Analysis of Title Sequence

Analyzing snippets of the soap opera, including the title sequence requires different aspects of the programme to be taken into consideration when discovering deeper meaning within the product, these aspects are;

• The font of the title
• The music
• The camera techniques (angles and shots)
• The intented effect towards the audience

The programme Emmerdale is located in the countryside and is introduced in the title sequence with the effect of music and camera angles as seen in the clip below:

The first aspect of analyzing the title sequence is the use of font used in the title sequence is very simple yet underlined, this could show that the area is presented nicely, especially as it s set in the countryside which is seen as a 'breath of fresh air' to those who are watching. Furthermore, the name of the programme itself is presented as a 'caption' during the title sequence which shows some sort of pride within itself.

Secondly, the music used within the programme contributes to the atmosphere set in the countryside. Stereotypically, music used to portray the countryside is expected to be peaceful, calm and uplifting seeing as though the same expectations are held for the environmental qualities of the rural area. Emmerdale seems to achieve this as using this harmonic music in a rural area brings about common sense aswell as the reason stated above.

The angles are the most peculiar as it is very different from the other soaps. The camera angles are performed in such a way that it gives off the impression as if the viewers are flying over the country side. This provides a birds eye view of the area and gives the viewers a sense of omnipresence, making them all-knowing. Furthermore, the whole focus of a soap opera is to give the audience the impression that they know everything that is happening, this point is supported by the snippets of black and white photo's showing over the footage of the area.

The fourth aspect being the intended effect created by the producers to attract the audience is an overall conclusion of the elements above. The presentation of the area and the music combined can create brilliant vibes of what the programme may be like and what to expect. The calm atmosphere showedmay however be misleading as, the word soap opera itself is a foreshadowing element suggesting that something bad will consistently happen regardless of how calm the area seems. This may intrigue some audience who are passionate and dedicated to soaps as they have had experience in what to expect, however, for the majority of the target audience the title sequence may be seen as welcoming and may give something for the audience to watch with a cup of tea.