Soap Structure- textual analysis

Realist structure
From watching Eastenders for a week (11th-15thMay). I noticed the classic realist structure is used at different lengths. Some characters had a quest which had closure before the end of the episode, some lasted a few episodes and some were not solved by the end of the week but a hint of closure is suggested to keep the audience watching. Each episode ends on a high tension moment.
Hollyoaks has the exact same structure except it has about a minute montage of footage at the beginning set to music that recaps the feeling of the characters. This could be to do with the idea that soaps are made for housewives who can zone in and out of the programme whilst doing cleaning or cooking etc. This montage is not always part of the actuall action, sometimes it is surreal setting up a piece of action that is parrallel to the emotions of the characters (e.g. 14th may James Bond style - lots of secrets and hidden dealings happening recaping on the previous episode and setting the audience up for what is about to come).

Segmented structure
As I just mentioned Hollyoaks has a montage of characters feelings at the beginning to remind the audience of previous events and so that people dont have to concentrate fully on the soap. When watching an episode of Hollyoaks from 14th May I counted the number of times each separate storryline is mentioned or developed. I counted 6 separate stories mentioned one of which (Dom and Lorretta's relationship) never had any action take place just mentioned twice. The main story that ran the whole way though was about Justin and Hannah's relationship which occours 8 times. The couple are in the same scene together only once. Other stories mentioned: Warren and the Loft - 3 times, Nancy and Russ - 5 times, Cindy's cleaning job - 4 times, Sarah and Lydia's date - 5 times.

Eastenders (14th May)
I counted seven different story lines that are mentioned or developed though the 30 min episode. The scenes appear to be shorter that Hollyoaks as each story is mentioned an average of just under 7 times in this episode (Hollyoaks just over 4 for each storyline). Stacy seems to be the main storyline through out (which is a theme for the week as right at the end offridays episode you find out she has bi-polar), it is mentioned 11 times. The audience don't see much of Ronnie or Jack in this episode, when they move in together, but this storyline appears 10 times in this episode. Other storylines: Max and Tanya - 6 times, Bradley and Syd - 9 times, Nick/ Dot going crazy - 7 times, Nick and Billy - 3 times and Jeans new job - 2 times.

Female orrientated?
Hollyoaks's story lines in this episoe don't tottaly conform to the ideas that I looked at. For example one idea said that soaps were set in domestic, family setting. None of the storylines in this episode are to do with family but most are to do with young couples (target audience feature?). The stories are female orrientated though; about young couple falling in and out of love; females cleaning but not in usual sense been sexed up. Aimed at young audience; young couples and lesbeins. Male big shot/ ultamate dominant control; Warren and Loft, Ash and Russ taking Nancy out, successful chef Dom, stereotypically females cook but because successful represented by male?

Eastenders's also has a lot of stories about couples but this episode also festures other things such as families and illness. I think Eastenders conforms more to the ideas that i looked at at the beginnning of my study. For example the couples are older (housewife age), you meet the couples family and learn their opinions, has more variety of story, ultimate male control - Nick manipulating Dot, women all incontrol of relationships- Stacy says "get the hint" doesn't wanmt to be with him, Syd dumps Bradley, Tanya dumps Max before date.


Eastenders oldfashioned? Hollyoaks more modern?