Representation of Social Issues in French Soap Opera

Television soap operas are one of the most frequently and widely watched genres focusing on one or a number of social themes. Addressing social problems requires important considerations regarding the representation and construction of the problems, technical structures as well as modes of storytelling. "The Teacher" is seemingly a successful example regarding the way to represent social issues; its approach is a community-based one. Employing a qualitative content analysis methodology and using such theoretical grounds as socialization theory, social control theory as well as social constructionism, the present research analyzes two parts of this drama which deals with wrongdoing and delinquency which are seemingly two important social problems infecting social environments, including educational spaces. The findings indicate that at the end of each part, wrong impressions give way to more correct understandings; in better words, the issue raised in each part will be solved through the uniquely designed performance of the main character so far as to ultimately reinforce the "social bonds".