How is the setting or theme of the TV Drama represented?

How is the setting or theme of the TV Drama represented?

What we see in the opening sequence is the setting and themes being established. In different soap opera openings you are given an insight into what themes are established, i.e.: wild nights in Emmerdale or cats in Cori. The setting is also established, i.e. Countryside in Emmerdale, representing farmers or cobble streets in Cori, representing the working class.

Emmerdale as a setting suggests that Yorkshire is full of farmers and beautiful countryside and that the countryside isn’t as bring as we might think. Typical soap themes include: Murder, Cheating, scandal, FIRE!, etc. i.e. things that bring the community together. What might be different in Emmerdale is that they may include more related to countryside.

The audience will expect insights into people’s private lives and what they do publicly.

Conc – Sum up the settings and themes as they are conventional and are what we expect.

Settings and Themes in ER

In medical dramas, like other TV Dramas they use the opening sequence to establish settings and themes. They use this to set up themes surrounding the show and the characters, while also showing us important areas of the settings.

In ER the setting is presented to us in the opening sequence. It is shown in short snappy segments, as to show as much of it as possible. It is also presented as a busy place as you are shown clips very quickly, which gives the audience this impression.

The title sequence uses a lot of stereotypes to represent the hospital. The characters wear the typical uniforms of a doctor, nurse or a surgeon. This helps to identify each person’s role and the hierarchy, i.e.: Nurse – Doctor – Surgeon. Also the props used further take on the stereotypes as they carry stethoscopes, and the hospital is full of machines and beds and patients, etc. Also the Sterilizing lighting suggests that they are in a hospital.

The general themes noted here are that doctors are either very easy to talk to or are very busy. Also that being on the emergency ward we as an audience expect emergencies to come in every episode and that people may die or be saved.

The editing of the shots and the music added to it makes the sequence seem more quick and fast paced as the music adds pace to the sequence.