Soap Opera Poster Analysis (Two)

The target audience for this soap opera poster advert is teenagers who fall under the Stanley Hall sterotyping theory of Youth’s. Stanley Hall states teenagers are moody and curious about sex, alcohol or drugs, then are involved within criminal activity between the ages 12 and 24. I will now analyse this poster to see if it would be suitable for the target audience that Channel 4 have predicted for the Soap Hollyoaks and analyse if this would encourage them to watch this.

In terms of graphology the dark left hand side image shows overweight and cheap looking people in a old pub, which could connote that this is something people wouldn’t want to see within a soap making it unsuitable for the target audience that Hollyoaks is aiming for; young teens as there will be nothing in this that will interest them.

But if you compare the left side of the image to the right, all light, glamorous and stylish with more attractive actors, this could connote that the show is trying to persuade everyone its the new cool show to watch, meaning it will be suitable for their target audience who fall under the Blumer and Katz theory; watching the soap for their own personal interests such as: Personal identity (from the cool looking star vehicles), diversion, entertainment and etc.

The typography used makes the text look as if it’s been erased, which goes with the theme in the Lexis choice “Rub some Hollyoaks on it” through the pink rectangle shape background. This will attract the audience who fall under the Stanley Hall theory because the colour pink and the erase theme could represent moods. This means it would be suitable for the target audience because the target audience is adolescences who are searching for the next big thing.

In terms of colour, the right side of the image has a lot of stale and old colours such as brown, dark red, brown and etc. Whilst if you compare this to the left side of the poster contains lots of lively and fresh colours such as red, pink, blue and a lighter red, this could connote that the show is more fresh and up to date, which would suit the target audience who fall under the Blumer and Katz theory; watching the soap for their own personal interests such as: Personal identity (from the cool looking star vehicles), diversion, entertainment and etc.

In terms of images the image on the left hand side contains the Channel 4 logo, this will be useful to those people who are interested in watching the soap because of how up to date the poster makes Hollyoaks look, it will encourage them to tune in on the channel. Therefore this is suitable for those who fall under the Blumer and Katz theory.

Also in terms of images the female character on the left side of the poster will fall under the Laura Mulvey (1975) because the blonde has her hair done up, she is wearing makeup, glamorous clothing and revealing a bit of her legs. This will be suitable for the target audience who find this star vehicle attractive (mainly men) and will watch the soap.

The male characters within the images will fall under the Marxist theory as they are portrayed as the men who run the media, white, middle class and straight because one of the men is dancing with a girl and another one is working behind a bar. This will attract the target audience who are males because these star models will indicate to them that this soap opera is aimed at both men and woman despite the stereotype of woman watch them more.

Overall this poster has shown enough evidence of supporting the Stanley Hall theory; the main theorist for the stereotype target audience in mind for the soap Hollyoaks. It has also shown evidence for the Blumer and Katz theory audience as people may want to tune into Hollyoaks for their own personal interests/reasons.

Annaleigh Benn