How have changes in media technology over the past twenty years (cable television, DVDs, streaming) affected the structure and content of television drama ?
Over the last twenty years television has drastically evolved. The growth and development of technology and our society certainly had an impact on the evolution of television and the way we watch it. Between the thousands of channels provided to us from cable television to the various online streaming sites, there are a number of ways in which we can access the movies or series that we so desire to watch. The use of these sources has allowed for a higher standard of television.
In the past several years the increase in television dramas has grown drastically, and the effects that the evolution of media technology has had on the structure of television series can be recognized in shows such as “The Wire” and “Game of Thrones”. We even had our own Irish drama series, “Love/Hate”, which was extremely successful. In late 2010, AMC, the network who also brought us “Breaking Bad”, brought to life the comic-book drama series, “The Walking Dead”. The first season of this series was an instant hit, with the pilot episode reaching up to 5.35 million viewers and the finale 6 million. Advancement in media technology has made all of this possible. The American series teleports us to a post-apocalyptic world based mostly around Atlanta in the state of Georgia. Much like the vast majority of series, “The Walking Dead” maintains a lasting narrative structure, where the main storyline is shown through a variety of episodes and seasons. The use of this structure has captured the attention of a world-wide audience due to the need to keep watching in order to know what will happen next. Many television series have adapted this change in structure, rather than preserving the single story per episode motive in order to gain more viewership. “The Walking Dead” follows this structure throughout its seasons with also the addition of character focused episodes. These character focused episodes provide a mere distraction from the central story, but it is always, to some extent, evidently present. This structural layout has permitted us to be able to explore this dystopian world where our own society has fallen and the primary goal of human life is survival.
The impact that the changes in media technology has had on television dramas can also be examined in the content which these series entail. “The Walking Dead” has allowed for its viewers to fall into a world with no government, or currency, a world simply for survival, and living every day like it was your last. Despite the zombies being fictional, this series is all about people and how people would survive if this were to actually happen, which brings a sense of realism to the series. In perspective, if our government were to fall, and all our years of sustainability were lost, it would be human instinct to try and regain that life. This is something that the viewer can sympathise with. “The Walking Dead” has provided its viewers with an authentic look of what a zombie ruled world would look like. Whilst series such as “Love/Hate” gave its viewers insight to gangland violence that actually takes place in our capital city, “The Walking Dead” provides viewers with a much more dramatic and yet less realistic view of the world. The American series has had an increase in viewership each season due to this. Viewers don’t always want to see what actually goes on in the world, instead they want to escape it. “The Walking Dead” fills its viewers with joy and grief all in one episode. The violence and gore in the show are extremely realistic, along with an outstanding storyline, making it all that much more intense for its viewers.
The evolution of media technology and the effects it has on structures and contents of television series is evident. Sources such as cable television and online streaming websites are hugely responsible for the growth in drama series worldwide. Without these sources it is unlikely that these series would be as prominent as they are, due to the fact that they would be extremely inaccessible. Therefore, the impact that this advancement in media technology has had on our viewing of television has been greatly beneficial not only for the writers of these series but also for viewers.
Bibliography:
- Darabont, Frank, creator. The Walking Dead. AMC Studios, Circle of Confusion, Skybound Entertainment, Valhalla Entertainment and Idiot Box Productions, 2010-present.
- Benioff, David and D.B. Weiss, creators. Game of Thrones. HBO, 2011-present.
- Carolan, Stuart, creator. Love/Hate. Octagon Films, 2014.
- Gilligan, Vince, creator. Breaking Bad. High-Bridge Entertainment, Gran Via Productions and Sony Pictures Television, 2013.
- Simon, David, creator. The Wire. Blown Deadline Productions and HBO, 2008.