Dramas Unit 4

TV Buzz Older TV dramas focused on one main character or one central plot. Older TV dramas focused on one main character or one central plot. Today, the trend is toward multiple characters and story lines. Today, the trend is toward multiple characters and story lines. This move may be due to the perception that audiences today have shorter attention spans that did audiences of the past. This move may be due to the perception that audiences today have shorter attention spans that did audiences of the past.

The Glamour of Work Another contrast between situation comedies and dramas is that dramas are more likely to be set in the workplace than at home Another contrast between situation comedies and dramas is that dramas are more likely to be set in the workplace than at home They glamorize certain jobs They glamorize certain jobs Lawyers, doctors, police officers, and firefighters/emergency rescue workers Lawyers, doctors, police officers, and firefighters/emergency rescue workers Rarely will you see lawyers doing research or police officers spending hours filling out paperwork and firefighters/emergency rescue workers waiting around for a call Rarely will you see lawyers doing research or police officers spending hours filling out paperwork and firefighters/emergency rescue workers waiting around for a call

Conflict and Violence The central theme is conflict- within a person, between nature, or between two people The central theme is conflict- within a person, between nature, or between two people Conflict resolution is the way two or more people resolve their disputes Conflict resolution is the way two or more people resolve their disputes Through negotiation and compromise or violence Through negotiation and compromise or violence Dramas are about 44 minutes long and they need to create and resolve conflict rather quickly Dramas are about 44 minutes long and they need to create and resolve conflict rather quickly Violence is a very dramatic and very quick way of dealing with conflict Violence is a very dramatic and very quick way of dealing with conflict

Conflict and Violence Gratuitous violence serves no purpose in a story’s plot. It’s simply included because viewers are excited by violence Gratuitous violence serves no purpose in a story’s plot. It’s simply included because viewers are excited by violence Purposeful violence is violence that does serve a role in the story’s plot Purposeful violence is violence that does serve a role in the story’s plot Good guy may use violence to save people form the bad guys Good guy may use violence to save people form the bad guys

Violence on TV By the time you have completed elementary school, you will have witnessed more that 100,000 violent acts on TV, including 8,000 murders. By the time you have completed elementary school, you will have witnessed more that 100,000 violent acts on TV, including 8,000 murders. By the time you graduate from high school, these numbers double to 200,000 acts of violence and 16,000 murders By the time you graduate from high school, these numbers double to 200,000 acts of violence and 16,000 murders

What is Justice? According to Encarta Dictionary justice is: fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made According to Encarta Dictionary justice is: fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made Some have tried to develop a definition of justice as meaning something that most members of society believe is fair Some have tried to develop a definition of justice as meaning something that most members of society believe is fair Not everyone can agree on what is justice Not everyone can agree on what is justice Death penalty Death penalty

TV and the Professionals LA Law, a drama that depicted a law firm in Los Angeles, ran from 1986 to During that time, law school applications jumped from 61,300 in 1986 to a peak of 94,000 in 1991 LA Law, a drama that depicted a law firm in Los Angeles, ran from 1986 to During that time, law school applications jumped from 61,300 in 1986 to a peak of 94,000 in 1991 ER, was given credit for the increase in application to medial school ER, was given credit for the increase in application to medial school Many students entering college decide to pursue criminal justice degrees in part because of the way law enforcement careers are depicted in police dramas. Many students entering college decide to pursue criminal justice degrees in part because of the way law enforcement careers are depicted in police dramas.