Community in Soap Operas

In the soap opera genre, communities are one of the crucial conventions that contribute significantly to the realism. The realism is necessary in order to help viewers relate to the narrative and the characters as certain aspects of both may be very similar to their own lives thus creating certain empathy for particular character or narrative. 

The community aspect of soap operas keeps the area secluded from the rest of the world within the typically fictional areas, creating another small world which contains everything necessary to be self sufficient. 

This can potentially make the viewer switch off consciously and become a spectator of the world within the soap opera, possible member of the community hence the reason why soap operas are so habit forming. Therefore in my soap opera the Streets I hope to create a similar sense of community within the small trailer similar to that of Coronation Street which will significantly benefit the soap opera and make it more appealing.


The different examples of communities in which I am familiar to are:


In Coronation Street, there are different places where the residents gather, as they all know each other they are very knowledgeable about peoples pasts, presents and perhaps future due to the different generations of people. The places where the residents of Weatherfield meet are:


- The Rovers (Pub)
- The factory
- Garage
- Roys Rolls (Cafe)
- Devs shop
- Bookies
- Hairdresser
- The Joinery (club)
- Butchers


In Eastenders, the community is also similar to Coronation Street, families tend to own businesses and multiple ones, we as a viewer see the characters as working class working within the square and there arent any characters to travel outside of Albert square to work.
- The Queen Vic (Pub)
- Cafe
- Chip shop
- Beauty Salon
- Market stalls
- Indian restaurant/ take away
- Car Dealer
- Garage
- Community Centre
- R & R Nightclub
- Laundrette




Hollyoaks shows a different type of community compared to Eastenders and Coronation Street. The target audience is aimed at a younger audience (teenagers). The different locations in which a viewer can gather a sense of community are:
- The Dog (Pub)
- The SU Bar
- Skate Park
- Beauty Salon
- Laundrette
- Community College


The uses of different locations within a community has helped me gather knowledge of what relationships the different characters have and how these places help effect the realism of the soap operas.