Soap Opera Trailer Analysis (One)

EastEnders Trailer 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68GWmOETotQ

Theorist Andrew Higson has stated a variety of theories for British television soap operas  (EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and etc) but the main theory I will be using to analyse this EastEnders Christmas special is “Identity is generally understood to be the shared identity of naturalized inhabitants of a particular political-geographic space, this can be a particular nation or region” to see if this will agree with Andrew Higson's theory or not.

In terms of sound the trailer begins with the Christmas song 'We wish you a merry Christmas' (Non-diegetic and the sound bridge) within the background; this could connote something devastating is going to happen within the soap because of how soft the tune sounds played by a xylophone. This would fall under the Stuart Hall (1904) theory because its going to be involved with crime and means this would make EastEnders suitable to attract their target audience (Youths), as Stanley Hall claims that 'teenagers between the ages of 12 and 25 are involved with crime, alcohol, moodiness and sex.'

Also this storyline could keep some people more than the target audience watching the soap because others may watch the soap for personal identity (because of the variety of characters and storylines), diversion from reality...and information, falling under the Blumer and Katz theory (1974).

Firstly when the trailer begins, viewers see 'The Queen Victoria,' a famous location in the EastEnders soap because many interesting storylines have taken place there. But this could connote that this Soap is a pure British piece of material shown on the BBC One (The logo appears upon the first scene too, to also prove its British) because also at the end of the soap there is a prop of the statue Queen Victoria in front of Archie. This could attract the attention of national people in this country (who are proud to be British) and could fall under the theorist of Higson as he states “Identity is generally understood...particular nation or region.”

In terms of mise-en-sense there are more props placed around the sceneries around EastEnders, like Christmas lights and Christmas decorations, this could connote that the Soap Opera is suitable for the British audience who are Christian as this storyline is partly celebrating the holiday season. This could demonstrate that this soap will not be suitable for any other religion who do not celebrate the British holiday seasons, anyone/anything else would fall under the theorist Medhurst “They are awful because their not like us.”

The bridges of the soap are fade to black and quickly focus the audience upon the next scene, this also could fall under the Stanley Hall theory because the colour the fade transform into could represent mood and emotions; Stanley Hall states “Teenagers...and Sex.” This could keep the target audience interested in the EastEnders trailer because they will be as curious to each clue it teases them with until the next episode is aired on BBC One.

The next scene of the trailer is a point of view shot as the audience get a over the shoulder glance of a female character (Stacey) with tears in her eyes and a scared expression upon her face, the male character asks her in a serious tone “Who did this to you?” This will absorb some of the viewers, not just in curiosity to what’s wrong with the Stacey, but in terms of getting the actual tension sensation of being there because of the camera shot. This will fall under the theorists of Blumer and Katz theory; people watch media in terms of their own personal reasons, 'Personal identity, diversion...information.'

After another fade to black scene, there is a view of a character hiding in the dark and the camera is aimed up at them and the 'The Queen Victoria' pub. This could connote that this certain character is known in the community for their unpredictable actions/twist in the storylines. Therefore this EastEnders trailer could fall under the Higsons theory as he claims, 'Self-functioning community and ensures that each person has a clear role in the community.' It will keep the audience interested in watching the soap opera on BCC One because they will want to know what's this mysterious characters role in the action filled plot.

A jump cut is then made as there is then a view of a young blonde character called Ronnie looking very uncomfortable and a blurred out male character is walking up to her from behind. There is non-diegetic narrating sound of her voice saying  “He will not make me care for you.” Before she turns around and faces the male character. This could attract the audience viewing this EastEnders trailer to see what Ronnie and this male characters role in this situation, meaning it will be suitable for the audience who fall under the Blumer and Katz theory.

Within the soap, there are both men and woman roles that are played at a variety of ages from young to old, this could attract a variety of people and not just the target audience as each different character could represent other people who would be interested in watching EastEnders for their own reasons such as 'Personal identity, diversion...information' showing that this soap opera could fall under the Blumer and Katz theory (1974).

