How does The 'Eastenders' Extract Demonstrate Soap Conventions

In lesson we examined an extract from an 'Eastenders' episode. I will note how it demonstrates soap conventions below.The basic episode plot is focusing on 'Nick' and 'Dotty Branning' as they attempt to kill 'Dot Branning'.

In the extract, the camera work is majorly mid-shots or mid close ups, this can be seen throughout the extract accompanied with 'the 180 degree rule which we can see between the characters 'Dawn' and 'Garry' arguing about money issues in the market, and we also see an argument between school girl 'Whitney' and step mother 'Bianca', arguing about school. Both these scenes promote realism by talking of relevant social issues like money (relates to the recession) as well as school arguments between a mother and daughter, which are realistic as well as believable subjects.  These sort of shots in the cast's homes make us feel like a 'fly on the wall' in many ways, giving us insight into their lives.

Sometimes close ups are used to show a particular emotion or object, promoting its relevance to the story, seen with action codes  such as Nick's drugs, we understand that they connote danger for Dot as he mashes them up. We also see another action code where Dotty sees her crinkled up painting in her Dad's pocket, we saw him screw it up last episode, we can assume that Dotty will start to question if her Dad really cares for her, which may make the audience wonder if she'll betray her father later on. This particular story may be seen with a 'negotiated' or 'oppositional' view, as the public may find it hard to believe a little girl would have intent of murder.

A variety of the characters interact with one another also, which shows the familiarity with each other people have on the square, it is conventional  in soaps to be very socially orientated, and it is the same in this extract.The editing is also quite simple as well, cuts are used to show the interweaving story-lines of each episode, such as: Bradly's storyline, Nicks, Gary and Dawn's and Bianca and Whitney's.The lighting in the extract is natural lighting and the sound is digetic also. Overall the extract appears very conventional with the stereotypical camerawork,realistic story lines (for the most part) and simple cuts, digetic sound as well as stereotypical characters. This furthers the realism of the soap once more.