How Storylines Evolved with the Times

By: Laura Onofrio

While it is true that the basic soap opera formula was established during the 1930s, other important characteristics which are found in today's soaps evolved during the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s. As soap operas have evolved they have increasingly reflected reality, as the television daytime dramas are far more realistic and representative of 'real world' experiences than their radio forerunners. The success of soap operas comes from their ability to make the familiar and ordinary of people's daily lives interesting and exciting. Soap operas are representations of real life; therefore, changes in the socio-economic conditions of society are reflected in plotlines and the themes that predominate daytime television. "The socio-economic changes that have had revolutionary effects on the moral fiber of American society have been represented in daytime drama as storylines that explored topics such as drug abuse, ethnic and culture minorities and sexual promiscuity became prominent (Matelski: 1988:4)." The plotlines that are incorporated in soap operas are generally conservative in nature and tend to focus on the practicalities of everyday life. Although the underlying themes within soap operas are not far beyond the experience of their audience they do often explore controversial social issues that are prevalent in society. The strength of soap operas is that they can combine controversial content with the dramatic imperatives of the storylines to explore great themes (Matelski: 1988:141). Evidently soap operas have mimicked societal changes while sustaining the early formulas set by the Hummerts and Phillips. Societal concerns, political issues and the economic climate have had an influence on soap opera stories but even though the plots have evolved with the history of American society the basic themes of the genre will always persist.

The soap opera is a genre that is always transforming itself. Depending on the social situation which surrounds it certain storylines are emphasized while other are de-emphasized, new concepts develop with the changes which society is undergoing and existing concepts and themes update themselves to the standards of the era. During the era when daytime drama dominated the radio soaps were very conservative. The 1930s, 40s and 50s were very traditional eras which held very strong beliefs about the family, the role of women and the relationships between men and women. The traditional ideology of this era is evident in the storylines of the radio dramas of that era. In radio soaps sexuality was not explored in the promiscuous way in which television daytime dramas explore the intimate relationships between men and women. Also in radio soap operas men and women were cast in traditional roles, as it was rare to see a woman in the role of the professional and unheard of to have a man within the domestic sphere.

The 1960s brought revolutionary changes to the moral fiber of America. People's attitudes became more liberal and the traditional ideology was beginning to fade. These social changes were increasingly being reflected in the storylines of the daytime dramas as conservative themes, which were predominately on the radio, were being eroded by more liberal and risky themes. It became more acceptable to discuss the intimate relationships between men and women and it was acceptable to have storylines surrounding the issue of premarital and extramarital sex. It was more common to see women cast in non-traditional roles - having a notable presence in the public sphere with positions as professionals. Hence, the social problems that soap operas dealt with and the storylines that they represent were a reflection of the times and were constantly changing with the world around them.