PowerPoint Presentation

Michael Bolter, Sam Heron, Pati Marshall, Kieran Hanks-McComas, Bobby Barter & Adam Parkinson

Are there some stories that are just too sensitive for soap operas to cover? Discuss in relation to specific examples from television

'Hayley Cropper's Coronation Street suicide shows how soaps can influence the national debate'Helpline episodes"She is the highest-profile character to be written out in this way, and that the subject of chosen or assisted dying is now a more inflamed debate''Euthanasia is also unusual as a dramatic narrative in that there are two distinct and vociferous public positions on the subject''The contention over the inclusion in soaps of these medical or criminal issues is that they are being employed as a publicity or ratings tactic, or that they may traumatise younger or more sensitive audience members and/or cause imitative behaviour '

Soap operas have gained the ability to address national debates. This gives them the ability to address sensitive social and cultural issues that are currently popular talking points or have been in the past. Due to the extreme sensitiveness of the plot the soap operas offer 'helplines' for support and to absorb debating audiences. The biggest concerns of addressing these sensitive situations are the ability to distress audience and the exploitation of serious and tragic situations. The Hayley Cropper case has received positive responses on the matter, it's demonstrated that the plot was developed in a tasteful manor that tries to avoid exploiting suicide; although debates on the matter have emerged even stronger since the episode..

EastEnders complaints over controversial baby swap storyline reach 6,000 as Samantha Womack quits.Broadcasting standards body Ofcom have also received 374 viewer complaints about the storyline to date.Thousands of viewers complained about the plot, which many deemed 'exploitative', 'unrealistic' and 'hurtful' while others felt programme-makers were being sensationalist to drum up ratings rather than genuinely raise awareness of cot death.'We also provided action line numbers at the end of the show.'Viewing figures have actually gone up, increasing from 10.4million on Monday night to 11.1million on Wednesday.

Addressing sensitive situations in soap operas doesn't always receive positive responses, as with the 'Cot death' in EastEnders. This instant demonstrates how a soap opera can exploit a sensitive story line so much it will cause a catastrophic response, as seen by the thousands of complaints to the BBC and even more pressing the 374 complaints to Ofcom. The lack of care and sensitiveness produced in this plot shows how sensitive situations have no limits; EastEnders kept pushing the boundaries of acceptable content from a cot death, to baby swapping. Contrasting the previous example assumptions can be made. If the sensitive situation is handled in a tasteful and nurturing way, can soaps approach any situations without any restraints? Or will soap opera's capitalise on how exploiting and dramatizing situation creates a larger audiences.

Thank you for listening!

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