Issues in soaps?

[Magda_CF]

Hi all,

My name is Magda and I’m doing an MA International Public Relations course at Cardiff University. I’m currently writing my dissertation and would really appreciate if you could share your opinions with me.

I’m looking at social and health-related issues in soap operas. It would be great if you could answer the following questions

-What do you think about having ‘issues’ in soaps?

-What issue-led storyline has had the greatest impact on you?

-Have you ever changed your behaviour or opinion after having seen issues in soaps? Please give details

-How do you think alcohol is portrayed in soap operas?

-Have you ever used any additional resources such as websites or helplines suggested by the producers of a soap opera/ after having seen issues you could identify with on the screen?

Just on the technical side, in my dissertation you’ll only be identified by your username. The only purpose of this thread is academic research and I have no relation to any production team of any soap operas.

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it!!

[Siobhan]

Magda, can you please send a note to the admin to get permission on this as some of the question you are asking are very personal to people here i.e issue affecting them.

Once permission is granted, create a new thread or ask to reopen this one

[Meh]

Reopened thread.

[Abigail]

-What do you think about having ‘issues’ in soaps?

It's a good idea. It raises awareness of how "the other half live," what goes on behind closed doors and how people cope with what happens to them.


-What issue-led storyline has had the greatest impact on you?

From a personal viewpoint I wouldn't like to say. As a viewer I'd say Whitney's abuse in EE.


-Have you ever changed your behaviour or opinion after having seen issues in soaps? Please give details




-How do you think alcohol is portrayed in soap operas?

It seems to be a social norm. I have no problem with it, people sat in the pub having a pint doesn't make me want to drink a bottle of wine.

I know there have been programs featuring alcoholics (Home and Away, Corrie, EastEnders) but it either happened before I watched the show or before I was born so I won't comment on that.


-Have you ever used any additional resources such as websites or helplines suggested by the producers of a soap opera/ after having seen issues you could identify with on the screen?

I have used some websites. I'd never have the courage to ring BBC Actionline.

On that note, the BBC are very responsible having a 24hr phone number and showing it after all programs that have issues raised.

[Magda_CF]

Thanks a lot for your reply. Is there anyone else who could share their views?

Thanks,
Magda

[Meh]

-What do you think about having ‘issues’ in soaps?


It's a good idea but always tend to be at the extreme end.




-What issue-led storyline has had the greatest impact on you?



None that I can think of




-Have you ever changed your behaviour or opinion after having seen issues in soaps? Please give details


No




-How do you think alcohol is portrayed in soap operas?



Seems to be as social drinking. The life of characters is many soaps seem to revolve around the pub, so its portrayal is as acceptable. Love to see a character with a liver issue due to too much alcohol as their livers much be processing alcohol 24/7



-Have you ever used any additional resources such as websites or helplines suggested by the producers of a soap opera/ after having seen issues you could identify with on the screen?


No. I can see why they would be useful when tackling emotive subjects.

[DaVeyWaVey]

-What do you think about having ‘issues’ in soaps?

I think it is a great idea. Soaps are meant to represent real life and provide accurate portrayals after all and the issues they present through their characters mirror very much what we go through in our lives, be it drug issues, family issues such as abuse, issues over sexuality and crime. These issues being in soaps allow the audience to empathise with the characters they see on screen and relate to the emotions they are portraying.


-What issue-led storyline has had the greatest impact on you?

Personally, John Paul coming out on Hollyoaks was the issue led storyline which has the greatest impact on me. I could relate and empathise with his character, as the actor performed his confused emotions brilliantly. He wasn't presenting a stereotypical gay character, so I could empathise a lot more because of this. His 'coming out' story inspired and helped me to 'come out' to my own family and friends.


-Have you ever changed your behaviour or opinion after having seen issues in soaps? Please give details.

Hmm can't think of any..


-How do you think alcohol is portrayed in soap operas?

The pub seems to be a conventional location in the soap opera, where we usually see characters just drinking as part of their social experience, as they interact with other characters. I do think it's unrealistic slightly that they seem to be in the pub every night though. With these tough economic times, can people really afford to go out to their local every night and have a few pints? I don't know but it's something I've considered. I'd love to see a drink problem tackled on a soap like EastEnders, as most characters always seem to be in the pub and aren't really affected by how much they drink.


-Have you ever used any additional resources such as websites or helplines suggested by the producers of a soap opera/ after having seen issues you could identify with on the screen?

Nope I haven't.

[Magda_CF]

Thanks ever so much for your help. If there's anyone else who would like to share their opinion, it would be much appreciated! Thanks

Magda

[parkerman]

What do you think about having ‘issues’ in soaps?

I think it's a good idea as it puts difficult issues in a meaningful context which brings the "issue" home to people in a much more immediate way than say an intellectual discussion on a documentary or current affairs programme might have.


What issue-led storyline has had the greatest impact on you?


I can't say any have really had an impact on me personally, that's not to say some of them, like the Whitney child abuse story for example, have not brought the issue home.


-Have you ever changed your behaviour or opinion after having seen issues in soaps? Please give details

No


-How do you think alcohol is portrayed in soap operas?

I have to say I find the answers from some others so far quite interesting. Currently both Eastenders and Corrie have alcoholic storylines going with Phil and Peter but they don't seem to have had any impact on some people who don't seem to have noticed them at all. Maybe they need to sharpen up the stories!


-Have you ever used any additional resources such as websites or helplines suggested by the producers of a soap opera/ after having seen issues you could identify with on the screen?

No.

[Abbie]

-What do you think about having ‘issues’ in soaps?

I think its important as I think it adds more realism to what we are watching and also I think for the younger audience it can also be in a way educational and makes you aware of things in a way that they cnat do in school and then of course they give you helplines



-What issue-led storyline has had the greatest impact on you?

None really, but the emotional storylines that lead to a death always get my crying to the point where I cant actually stop myself from crying


-Have you ever changed your behaviour or opinion after having seen issues in soaps? Please give details

again none


-How do you think alcohol is portrayed in soap operas?

A bit of a mix really. I mean for one its nice that they all have their local cos its where all the action happens but now and then I do think, oh come on they cant afford to be in there every night and they drink too much. But there have been some good storylines such as about alxoholics and being drink wise which are good to make people aware of and done in well acted and true to life way


-Have you ever used any additional resources such as websites or helplines suggested by the producers of a soap opera/ after having seen issues you could identify with on the screen?

No