Realism: A crucial element in Soaps

Eastenders which is set in London has certain elements of realism regarding location and storylines, they are obviously dramatised and exaggerated for entertainment purposes, however it holds onto alot of realism whether it is social issues, politics, philosophy or anything else really. But what the main point is, it gives accounts of daily and possible dilemmas which could happen to anyone living in London. For example, keeping up to date with current issues and up to date with news i.e, HPV vaccinations for girls in schools, swine flu pandemic, the recession, maybe a current football game or current music within the soap would make the audience feel more familiar with the storyline.

It is clear that realism is a massive part of soaps because they are portrayed to be "a slice of life". Traditional soaps such as EastEnders are community based and most of the character know one another somehow. The idea of having an altogether community would have been realistic years ago but in contemporary London, where EastEnders is actually based, this is not realistic. London is an individualistic society and people are becoming more independent and private. It could be argued that the reason why Eastenders is actually successful is because it has a community feel; that everyone shares their problems and it is ironic that the viewers of this soap actually are involved and part of the soap community too just by watching characters' everyday lives. So, how ever unrealistic it may be to have such a close knitted community at that time and place, it still works well in attracting the number of audiences it does.


The central issues underlying the study of realism are:

• Conventions creating the effect of the real

- Realism consists of codes and conventions which aim to convey a sense of reality to audiences
- Realism comprises the effect of the real and is thus created by codes and conventions which refer more to other codes and conventions than reality it self. What we see in the media are copies of copies

• Codes of realism differ and are constantly open to change

- The codes and conventions of realism vary over time and are constantly open to change. They can be extended and modified as audience perceptions about what counts as "realistic" change
- As new technology develops through the means of media production new conventions of realism are established.
- Therefore, A sense of reality can be conveyed in several ways.

• Realism is a version of reality and is an ideological representation of reality.