drama try tograb their attention and appealto themin the opening?
There is fast a fast-paced scene straight away to grab younger people attention instantly
How are the audience positioned? Which character(s) arewe supposed to like/dislike/sympathisewith? Arewe
positioned to takea particular side/view ofanissue?Preferred/negotiated/oppositional readings?
From the opening scene we are supposed to likeall 4 of the younger characters as we are introduced to
them all havingfun and enjoyingthemselves. One character stood out to me as one we were maybe
supposed to sympathisewith (Will) as heis one of the sweeter characters and if put under pressurein the
game.
Do you think the drama will shape audiences’pointsof viewabout people,issuesorevents?
I think it will showwhat younger people arecapableof and maybe change adults' perceptions of younger
people.

3. INDUSTRY
TV Channel/distributor? Netflix
Is it available anywhere else? No
Time ofbroadcast? Any time as itis a Netflix show
Sponsorships? Coca-Cola
Product placement? There was no product placement in the opening
scene, however brands such as Eggo didn’t actually
partner with the drama until after series 1.
Production credits in the opening?
Ifso, which ones and inwhat order?
There were no production credits in the opening, only
the Netflix logo as itis a Netflix production.
Whichepisode/series?
Out ofhow many episodes/series?
1st episode out of Now 3 series
Additional media(digital convergence)?
Website, socialmedia,onlinevideos, etc.
There is a stranger things TV official Instagrampage,
which will help with onlineadvertisement. There is
also an official twitter page.
Do you think any of the industry elementsabove have shaped the drama? If so, how?
I think social media has helped to shapethe drama as ithas attracted a lotof attention through it