EVALUATION OF

POSTMODERN AND
TRADITIONAL RADIO
DRAMAS

I will be discussing the codes and conventions of postmodern and traditional and the differences between them.
Postmodern radio dramas consist of questions being raised throughout and leaves the audience working out the answer themselves.
You will see this in my example Day of the Dead. As I am only analysing the first 5 minute we have to ask ourselves what happens
next to the characters in the story. Does he ever find this girl? And is there a happy ending?
Unlike postmodern, traditional radio dramas consist of a strong storyline. Where there is usually a problem that the characters are
working on to solve. From listening to the first 5 minutes of The Arches I have found out that there is a village fate and a young boy
called Henry is starting school. Here there is two possible problems that might occur. Such as Henry getting bullied or the village fate
going wrong.
Postmodern and Traditional have some similarities. They both have a narrator and many different characters ranging from different
ages. These type of radio dramas are tailored for a certain target audience. In this case Day of the Dead is aimed for people who
enjoy adventure and mystery and who are 16 and above, I think this due to the dramas plot and the type of vocabulary is used
throughout, I also dont think younger viewers would find this drama very interesting because its too mature for them as they would
prefer a radio drama about Superman.
The target audience for The Arches is aimed for the older generation as it is based on BBC Radio 4. I think this because BBC Radio 4
is known to be used by the older generation due to the songs played on the radio channel. BBC have tailored different radio channels
for there audiences to make it easier for them to find a radio channel to listen to that is tailored to their needs. I would say the target
audience for this radio drama is people who like British soaps as well this is because British soap is the genre of this drama.
I believe that both postmodern and traditional radio dramas work. I think postmodern works because as a listener you are always
wondering about what is going to happen next to the characters, its full of suspense as your asking yourself questions about the
characters which you do not know yet. I know this because this is how I felt when I listened to Day of the Dead. It left me curious to
find out if he ever found the girl hes looking for. I know it works because postmodern dramas consist of the listener asking
themselves questions about the characters and whats going to happen which is what I experienced listening to Day of the Dead
I believe traditional works because as I was listening to The Archers I could hear a clear storyline about the characters organising
their village fate and about the young boy Henry starting school and a problem occur in the first 5 minutes the characters need to
solve. Which proves that it works because this is what a traditional radio drama is. It consists of a storyline and a problem.

DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES

The similarities between postmodern and traditional radio drama they both contain characters along the
storyline of the drama. Another similarity is that traditional and postmodern aim their dramas at certain
target audiences, they both do research for that there target audience will like. Another similarity is that
they both use aural signposting, silence and music to create an atmosphere to make the listeners more
emotionally connected to the drama.
Another similarity would be that both traditional and postmodern have the same narrative structure which
is linear. This means both radio dramas I have analysed do not contain a flashback in time. Its the present
day throughout the dramas.
The differences between postmodern and traditional is that postmodern leaves the listeners asking
questions about the storyline and the characters while traditional has a storyline where a problem occurs.
However I believe that in Day of the Dead a problem does occur when he finally finds the girl he is looking
for. I believe that she no longer wants to be with him or something bad has happened to her, which makes
both types of dramas similar as there is a problem happening in the postmodern drama as well as the
traditional.
Another difference would be that Day of the Dead has a narrator at the start of the drama talking about a
dream where he was dancing with the devil. While The Archers just starts straight into the storyline of the
drama without a narrator saying something about one of the characters.

http://www.finalrune.com/day-of-the-dead/

POSTMODERN: DAY OF THE

DEAD - CODES

Voices / Speech & Words: The narrator the boy (the main character) in the drama has a strong American accent.

Another character speaking to the boy/ narrator speaks French, but has a French American accent as he mainly speaks American.
Taxi driver has a strong New Orleans American accent different from the narrators. Speaks rude and lazily to the boy.
By listening to their accents we know that this postmodern radio drama is set in America.

