Television: Set Text (Key Scenes, Genre conventions, contexts)

Understanding Set Texts on Television

Set texts are specific examples of television programmes that are studied in depth for their representation of genre, narrative form, and key media concepts.
An understanding of set texts involves deciphering key scenes, evaluating their significance within the whole programme, and their contribution to the main themes and narrative arc.
It requires application of media language, including codes and conventions, camera work, sound, editing, and mise-en-scène to analyse how these scenes are constructed and their intended effects.
Analysing genre conventions is crucial in understanding set texts. This involves identifying how a programme conforms to or subverts traditional genre expectations in terms of storylines, characters, settings, and iconography.

Setting and Context of Set Texts

The setting of a television programme can influence its narrative, themes, and tone. Understanding this helps appreciate the text’s social, cultural, and historical contexts.
It’s also essential to consider the real-world contexts in which a text has been created and received - political events, cultural trends, and issues of the time can shape a text and its interpretation.
Additionally, assess how texts discuss and represent broader societal issues such as class, gender, race, and sexual orientation, deepening their complexity and relevance.

Case Study: Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is often analysed as an example of a television set text that combines several genres, including crime, drama, and black comedy.
Key scenes, such as the episode ‘Ozymandias’, involve complex character development and narrative progression that encapsulate the series’ theme of moral decay.
The programme’s narrative, characterisation, and visual style marked a significant shift in television production values, facilitating a substantive analysis of contemporary television conventions.

Impact of Television Networks and Streaming Services

Understanding the influence of television channels or streaming platforms on the production of set texts adds another layer to your analysis.
For instance, Netflix and Amazon Prime have ushered a new era of television narratives that vary from the episodic format traditionally employed by network television, impacting genre conventions and narrative structures.

Remember, depth of comprehension of set texts can enrich your understanding of the media processes and enhance your critical thinking about the role of media in society.