Cultural Changes - Audio-Visual

In soaps there are a lot of different sub-cultures which is used to represent a multi-cultural society. For instance these can include:

• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Sexuality
• Political
• Fashion

For instance the culture of the soaps have changed over a long period of time. In soaps there are a lot of different issues which were not acceptable back then but are now a part in everyday life.

Doug Carter and Ste Hay (Hollyoaks)

How has British Culture changes in the last quarter of a century?

During in the 60s it wouldn’t have been acceptable for two people living together and not be married. It was unheard of back then and it didn't really happen as much as it does now. Sexuality is a lot more open and acceptable. During the 60s in Coronation Street they wouldn’t have agreed with it being in the storyline or even have a conversation about it. Times have changed now and our society now is much more open about that. For instance in Hollyoaks there is a gay couple who are living together.

Massods (Eastenders)

If Britain is now a multi-cultural society, do we see evidence of this in British soap operas?  

There are a lot of different religions, age, genders and also sub groups and they have their own different storylines in soaps. For instance there is a Muslim family called the Mossods in Eastenders and they didn't have one when the show started.

Do minority cultures feel as represented in soaps as majority cultures?

There is also a minority culture who feel that they are also involved in the soap because they are getting some kind of representation especially if they are going through the same things as the characters in the soaps.  It will also have an impact on the development with the other subcultures involved. This in turn have made soaps more popular because it involves a wider demographic of different, ages, genders, religions, etc.

What impact has the development of the culture/youth had an impact on British soap operas?

There have also been a lot of different cultural changes which could have an impact on British soap operas. They have also given them main storylines to them which has made it more enjoyable for people of different cultures to watch and to relate to.

The British cultural identity was shown in soaps in the previous eras by making them stereotypical and someone that you will see on a daily basis to the audience, and also by the appearance and the characteristics of the characters who are being portrayed.

Ena Sharples 

We can make judgements from how the character is represented especially the way she looks in the shot. The character Ena Sharples looks like she’s not a very nice person to be around. She looks as if she's vicious from the facial expression. She looks as if she likes to know everyones business and every detail of their lives.  She’s holding a drink in her hand and it looks like she’s an alcoholic or likes to drink a lot. She also looks as if she works because shes wearing a hairnet that the audience assume that she works in catering.

Coronation Street cast 1960

This is the cast from Coronation Street from the 1960s. The picture identifies what it was like to live in the 60s. There isn’t any characters from different cultures who are being represented in the soap. Nowadays, however, there are a lot of different ethnicities and cultures so that it can fit in with the times.

In the 60s the cast has a lot of white members because Britain wasn’t much of a multicultural country like it is now. However things and times  have changed and there have been cultural changes which has happened over time.

Coronation Street cast 50th Anniversary

The picture in contrast with the other picture above shows the changes  which have been made within the soap. It shows that there have been a variety of different races, cultures and ages, whereas in the 60s it was showing a growing number of older women and the cast were mostly old women. Nowadays however there are children, teenagers, adults and elderly people in the soap.

There are also different storylines with the different cultures which are being shown in the soaps and there are other types of media sources and and also other sexualitites and beliefs which are being portrayed. This makes it more realistic and also connects to the wider demographic audience. It also attracts a more younger audience because there is a much younger cast in the show and it will appeal to them.  

In the newer episodes people's sexualities are more open because there are more soap characters who are given a homosexual role and this seems to be expecting in the world. The soap storylines which represent different kinds of people appeal to a much wider audience.