range of issues, both political and social. For example Eastenders has dealt with crime, drugs, teenage pregnancy and AIDS. Phil Redmond, the creator of Brookside, said that he wanted to use the twice weekly form to explore social issues, and, hopefully, contribute to any continuing social debate. He also said that he sought to reflect Britain in the 1980s and tackle relevant social issues . Most soap operas arose from the economic, social and political concerns of their time, which suggests that these soap operas were made to tackle relevant issues in society at the time that they were made.Television, through drama, has the ability to educate people about certain issues e.g. health, family planning, crime etc, this is because drama is about everyday issues which provides ideas and solutions that people can relate to.Undeniably, TV drama does bring to light social and political issues in society, however, I agree with Mary Holland that, it makes people aware not of a situation which is within their power to changebut of a social problem out there in the distance, arousing us perhaps to compassion, but not to action ....