“I will take care of everything” Peggy states in a non-diegetic narration in the background as there is a medium shot of the character walking around a bush with a shadow of the bush upon her coat. Although there are other jump cuts of other characters walking into a light with half of their face covered, this could connote that these characters are becoming more aware of the situation in the plot but aren't fully aware of what's going on or what's going to happen, representing the target audience who are watching the trailer. Meaning this would fall under the Blumer and Katz theory because the audience will tune in to BBC One to want to know the twist in the plot.

Many of the female characters will fall under the Laura Mulvey (1975) theory because the majority of them are all wearing make up and have their hair done in a particular fashion style for their own individual age group. This will attract audience who fall under the Blumer and Katz (1974) theory also because these characters will encourage men to watch the soap opera for the attractive woman, yet also woman because they will be fond of the characters in terms of personal identity.

There is then another jump cut to a medium shot of the male character Phil walking out the dark and opening a door with a piece of tool equipment in his hand, looking like he has just broke into the building, before fading back into the darkness again with the camera aiming up at him. This could be suitable for the theorist of Marxist because the camera position may connote that he is white, middle class and straight, a dominant character in the media.

Although watching Phil look as if he has commited a crime will be suitable for Youth's (the target audience BBC One predicted for this soap opera) falling under the Stanley Hall theory because he claims; 'teenagers between the ages of 12 and 25 are involved with crime, alcohol, moodiness and sex.' But people will tune in to watch Phil's breaking and entry to see why and what building.

The soap in a few occasions has shown that the main storyline of this soap opera is based upon two men; there is a close up of Phil who states “I'm going to kill him” meaning the other character Archie as the narrator (Non-Diegetic sound) adds “Has Archie deceived his last?” Showing that this soap opera will agree with the theorist Laura Mulvey, as none of the female characters have a main role in this soap opera.  It will also agree with the theorist Marxists because he claims the main people involved in media are 'white, middle class and straight” just like the main characters portrayed in this storyline.

Also Phil's comment “I'm going to kill him” will attract EastEnders target audience (Youth's) because that quote is an threat of violence. This will fall under the theorist Stanley Hall (1904) as he claims; “Teenagers aged between 12 and 25 are involved with sex, drugs, moodiness and criminal activity.”

This comment maybe attract the target audience in terms of watching this soap because they will be as curious to know if Phil will do as he states, sticking to his 'tough guy' role in the community, meaning that EastEnders could fall under the Higson theory as specific characters all play their own role in the location/community where the soap takes place, in this case, East London. 

The lighting upon the majority of scenes is quite dim as this story plot is taking place at night, which could connote that this storyline in EastEnders is going to be quite dark, which could connote criminal activity or mood in terms of the colour black. The target audience will then want to watch EastEnders in curiosity to find out what the criminal activity will be and who takes part. This therefore will fall under the Stanley Hall (1904) theory as he states “teenagers between the ages of 12 and 25 are involved with crime, alcohol, moodiness and sex.”

Its clear then this soap will fall under the theorist of Tzventan Todorov because this soap has been never ending since 1985, meaning it has an equilibrium, disruption, disequilibrium,  resolution and a new equilibrium. You could also say this soap opera has attracted their target audience with their plots and storylines, falling under the Stanley Hall (1904) theory; “Teenagers aged between 12 and 25 are involved with sex, drugs and criminal activity.”

The final scene of the soap is the camera travelling to face up to the character Archie as he pours himself a glass of alcohol and toasts to the Queen Victoria statue beside him. Not only does this connote he's proud to be British and will attract the British public who are national, but it will attract Youths because of the alcohol, falling under the Stanley Hall theory.

In terms of sound within the background the female narrator says “Has Archie decieved his last?” This could connote that Archie has once again played his familiar role in the soap opera by causing trouble, but this time he has upset the wrong one. This will attract people who fall under the Blumer and Katz theory because the audience will be curious to see if Archie will be okay in the BBC One full episode.

Overall this soap trailer will be suitable for their target audience as it contains evidence of Stanley Hall's youth theory as it contains death threats from a specific tough guy character in the community, thus demonstrating that this soap does agree with Andrew Higson's stereotyping quotes.  

Annaleigh Benn