A really interesting comment came out of my recent blog post on the number of times Coronation Street is broadcast each week. One of the anonymous comments raised the issue of whether Corrie 52 years on still has a sense of community. Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous argued that it couldn't reasonably maintain this due to the huge cast the show currently boasts. I have pondered this for a while and I'm still not sure where I stand on this topic. Let's take a look at the Street's community back in the early days and see how it compares to the 21st Century.
Certainly the original Coronation Street, brainchild of the fabulous Mr Tony Warren, focussed on a small, close-knit community where everyone knew everybody's business and people were always there to help in times of crisis. Also, the very nature of the street itself meant that many people's lives were hemmed into a small, almost claustrophobic space. However, even though the basic premise of Corrie remains the same as it always was, does the community still exist?
I think a recent example of Corrie's strong sense of community was the 50th anniversary tram crash story. This really did bring every character together in one story, with everyone pulling together like the old days. However was this a one off? Going back 20, 30, 40 years, it would be true to say the majority of the regular cast would share scenes together, if not storylines. These days with a cast totalling around seventy actors, this would be impossible to achieve. To me, this is a great shame as I think there are many great actors and characters in the Street that either never get to appear in stories together or very rarely get a look in at all. Certainly to me it feels like characters such as Stella, Tina, Peter, Carla, Leanne and Michelle dominate the show while others are left out in the cold.
So do you think Coronation Street still features a community in the original sense? Do you think the current Corrie cast is too large? Who would you like to see getting more screen time in the year ahead? And who deserves an extended stay in the Corrie cupboard?
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That claustrophobic but safe world vanished in the 80's as society became more materialistic. Being authentic, middle class Ken would have moved out years ago; Tracy would be living on benefits in a council property; the factory wouldn't exist and young people wouldn't socialise with the oldies. In fact, I think attempts to portray the 'community spirit' in Corrie are often very contrived and at odds with the show's desire to be up-to-date. Certainly, the cast needs trimming by category as much as by talent. We really don't need so many children on screen because they become part of insular family sagas. If you remove the stories about fighting within families, characters would interact with neighbours and others.
ReplyDeleteThe *sub-communities* of the Street should be played up more. Who else works in the factory? What's happened to the other shops and wouldn't shopkeepers talk to each other? Nick's bistro has a life of its own - in fact, it could be a stand-alone sitcom - but we should see that buzz in the newsagents, the corner shop and even the Medical Centre. New romances are fine, but we don't need any more long-lost relatives and if we could write out the least useful characters, Street life could be a lot more interesting.
These people can go immediately: Tracy, Paul, Tina, Tommy,Rob, Michelle,Stella, Gloria, Karl, the Alahans,Ryan, Sophie, Kevin.
There is no community space on the street. They speak of the Red Rec but we never see it. No one goes to church. The same cliches congregate at the Rovers. Of course the children could never participate in the bar. Perhaps a community centre would help. While it is true that society more isolated now, Corrie is a world of its own and I think that sense of community which was a part of the Corrie formula is missing. Stories such as Tyrone's abuse would never happen when neighbours knew your business.
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ReplyDeleteThat's very true - there used to be a community centre years ago, but it's the medical centre now.
Given how claustrophobic the terraced houses are it's amazing nobody else has worked out what is going on between Tyrone and Kirsty.
The community centre was where the Kabin stands now. Indeed when the old Mission was knocked down in 1968 and the maisonettes were built, producers realised there was no place for characters to integrate apart from the Rovers and the Corner Shop. And thus when the maisonettes were demolished in 1971 and the community centre was opened, a buzz of community activity began once more and lasted until its demolition in 1989. Indeed, Emily Bishop is an integral part of the community spirit as she is the one who arranges community gatherings - be it soup kitchens, carol singing, Millennium party and such. It is a shame that a sense of community is dying and the census today reflects that.
