Spanish language soaps are completely different to British soaps: the term"telenovela" means "television novel". Unlike British melodramas or realistic soaps, telenovelas are not meant to be seen as realistic or cathartic. They are intended to be seen purely as a form of entertainment.
Conventions of Spanish language soaps are quite similar to American "fantasy" soaps:
- extravagant costumes, hair and make up
- sensational storylines
- lots of sex!
- a femme fatale
- male villain
- an "innocent" girl
- family
- sibling rivalry
- a mother/grandmother figure who acts as head of the family
- fights
- non- diegetic sound
This episode of 30 Rock parodies Spanish soaps- by exaggerating the conventions of a sub genre attention is drawn to the defining features.
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