The words the characters use link with the target audience as they are aimed for a older generation than a younger generation. The words they use arent aimed for
primary school children as they wouldnt understand some of the words they use. I believe the vocabulary they use throughout the first 5 minutes and the storyline is
aimed for college students and above as they would understand the vocabulary they use throughout I think this because college students have a wider vocabulary.
Sound: Sounds in radio dramas are used to create moods throughout the drama in order to get an emotional connection with the audience. It is a form of aural
signposting, as it helps identify where the characters are. We first hear a train on the tracks and can also hear the train horn as it is different from a car one. This helps
identify that the scene setting is changing this helps the audience know where the next location is, we know from listening to the first 2 minutes that the boy goes from
a monologue about himself and his dream about dancing with the devil to being on the train, I like the way the scene changes as it keeps the melody that the boy is
playing on the guitar throughout when the man on the train speaks to him saying he was good at playing the guitar. An announcement being made of all the different
stops and when they reach New Orleans (end of the line) also lets the audience know that the characters are on a train and not on a city bus. The train squeaking to a
stop also helps identify where the characters are and that the scene is about to change again as the announcement tells them its the end of the line which proves that
the train is stopping and they are about to get off. The scene then changes to a busy street I know this because of the city noises you hear such as cars going past and
the sound of people talking which implies he is now outside as these are common noises you hear. The scene again then changes as the boy tells the man on the train
that he doesnt need his help which implies that the boy is about to leave the busy city street which in fact he is when you hear a car door open and slam shut with an
up beat song playing, this is when we know that the young boy is in the taxi I know he is in a taxi as he asks the man to take him to a place but gets turned away we
then hear the car door open and then close to show hes back on the busy street we then hear the taxi pulling away this lets the audience know that the taxi has left
the scene.
Silence: Silence is used to in between scene this lets us know when the characters are changing location and when the different characters speak. The use of silence
allows the audience to process what each character has said before the other replies. You hear a lot of silence in the conversation between the boy and the man he
meets on the train. This implies that the boy is unsure of what to say to him this implies that the boy is shy when meeting new people as he hesitates and says umm
however after the train journey the boy seems more confident with the man he meets on the train after the taxi man kicks him out of the taxi as he doesnt seem to
hesitate as much after the man speaks to him. Silence is also used to create a mood. Silence can create tension for example when the boy gets kicked out of the taxi,
this builds tension as we dont know what will happen to him and makes the audience more emotionally connected to the drama.
Music: A guitar starts playing he can play the guitar I know this because the narrator starts telling the audience a little about himself and his dream before the actual
drama starts. He says that this song came to him in his dream and plays it by what he remembers. However he doesnt know the last notes of the song so he cant
finish it. This leaves the audience wondering if he will ever remember the last notes of the song. This is what postmodern dramas do to the audience, it leaves them
wondering what happens to the character. Especially as I have only analysed the first 5 minutes of the drama it also leaves me wondering what will happen to the boy
and if he will have the same dream.

http://www.finalrune.com/day-of-the-dead/

POSTMODERN: DAY OF THE

DEAD - CONVENTIONS
Character & Narration: In the first 5 minutes of the drama you come across 3 male characters. The first character is the narrator and the main character of this drama.
He has a strong American accent. We find out that he is from Portland and is going to New Orleans to find a girl. This character seems to be quiet young mid 20s. I
know that the boy is young because of the language he uses and he is also easily offended and doesnt seem like he has seen much of the world as he says its
better than Portland he also asks the other main character he meets on the train to help him find his way. Another thing that also lets me know that he is young is
when the man on the train says why else would a kid your age be down here. I also know that he is young because his voice isnt as deep as the other characters he
meets in the first 5 minutes of the drama I have analysed.
The second main character we meet in this drama is the man who helps the boy (the narrator). They meet on the train on the way to New Orleans. He first tries selling
the boy a Halloween mask, and then offers help to the young man by offering him a tour for 15 but changes it to 30 when the young man comes back to him for
help. This character speaks French which is why his accent is different to the narrators, I believe this character has a French American accent as his French accent
hinder his English creating this different American tone. I know he has a French American accent as we hear him speaking French in the first scene on the train, he also
introduces himself telling the audience his name, which also has an French connection to it.
The third character who is a taxi driver has a New Orleans American accent, his accent is very different from the other two as they are from different areas. The taxi
driver comes across as rude and lazy as he doesnt drive the young boy to the location he wants. This lets us know that the taxi driver is a lot older than the boy
because of how deep his voice is in comparison as well as the taxi driver being lazy it suggests that he doesnt have the energy to drive through the city.
Aural signposting: Listening to the first 5 minutes of the drama I can already tell that the drama has been set in 3 different places this is due to the different sound
effects in the background of the drama throughout. The first scene of the drama is on a train, I can tell this from the sound effects of the train horn and the train on
the tracks. Another thing that helps me identify that they are on a train is the train announcement of the different locations then saying New Orleans end of the line
The scene then changes from being on the train to being outside in a busy street. I know this by the short silence between each scene and the sound effect playing in
the background. The next background noise that tells the listeners that the scene as changed to being on a busy street is the car noises and people talking as they walk
past which is what you would hear of a busy street in the city. This sound effect used to let the audience know where the characters are based is aimed for the target
audience because young children dont go out to busy cities so they dont know what sounds they could hear as the older generation travel around a lot more they are
used to hearing these noises so will be able to locate where the characters may be.
The scene again then changes to the narrator/ the boy in a taxi. One of the main things that you know that the scene is going to change is what the narrator says. He
shouts taxi and you hear a car slow down, and a door close which lets us know he has gotten into the taxi. Listeners then can identify that the scene has definitely
changed as the taxi drivers music starts playing and the boy speaks to him.
The boy then gets kicked out the taxi, so we know that the scene will be changing again. You hear a door slam and a car screech off into the distance. Then all the busy
street sound effects start up again, letting us know the boy is back on the street.

