An Exploration Of Popular Hospital Drama Series With Reference To Two
Or More Selected Episodes
(Casualty and ER)
One of the world's most popular television genres is the Hospital
Drama. Incorporating many aspects of real-life, relationships, family,
money etc. with the action of a busy hospital. They are easily
recognisable due to common conventions across the board although they
can vary vastly in some areas from series to series. ER is one of
America's most popular shows, and its British audiences are ever
increasing due to its up-to-date introduction in the 'E4' schedule.
'Casualty' is a British-made hospital drama of a very different style
to 'ER' that has been around for many years in prime-time viewing
slots, I will be comparing these two programmes and analysing their
differences and similarities.
Hospital dramas are very closely linked to sitcoms and soaps, and take
on many of the traits of these: love affairs, family troubles, illness
and crime. However, while Hospital dramas can have these ongoing
situations from episode to episode in the style of a soap, they are
also able to easily include single-episode storylines. This is because
the patients bring their own unique stories and problems with them,
and they are gone within the episode. Such an example of these two
types of storyline would be: a nurse having an affair with a married
doctor (Holby City) this storyline has the potential to embellish
character personalities and can span many many episodes.
Alternatively, a patient child that has been admitted with unexplained
bruises and is secretly suffering from child abuse (casualty) is a
theme that could be pu...
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...age group, and so this line up will
be especially appealing to these viewers. 'ER' is such a famously
popular name, that adding it to an evening's line-up is rather like
adding a brand name, and grouping it together with the other 'big two'
American sitcoms will ensure high viewing numbers. It is no big deal
to someone to miss one week's episode of 'ER' but people are far more
likely to make time in their schedule to make sure they don't miss ALL
of their favourite shows, and so high ratings are almost guaranteed
for all three programmes in one night.
'Casualty' and 'ER' are both vastly different programmes, considering
they are ultimately about the same thing. However they do share the
trademark conventions and serve their broadcasters in much the same
way, to retain audiences, and to add to the appeal of a line-up.
Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and film Girl, Interrupted directed by James Mangold display the hospitals act as a microcosms for society. This idea is shown through characters that promote non-conformity, the showing of prejudice against minorities and when authority figures rule absolutely. The audience respond to this idea which is common to both, this idea is mainly presented through the stylistic techniques dialogue, camera angles, sound, and literary techniques, as each reflect the idea of the hospitals acting as microcosms for society.
In the early seventies and into the early eighties there was a storied and sometimes highly controversial television series called “M.A.S.H” which stood for “Mobile Army Surgical Hospital”. The series was a follow on to the wildly successful movie by the same name. In both cases the story revolved around a group of Doctors and Nurses and supporting cast who operated a forward field hospital in Korea during the Korean War, the 4077 MASH. The characters were lovable, laughable, affable and endearing to viewers. However, the show was not without its recurring controversy. Everything from Anti-War sentiment to adultery to alcoholism were broached during its run on national television. One controversial issue that surrounded the show on a recurring basis was that of comedy in a surgical unit where blood, guts and pain were the order of the day, and in an environment where many thought that attitudes and demeanor should have been more serious. Specifically regarding the relationships between men and women, (Doctors and Nurses) and superiors and subordinates. The one-liners, the sexual innuendo, the practical jokes and surgical suite humor were all part of the allure of the series. In any case, whichever side of the controversy you found yourself on, “MASH” was tremendously successful and maintained a huge following.
Almost doctors and physicians in the world have worked at a hospital, so they must know many patients’ circumstances. They have to do many medical treatments when the patients come to the emergency room. It looks like horror films with many torture scenes, and the patients have to pay for their pains. The doctors have to give the decisions for every circumstance, so they are very stressful. They just want to die instead of suffering those medical treatments. In that time, the patients’ family just believes in the doctors and tells them to do whatever they can, but the doctors just do something that 's possible. Almost patients have died after that expensive medical treatments, but the doctors still do those medical procedures. That doctors did not have enough confidence to tell the truth to the patients’ families. Other doctors have more confidence, so they explain the health condition to the patients’ families. One time, the author could not save his patient, and the patient had found another doctor to help her. That doctor decided to cut her legs, but the patient still died in fourteen days
The story A Television Drama, by Jane Rule is an exciting story about an unusual event, which the main character, Carolee Mitchell, experiences the end of. The story is about her quiet street becoming unusually busy with police officers, and how the man who is being chased by these officers ends up being outside her front door. Through the point of view of the story, the characterization and character change of Carolee Mitchell, and the setting of the story, A Television Drama is an exciting read. The story conveys how important it is to be aware of ones surroundings, and what is happening around oneself through these elements.
Another hospital episode is rather frightening. Yosarrian has been wounded and is semi-conscious as he listens to two ...
Grey’s Anatomy portrays its doctors having significant courage and bravery when they go into surgery. An example of this is in the episode “Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response.” In this episode several acts of extreme courage are shown. Dr. ...
Instantly, McMurphy radiates power and defiance that the other patients in the ward notably admire. He boldly challenges authority and battles conformity in the ward, determined to eradicate the authoritarian governance of the institution. He proves to be a symbol of defiance and gradually begins to beat out the authority in the ward. McMurphy’s influence on the other patients steadily grows as he singlehandedly instigates reform at the hospital.... ...
