Soap Operas and the Third World
Around the world, from North India to South Africa, there are dozens of television and radio shows that tightly weave social themes into entertaining narratives, a technique often referred to as “entertainment-education.” Writers develop fictional characters that model positive or negative behaviors, and through their stories and struggles, audiences learn about issues ranging from domestic abuse to personal bankruptcy.
Successful soaps tend to be smartly written, sexy and replete with plot twists and love triangles. In the best-case scenario, the show becomes popular, and viewers begin to incorporate some of the themes into their lives.
- An interesting New York Times article on the use of soap operas (in prime time - like Dynasty and Melrose, not Young and the Restless and Passions) in Africa, India and Mexico to get across valuable lessons for adults, from teaching sex ed to improving literacy.
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