The 'visual spectacle' of soap opera and reality television
Loading...
Date
2010
Authors
Burger, Mariekie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Communication Science, University of the Free State
Abstract
In contrast to the concerns of scholars that the visual spectacle of television lulls
audiences into passive consumption of pre-packaged entertainment, this article argues
that popular television formats can address matters of social concern. It is shown that
reality television and soap operas can engage the audience into actively taking part in
1) formulating messages for the television serials, 2) reflecting on the media messages,
and 3) participating in identification processes. It is this active participation in
formulating and reflecting on the televised messages and the identification processes
(with the celebrity persona of the programme presenter and/or the fictional characters
in the fictional soap opera and/or the authenticity of ordinary people that appear on
reality television) that counters passive consumption of pre-packaged media
entertainment. Furthermore, if media entertainment is used to enhance dialogue
through such audience participation regarding matters of social concern, the
assumptions of the latest approaches to social change/development communication are
adhered to. In this article four South African television programmes, Soul City,
Kwanda, Khumbul’ekhaya and Zola 7, are discussed as edutainment programmes that
actively seek to address matters of social concern.
Description
Keywords
Television, Messages, Soap operas
Citation
Burger, M. (2010). The 'visual spectacle' of soap opera and reality television. Communitas, 15, 131-150.