many with long histories and complicated
backgrounds. Almost all the character have been romantically
involved with one another in some combination or fashion,
and any die-hard follower of the soap will be able
to spout off the long list of marriages, divorces,
and children, which would boggle the mind of the uninitiated.
But despite the blurred lines between love, affairs,
and adultery, soap operas operate in a world that
is very moralistic, and in storylines there will always
be a clear delineation between what's good and bad.
Soaps may portray evil or immoral behavior, but will
make it obvious that the behavior is wrong and causes
hurt to others.
Soaps occupy their own place
in the world of television not just for their content
but for the way they are written and filmed. They
rely heavily on dialogues to move the storyline along,
and internal monologues are often spoken out loud
so that the audience can know what the character is
thinking in times of conflict or stress. They are
filmed with an emphasis on close ups and shots of
two characters engaged in intense conversation, which
marks the importance of the character through changing
plots. They can be quite repetitive, with footage
from previous shows, often from years ago, played
back as memories or flashbacks in a character's mind.
And they rely intensely on music to rouse the emotions;
the theme song or tune is of utmost importance, main
characters will often have their own theme tune, and
sad or joyous occasions will have a signature piece
of music to remind viewers that this is a time to
either laugh or cry!
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