Timed Essay Question 4

 

I strongly agree that multiple narrative strands are a key convention of long form television dramas.

Throughout the first episode of Stranger Things, they begin multiple narrative strands that are then developed on throughout. This includes things such as Will going missing, Eleven escaping and the alien escaping also.

In terms of Will going missing, we reach a point where the characters have recognition of the event (classic Hollywood narrative structure). They don’t reach a point of resolution for this narrative (him being found) as this would then mean that there is no reason for the audience to continue watching the other episodes if everything has been resolved in the first one. This then means that the audience are intrigued into what will happen next thus meaning they carry on watching which is what makes the show successful. This in turn can lead to social interaction between people who watch it to try and figure out what will happen.  As part of these narrative strands, the audience are able to identify with certain characters as the secondary target audience (parents etc) are more likely to identify with Joyce and her son going missing as they could imagine what they would feel like. Therefore, they would read this text in a preferred reading which is what they want you to do.

When the alien escapes in the episode, it only reaches recognition of the government and the public are left completely unaware. This then means that the audience are wanting to find out why they haven’t warned them and whether there is something sinister going on as it is apart of the horror and Sci-Fi genre. Although it is very similar to other shows in the genre, Stranger Things changes a few things to make it a bit different, so people don’t feel like they’re watching the same thing again (genre theory). This aspect of the episode also allows for escapism for the audience as it is something that wouldn’t happen in reality, and they may also think back to their childhood as there is a lot of intertextuality from 80’s films.

These smaller narrative strands help to tie together everything else that is going on because we may also link Eleven’s powers to the alien we see in the episode. They also help to develop character relationships such as Steve and Nancy that will then be continued on in the later episodes. It means that the audience are at least going to be interested in one of the narrative strands which will encourage them to keep watching. For example, someone could not really care about will going missing but be really intrigued into the alien and Eleven’s powers and where they have come from.

Overall, I strongly agree that narrative strands are a key conventions of long form television dramas and their ability to keep the audience engaged to watch it.