“Ohh…my life is a soap opera!”

http://blogs.mediaeducation.ca/3747/?p=160
Posted by Elisa on 24 Mar 2008 at 06:46 pm

I believe that soap operas are misrepresented in the mainstream media. According to Allwords.com, a soap opera is a television serial, typically broadcast in the afternoon or evening, about the lives of melodramatic characters, which are often filled with strong emotions, highly dramatic situations and suspense. Soap operas first began as a 15 minute show on the radio. However, in the 1950’s soap operas started to be featured on the television. I am here today to set the story straight and explain to you that this definition poorly represents the term soap opera.

Since I was a teenager, I have been watching the soap opera General Hospital. I am a true soap opera junkie because I tape the show everyday and go visit many soap opera sites to get the latest scoop and spoilers about my favourite daytime show. It is my guilty pleasure and I love to watch them. When I see definitions about soap operas or people who are non-viewers giving their opinion about soap operas, I get extremely frustrated. Soap operas may be about some melodramatic characters that have strong emotions in very highly dramatic situations and suspense; however it is the storylines that truly make the show real. Soap opera’s concern with the everyday lives of everyday people and their problems, big and small, appears to be one of the main reasons why this genre is so popular. Basically, if the storylines are true and can impact the character and the viewer at home, then the writers are doing something right.

General Hospital’s storylines have been related to real-life problems of the everyday person. General Hospital, by its very name, is dedicated to medical issues being an important part of the soap opera. The show had an Annual Nurses’ Ball for many years in which many of the characters were raising awareness and making money for AIDS research. The soap opera took the remarkable step of making its most popular young character come in contact with AIDS from her boyfriend. The character continues to live and manage with her disease many years later. This just proves that the show wants to reveal to its viewers, young or old, what could happen and how to prevent it from happening in the first place. The character that came in contact with AIDS is called Dr. Robin Scorpio and is played by Kimberly McCullough. Dr. Robin Scorpio takes part in an online daily blog. In these daily blogs, the character discusses her everyday concerns and desires and how she copes with having HIV. This blog gives the chance for viewers to see an emotional/happy side of the character and how someone with HIV can live their life to the fullest, as if it were their last. Many viewers are content with this character’s blog because it is the first time that they can know what is going on in a character’s mind. This just proves to the critics and the non-viewers that soap operas are real and can have an impact on a viewer’s life.

Other storylines that take part on General Hospital vary from divorce and how it affects their children, drug-abuse, rape, certain types of cancer, heart and bipolar disorder and even gay sexuality. After ever show they will make a service announcement of where to go find more information about the problems that were dealt with in the show. Throughout each storyline, many of the characters are so into their character and we actually think that this person has gone through with it. On that note, one of the main characters of this show actually has bipolar in their real life. His character’s name is Sonny Corinthos and is played by Maurice Benard. He developed bipolar at the age of 22 and years later he decided that he wanted it to be part of his storyline. Maurice wanted to show the world how he lives with it and how others can cope with this disease in real life. He also went on the Oprah Winfrey show and he spoke openly about his devastating on-going battle. The actor stated that anywhere he went people would go up to him and say, “Thank-you for helping me”. Maurice said that it felt great to educate people on what this disease does and what it is. Once again, the critics are wrong because the soap opera fans will stay true to their beliefs about their favourite show and will prove to them that what goes on in the character’s storylines can help a viewer over come anything in their life. These loyal fans are here to stay and will not give up their soap without a fight.

I believe that soap operas that feature strong storylines will not only impact the long-time viewer but as well as the first-time viewer who realizes that soap operas are not that terrible after all. Soap operas do show some harsh and sad storylines, however I know that the one thing that makes the soap operas fun and unforgettable is the love between two people and their family. Romanticism, drama, and everyday viewers will keep soap operas alive for many years to come. General Hospital has been on television for 45 years; the writers and the actors have to be doing something right after all these years!

For more articles about AIDS and Bipolar you can see,

http://www.drrobinscorpio.com/

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200709/20070924/slide_20070924_284_109.jhtml

http://www.pendulum.org/bpnews/archive/cat_bipolar_disorder_personal_stories.html

For more articles about soap opera storylines you can see,

http://abc.go.com/daytime/generalhospital/index.html

http://abc.go.com/daytime/generalhospital/mb/index?pn=mb&cat=15343