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ReplyDeleteOooh I managed to be timely (re census) without even knowing it! :)
Hi Graeme, I'm Anonymous (Sue) that posted that comment. My reckoning is that, though the culture and economics of Britain has changed over the years, Coronation Street is still about British people and experiences -- just like the original concept and theme. Of course, the Street is a small and closed type of community that exists rarely in large cities anymore, but I believe it does still exist in smaller towns/urban centres. Besides, it's an entertainment show first and foremost, and I, for one, don't necessarily want realism and a cast of thousands in the show to outweigh the entertainment and connected-feeling to the characters. I find I just don't care as much about the characters as I did years ago, and as I still do when I view shows from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Even characters that were back then, now they don't mean as much to me.
ReplyDeleteSo, no, I don't think Coronation Street still features a community in the original sense.
Yes, I do think the cast is too large, and I don't know who I'd like to see get more screen time. I think I'd rather that the families and individuals were less disjointed and specifically story-centred, but rather have the stories more community-centred and the characters interact in the stories of many rather than few.
Another great article, Graeme, thanks!
I feel like the world in general has changed, in that it is both smaller (via the Internet) and vast (breakdown of socialization due to technology and media hysteria). I like the comment above suggesting that Corrie focus on the sub-communities on the show, as that seems more realistic.
ReplyDeleteBy the by Graeme N... I certainly hope you've been applying for these open postings at ITV. They could at the very least use you in their PR department! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Sue - I think we have many of the same ideas. Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteAnd Anonymous, that's very flattering but I'm not sure ITV would really want me in their PR department! I'm probably far too honest!
Although community within the real world has changed there are still some traditional family units out there where as Corrie seems to have none whatsoever. There are literally no long term couples to speak of, except Roy & Hayley, and therefore there is no longer the family strains on screen that brought so many storylines to life in the past. Ken and Sexy Specs family is so ridiculous they dont really count even though I love them. Im not saying that everyone should be 2.4 children etc but can anyone think of a long term family unit that exists nowadays? Even when there has been a family, such as the battersbys, which although fairly warped was established, characters such as Leane can now find a new 'Mum', inherit a 'son' etc making a family where nobody has a clear line of connection. We instead have loads of stand alone characters- Tina being an example- a young girl with no family and no real friends to speak of. The nearest thing to a clear family unit is still the Platts, but even they are now made up of other peoples children etc. Sounds stuffy but its just so 'temporary' viewers just wont buy into it- Micky
ReplyDeleteGood point Anon about the instant families. Eileen has an instant family, as does Lloyd and Anna and Maria. It was a soap cliche Corrie had managed to avoid till now. Perhaps actors need to be given long term contracts if they wish to be part of the main cast.
ReplyDeleteEven family ties that are there are ignored. Will Ken be contacting Daniel or his other long lost children this christmas? Will Michelle be going all out to ensure that her baby nephew Liam, her dead brothers only child, and sister in law maria are happy? Has Bill and Pam been invited inside Kevins done up number 13 for turkey and trimmings? ( Has anyone even been inside to admire his handywork yet come to think of it?!). The answer to all these I fear is a big fat tinsley No. - Micky
ReplyDeleteOh and Gail will, I imagine, forget once again that she and her clan are infact the only legal relatives around to Tina, seeing that her father was married to Gail. Pity she is now too wrapped up in cleaning the bistro 24/7 to remember this- Micky
ReplyDeleteOne thing I don't understand is why does Corrie have such a big cast?
ReplyDeleteEE have a cast of between 40 to 50, whereas Corrie 50 to 60. I know people will say Corrie has an extra episode, but in screen time due to Corrie's break they are about equal air time.
And Walford is much bigger set wise, so it's not like Corrie need that extra amount to fill up their smaller set? I think part of the issue is the lack of desire to get rid of deadend characters. Lets be honest what does Kirk add to the show? Mary was kept on, but isn't a long term character because she's a caricature with no depth. Dev? Why is Karl still clinging on? And honestly Sean? Even Fiz and Ches should have been dropped a while back.
I don't understand what Corrie does with it's cast.
I remember reading an article way back in the 1970s which stated that the Street made many viewers feel nostalgic for a lost sense of community. That sense of community, however out of date even in the 1970s, was what made the show so wonderful for me. Too much violence and serial killers now.
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