http://www.finalrune.com/day-of-the-dead/

POSTMODERN: DAY OF THE

DEAD STYLE AND STRUCTURE
Target Audience: The target audience for this radio drama is for both male and female, however I think it is
for a slightly older generation from the ages of 16+. I believe its from 16 and onwards as younger viewers
may not find this type of drama is not for them as the language is quiet formal along with the plot of the
drama. The target audience for this radio drama is for people who enjoy adventure and mystery stories. I
believe this genre of this radio drama is adventure and mystery because it involves a young boys travel
across the counties to find this girl, and it involves mystery because you dont know if he will ever find this
girl and what will happen when he finally finds her as the story builds suspense to keep the target audience
interested in the story line.
Drama Style: Adventure and Mystery. I know this because its about a young mans journey to find this girl and
you never know throughout the whole drama what is going to happen during this journey.
Creation of Mood: The mood throughout the drama is to build the tension if the boy will find this girl and
what will happen to him. And if it will be a happy ending.
Development of Plot: Listening to the first 5 minute of the drama I believe the plot of this radio drama is that
the young man is searching for this girl with the guy he made friends with on the train. When he stumbles
upon different things that makes his journey harder to find this girl. I think that he finds the girl and she no
longer wants to be with him anymore. I believe that the drama doesnt have a happy ending for the young
boy as it is a adventure and mystery drama, so something bad might to happen to him during his travels.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b069x6fq

TRADITIONAL: THE ARCHERS CODES

Voices / Speech & Words: The accent you hear the women speaking is midlands. There are about 2-3 women at the start talking they have
speaking politely and calmly. Some have a stronger accent than others. This lets the audience know that some character might be from a
different area from the midlands and moved to the location which could be a reason why some of their accents are stronger. The use of
different accents allows the audience to be able to identify who is talking as all 3 women have quiet high pitched voices.
Male character that you hear speaking doesnt have a strong midlands accent, sounds more like he is from London. He speaks poshly and
half hearted about this wifes mother not being more open minded but still sounds confident. His wife speaks poshly as well and doesnt have
a midlands accent, has the same London type accent that her husband has, this lets the audience know that these two characters are from
the same area but moved up north as their accents are very different to the other women you hear in the first 2 minutes of the drama.
Sound: Sounds in radio dramas are used to give location of where the characters are as well as building an emotional connection with the
audience. In order to do this they must also create a mood with the multiple sounds used throughout this drama. Sound is a form of aural
signposting we know the characters is in this location due to the sounds to help place them in that location. The first sound effect you hear
is of a door creaking open, this informs the listeners that another character has entered the room and is about to join the conversation. You
then hear the door creak as it shuts this lets us know the character has left the scene so this informs the audience how many people are in
the scene. After a long silence a sound effect of birds start and people talking in the distance, this sound effect lets us know that the scene
is now outside and that new characters will be introduced to the scene, and now a new conversation and a new part of the drama is about to
start. After the scene outside we hear a rustling of rubbish and thuds of knocking on a chopping board or running up stairs this lets the
audience know that the scene has yet again changed into a kitchen as they prepare for the village fate.
Silence: There is a slight pause between the jingle and when the first character speak this lets the listeners know that its starting, for
common listeners they know when the jingle is played thats when the show is about to start as a jingle is known for an opening and closing
of a show. I know this because before you watch the news a jingle is played before they read the headlines. There is also a pause between
when each character speaks this gives the listeners time to know who is talking and what they have said. There is also a long silence which
lets the audience know that the scene has changed and new characters will be involved. Silence is also used in order to create a calm mood
between the characters that the audience understand for example the characters speak in a calm and relaxing way to each other, no
tension is between any of the characters.
Music: The opening jingle is played, this lets listeners know that the radio drama is about to begin. They play this jingle at the start of very
show. The beat of the music is up beat and happy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b069x6fq