Chicago PD is a procedural crime drama TV show produced by the legendary Dick Wolf. It is part of a Chicago trilogy consisting of the shows Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med. The show focuses on the intelligence unit within the Chicago Police Department, who fight crime and protect the city. The unit is headed up by a tough sergeant named Voight, who has a reputation of being a dirty cop in the past. The characters in the show are willing to go to great lengths to protect the city. Some people believe they go too far and cross the line into illegal behaviors in their pursuit of justice. They often bend rules and regulations to keep their city safe. Chicago PD is a good TV show because it is emotional, entertaining, inspiring,
Perhaps the most conspicuous example of the hospital environment’s detrimental impact is Billy Bibbit’s suicide after Nurse Ratched threatens to tell his mother about his night with Candy, the prostitute McMurphy brings onto the ward (Kesey 302-304). While this event can be interpreted as merely a tragedy between a manipulative nurse and an overwrought patient, it can also be interpreted as a representation of the harm that can result from an economy that encourages
Different Strokes a comedy sitcom, first aired in 1978, and lasted until 1986. This sitcom consisted of a widowed Manhattan millionaire, Phillip Drummond , who adopted two orphaned brothers. Arnold who was 8 years old and Willis who was 12. The boys' mother was Drummonds housekeeper who became very ill, so Drummond made a promise to her that he would take care of her two sons after she passed away. Drummond treated the two boys like his own. He also lived with his daughter, Kimberly, who was 13 years old, and his current housekeeper. This sitcom showed typical life lessons in growing up, and social problems that were occurring during that time. Some of the aspects of this show were both positive and negative.
How British Soap Operas Attract Large Audiences British soap operas used a variety of strategies and operations to attract a large audience. These strategies clearly work as proven by viewing figures for the three most popular soaps; Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale command viewing audiences of over ten million on a regular basis. Also soaps have proven to be the most consistent in terms of high audience figures over the years, making them indispensable to the institutions which create them. One strategy used by institutions and producers of a soap, is to place them at a peak viewing time to maximise audience figures. Also the timing of the program means that it has the highest exposure to a possible audience.
Soap Operas' Success in Their Construction of Realism One of the main appeals to the audience of soap opera is realism. Realism is the attempt to recreate the real, or to create a perception or representation of reality. This is created through a number of ways, such as settings which appear to be realistic, language including slang and even low-level swearing, and a wide range of characters in an attempt to reflect society. The events found in soap operas are usually realistic, and even the dramatic events are within the possibility of reality.
British soap operas are, of course, overly dramatic. In nearly every soap opera, including the Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and The Archers—the characters constantly discuss money and drink excessively. Of course, these shows are not made to be taken literally—they are mindless entertainment, not serious social commentary. However, behind the drama, they raise subtle questions about the nature of Britain today: the clashes between cultures and religions, upper and lower classes, and the young rebelling against the old. All of these things could be happening at the very same time, and underlining all of these issues is the idea that no one should be trusted.
First titled Life and Stuff, Roseanne aired its first season in 1988 and its last season in 1997. The show starred Roseanne Barr as Roseanne Conner and John Goodman as Dan Conner. The couple lived in Lanford, Illinois with their three children Becky, Darlene, and D.J. They are a blue-collar, working-class family with both parents working outside of the home. They struggled just to pay the bills and put food on the table, sometimes each working two jobs. It portrayed real life issues such as pre-marital sex and pregnancy, financial struggles, sexuality, infidelity, death, drugs, and much more. In the first of its nine seasons, Roseanne (Barr) works at Wellman Plastics, along with her sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) and friend Crystal (Natalie West). Dan (Goodman) works as a self-employed drywall contractor for his company, Four Aces Construction. Roseanne's parents, Beverly (Estelle Parsons) and Al Harris (John Randolph), drive their two daughters crazy. Teenage Becky (Lecy Goranson) begins dating her first boyfriend Chip (Jared Rushton. Darlene (Sara Gilbert) wonders if she can still play baseball after having her first period. This season also deals with the issue of death, a terrifying tornado, Dan and his father’s relationship struggles, and Roseanne and her friends quitting their job. In season two, Jackie decides to become a police officer and begins a serious relationship with Gary (Brain Kerwin). Roseanne runs through a plethora of jobs, with shampoo woman at the beauty parlor being most influential. Roseanne also deals with issues of attractiveness when Dan's poker buddy Arnie (Tom Arnold) passionately kisses her. She is slightly disappointed when he does the same to Jackie. Crystal and Dan’s father begin a romance. Becky h...
From the mid-twentieth century to the present time, telenovelas have been a huge source of entertainment in Latino households. From comedies to melodramas, the purpose of telenovelas is to offer an escape from the monotony of daily life. Most of the themes that are present are topics relevant to the Latino community. In the words of Cynthia Duncan, “... soap operas tend to promote and uphold traditional values and are generally conservative in nature.” (Duncan 84) Telenovelas focus on family life and how the character’s decisions affect the whole. Those so-called traditional and conservative values tend to imprison women in cliché telenovela characters. Women are always presented as selfless, at times evil, or as women whose sole purpose is