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General discussion

Soap operas save lived in Third World Countries

Nov 18, 2003 7:44AM PST
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If you thought soaps were just about sultry sex and incredible plot twists, then think again.

In parts of the Third World, television soap operas are saving lives, promoting social change and leading the fight against AIDS -- and mostly without even peeping into the bedroom.

In India, "Detective Vijay" tackles issues ranging from wife-beating, the education of girls, female empowerment and HIV/AIDS in a soap opera aimed at rural males that has became one of the country's top 10 programs.

In South Africa, the seven-year old soap "Soul City" is watched by two-thirds of the population and has ventured into everything from AIDS and alcoholism to diarrhea and depression.

In China, the daily drama "Ordinary People" has raised issues such as the traditional Chinese preference for sons, the mistreatment of women and the ostracizing of those with HIV/AIDS.

"We like to create a good story with a social message. Of the 1.3 billion population in China, 800 million watch our show every day," said Yan Jiande, producer of "Ordinary People."


http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/reuters20031118_107.html

Angeline
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

Discussion is locked

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Re:Soap operas save lives in Third World Countries
Nov 18, 2003 8:03AM PST

Hi Angeline,

I have occasionally seen snippets of the US daytime soaps (but probably never a full episode), but never watched them, so I can't speak to any possible social good they may or may not deliver. I get nauseous at the thought of watching them.

I remember how embarrassed I was when traveling and told people I was from Santa Barbara, and they associated the soap opera "Santa Barbara" immediately.

These countries have to skirt around the "meat" of the issues, but I applaud them for being able to broadcast enough to pique the curiosity of their audience--that may do more good than the blatancy we show.

I wish them well.

Paula

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This sounds like a good thing. Nice to hear something working so well. (NT)
Nov 18, 2003 8:12AM PST

.

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Hmm ....
Nov 18, 2003 9:14AM PST

There is a catch to this. When programming attempts to combine entertainment with 'values education' it is almost inevitable that the result is too 'politically correct' (whatever that means in the culture in question). I'm not sure I trust the media companies to be either safe or effective as 'social engineers'.