How to write a Long Form TV Drama essay (900 words)
3* ‘Representations of social, cultural and historical events can vary within long form television dramas from different countries.’ Discuss how and why audiences might respond to and interpret these representations differently.
In your answer you must:
· consider the contexts in which long form television dramas are produced and consumed
· explain how media contexts may have influenced different aspects of realism and audience response in the set episodes of the two long form television dramas you have studied
· make judgements and reach conclusions about the differences in realism of social, cultural and historical circumstances between the two set episodes.
Paragraph suggestions
Stranger Things
D83
Intro
· Reverse the question
· Define the representations you are going to look at. Link at the end of each paragraph and don't forget theory and context references throughout.
1 Industry and audience information about Stranger Things
· The advantages of LFTVD and the Netflix model
· Relate back to question
2 Industry and audience information about Deutschland 83
· The older fashioned production process and its advantages
· Relate back to question
3
· Budgets and their effects on filming and production.
· Compare cinematography, editing ,sound and mise-en-scene and discuss context
· Relate back to question
4· Narrative - ST
· How the story works.
· How it is typical of LFTVD
· Relate to question
5.· Narrative – D83
· How does the story affect the viewer and position the audience?
· Relate to question
6.
· Representation 1 – (I would do gender)
· Comparison between D83 and ST
· Add theory – Van Zoonen?
7.
· Representation 2 – (I would do military/government)
· Comparison between D83 and ST
· Add theory – look at audience and Hall.
· Relate back to question
Conclusion
· How have I answered the question?
· make judgments and reach conclusions about the differences in realism of social, cultural and historical circumstances between the two set episodes.
