DRAMA ..
Drama as a genre relies heavily on emotional and relational development of realistic characters.
DRAMA CONVENTIONS: CONTENT
- Themes are often based on real life issues
- Real life issues= real life setting, stories, characters etc.
- Characters and stories are relatable
- moves audience emotionally
- has climaxes and anti-climaxes to keep audiences on the edge of there seat.
Drama is a very broad drama and has many sub-genres
Here are a few :
SUB-GENRES
Melodramas -is a show or story with an overly dramatic characters and plot lines.Melodramas deal with sensational and romantic topics that appeal to the emotions of the common audience.
Example: Pride & Prejudice
Crime/legal dramas- focuses on law enforcement, crime, detective-based mystery solving, lawyer work or civil litigation while still involving the basics of the drama genre.
Example: The Judge
Historical drama- historical narrative, often set in the medieval or early modern past, with the basic drama genre elements.
Example: Downton Abby
Docudrama- docudrama is a genre of radio and television programming, feature film, and staged theatre, which features dramatized re-enactments of actual events.
Example: Into the wild
Psychodrama- makes the minds and feelings of the characters more important than the events.
Example: Closer
Period drama- set in a particular historical period and characterized by the use of costumes, sets, and props that are typical or evocative of the era.
DRAMA CONVENTIONS : PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
CONVENTIONS
PROPS: (reflective of character personality) Ex: Troubled characters- Cigarets, Alcohol, Weapons, Drugs..
EDITING & CAMERA WORK: Handheld camera, close ups, fast paced editing, shot reverse shot , POV, Eye-line Match.
SOUND: Non- diegetic emotional score music, Non-diegetic voiceover protagonist, Diegetic Dialogue.
COSTUME:( Highly reflective of character personality) Ex: Troubled characters- Dark clothing
INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
Drama is usually marketed through trailers, having a trailer that shows the core plot of the film, but doesn't spoil the movie allows for the audience to keep wanting more. Dramas are also marketed through using a "big" star that helps to increase anticipation for the film and most likely the viewer turn out. Another way drama films are marketed are by publishing Critiques before the film is released, if a film is bad people may want to see way and vise versa.
SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE:
#1 The Classic "Titanic", it embodies what an authentic drama should look like. Why? you ask. Well its simple, It takes the audience by the heart and tears it to shreds. This is done by using a real-life event which makes the story believable causing the audience to empathize and sympathize. It creates this atmosphere of forbidden love which audiences adore and allows them to relate and connect. Then when Jack and Rose finally decide to be together the ship hits an iceberg and splits them apart, this impacts the audience emotionally. When the movie ends and Jack dies a lasting impression is left on the audience. (Not even to mention his death.. slow and DRAMATIC). This contains all the drama conventions and more.
#2 "Dunkirk", this drama thriller is a Ripping Rollercoaster that takes the audience for a ride and makes their heart skip a beat. Again, like Titanic, this drama uses a historical event which makes the story relatable. In the United States, patriotism is very close to the Americans heart thus this film hit close and allowed a grand majority of viewers to empathize and sympathize. The movie takes place in World War II and is about a real-life incident in which Allied forces were surrounded and trapped on Dunkirk beach, everyday heroes helped rescue them, despite the risk of danger and death. This is the basis of the American spirit or so I believe. It creates a life or death environment that keeps the audience wanting to know what is going to happen next. This is the basis of Drama conventions.
MORE EXAMPLES ....
