Download Serial Television Drama 2018

GCSE Media Studies
Unit 1: Investigating the Media
Preliminary Guidance 2018 – Serial Television Drama
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External Assessment Topic June 2018
Serial Television Drama
Serial television drama has entertained audiences of all ages for many years and it
remains an ever-present feature of television programming and schedules. It is as popular
as ever. In the UK, Downton Abbey consistently drew some of the biggest weekly viewing
figures in recent years and with the advent of Netflix and platforms such as Sky Box Sets,
audiences now have access to a wider range of serial television drama than ever before.
Even online TV channel, BBC3 is committed to producing one drama a year within its
usual programming. For example, Thirteen.
Serial television drama is defined as any television drama that is organised into a series of
episodes – as opposed to one-off dramas. Serial television drama can contain any number
of episodes, but typically might contain 3-12 episodes. Of course, if a show proves to be
popular with audiences, further series or seasons will be commissioned. Often a
cliffhanger features in a season finale and this can only be resolved in the premiere of the
next season. Serial television dramas typically have story arcs that span a series and a
continuing plot that unfolds in an episodic nature.
There are several sub-genres of serial television drama, all of which are appropriate for
Unit 1 purposes. These include the following: costume/period drama, medical drama, such
as Casualty and Holby City, procedural/crime drama, and an eclectic mix ranging from
Waterloo Road and Dickensian to Doctor Who. Of course, these are not prescriptive in any
way. Centres are encouraged to select any examples that meet the definition of serial
television drama.
Many serial television dramas are scheduled post-watershed and obviously centres should
take care to ensure that examples chosen to study are age-appropriate. However, there is
a wealth of examples to choose from that will be entirely suitable. There is no specific
requirement to study serial television drama from the past, but it is always interesting in the
study of a topic to cover a wide range of examples so that students can appreciate the
enduring appeal of the form. Furthermore, it is always useful to consider how serial
television dramas are promoted and marketed.
Soap operas should not be used in the study of serial television drama. Often serial
dramas are quite similar to soap operas in their style and use of conventions. However,
the key difference is that soap operas are continuously on our screens and do not run in
series or seasons.
As general guidance for Unit 2, no Controlled Assessment for any of the Assignment
Banks may be submitted on Serial Television Drama. More specifically, the impact on
selection from the Assignment Banks is as follows:
Assignment Bank 1:
Moving Image
Centres are still free to select this topic as long as the genre of serial television drama is
not selected.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.
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Web-based Media
Home pages of websites related to serial television drama should be avoided.
Packaging of DVDs
Centres are free to work with this topic as long as serial television drama is avoided.
Assignment Bank 2:
Moving Image Production
Centres are still free to offer television for this topic but serial television drama must not be
selected for the focus of the assignment.
Assignment Bank 3:
Moving Image
Centres are still free to offer television for this topic but work must not focus on serial
television drama.
Web-based technologies/new media
Centres are not permitted to submit work for a website for a serial television drama.
AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.
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