TRADITIONAL: THE ARCHERS CONVENTIONS

Character & Narrator: There are no narrators in this radio drama.

The first 3 women we meet in the first scene all speak with strong midlands accent. They seem to be preparing for a village fate, one of the
women is sorry for not helping out as much as others. All 3 women seem to be good friends. These women seem to be older in between their
50s-60s.
Husband and wife we meet in second scene, they do not have the same accent as the 3 older women. They sound as if they are from an area
near London. Husband is annoyed that his wife did not push forward his ideas for the shop that his wife is taking over from her parents. He thinks
her mum should be more open minded. The wife just brushes it off, saying she tried her best.
Aural Signposting: Listening to the first 5 minutes of this drama I can identify 3 set locations, I know this by the silence in between each scene
as well as sound effect being played at the start of the new scene and throughout the scene to inform listeners where the characters are and
how long they are there for because if it was just silence throughout we wouldnt know where the characters are or what they are doing, the
use of sound effects helps the audience set the scene and lets their imagination explore. After the listening to the jingle at the beginning of the
radio, there is a few seconds of silence and then the characters begin to talk, I believe that the characters are either in their local town hall
setting up for the village fate or they are at one of their houses preparing everything to take. During the first scene, instead of having a sound
effect to change the scene someone joins the scene instead, I know this because you can hear what seems to be a creaky door opening, you
hear this same effect when another person leaves the scene, we also know a new character has entered when they say Hello and when
another character says I best be off now. Having this allows the same scene to continue without having to change it two times, using the
same sound effect allows the audience that there is only one entrance.
After the women stop speaking there is a long pause I know that the scene is about to change. After the pause a sound effect of birds and people
talking in the distance, by listening to rest of this scene I have come to the conclusion that the couple are waiting in a playground for their son to
get out of school. I know this because the women calls over to her son Henry and the man speaks to his wife about how is son was scared of
going to school and that he was glad he stayed with him last night as he seemed more confident to go this morning. This implies that the boy
might be being bullied which was why he was scared we wont know unless we listen to the rest of the drama or find out on the next show.
After another long silence is used we then hear a sound of rustling and thuds as if something is being chopped up on a chopping board or
someone running up the stairs this tells that the characters may be in a house probably in a kitchen doing finishing touches to food for the
village fate.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b069x6fq

TRADITIONAL: THE ARCHERS

STYLE AND STRUCTURE
Target Audience: I think the target audience for The Arches is for both male and
female. However I think it is aimed for the older generation 40 and onwards because
it is aired on BBC Radio 4. BBC Radio 4 is known to play older songs from the genre
of classics that the older generation will listen to, for example if you listen to BBC
Radio 1 Xtra you will hear the latest songs that the younger generation listen to with
genres such as RnB and Grime. BBC Radio have made stations playing all different
types of music and radio dramas for their target audience to enjoy
Drama Style: British radio soap opera. A soap is a drama series that deals with
typical daily events including the same group of characters. A TV example of this
would be East Enders, while The Archers is an example of a radio drama soap.
Development of Plot: The start of the radio drama is the 3 older women getting
ready for the village fate by preparing food and clothing for everyone. I believe the
development moves on from them preparing for fate to the actual fate itself, which
might consist of a problem starting.