How Coronation street has changed throughout 3 decades?

Coronation street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford in North West England. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. It is produced at the Granada Studios in Manchester by Granada Television and shown in all ITV regions. Since first being aired, it has been one of the most financially lucrative programmes on commercial television, underpinning the success of its broadcaster ITV and its franchise Granada Television. On 17 September 2010, it became the world's longest-running TV soap opera currently in production"

Withen three decades coronation street has changed dramatically, with the use of different camera movements/shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. These devices were used to give a particular look,message, feeling and emotion to the audience. The specific years ill be analysing will be an episode from 1961, 1979 and 2011 which il explain the how the technical catogories have changed and why.

Opening scene( establishing shot) and
wide shot to show intimidation.

1961 - The opening credits to coronation street are dark, gloomey,miserable,black and white and dull. This connotes aload of different things, for example it suggest theres no glamour what so ever in this soap opera, the fact there are drap northern houses codifys the economic status. Also the musky and old apperance gives the impression that the area is not cared for, its back in time with the old pavements which seem to be unmantained. The camera shots and movents seem to have a few bumps on track which connotes they didnt have as advanced and experenced camera men or equipment ( to do with budget ensamble shots). The opening scene is in a bar/pub, which suggest were the episode is specifically set (nothern part). The characters in the opening shot are dressed smartly and sophisicated, which connotes they could be whealthyand important,also the bar/pub itself looks quite stylised. There are no uses of cutting or close ups as there are mainly medium/long shots, this suggest there are no specific or important characters, that everyone has the same importance in the soap. There are the uses of low angles which ironically reverses hiraci, as its a wider establishing shot it shows the "community sopport" which suggests whos the most intimidating person out of the two women arqueing. Also the fact they are all wearing similar clothes again shows no specific importance, they all look and dress the same so there for they are the same. Although there arnt uses of close ups there are the uses of screen time which connotes who are the important and main characters. There isnt any silence throughout of the episode, the scene is very noisey also the sound quality isnt as advanced as it is now obvioulsy which makes its difficult to understand.

1979 - At this time things were more advanced and technical, as its shown in colour, uses or different camera angles/shots and movements to connote and evoke certain feeling or atmosphere. There was the use of mise-en-scene, being costume to suggest the characters class, personality and style. For example the old man in this scene is in this scene is wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown which is sterotypical for that age group, aslo connotes vulnerability. Compared to the other character in the scene wich is a middle aged man, in black leather jacket, smoking in the old mans house which connotes he's rebelious or a villian character. Also the use of angles and head room to suggest character roles. The opening to this specific episode was a long and slow intro, with just the male character walking around suspecioulsy, theres is the use of tracking shot and complete silence. Also he's body language suggests his character as he (flungs things on the table) connotes he doesnt care, makes the audience not appeal to him, also the silence creates tension and suspense. The opening was more like a film, which adds realism to the soap. The old mans house seems very homely, due to the colours and furniture for example : picture frames on the walls could suggest hes a family man, or was. Also the types of furniture in the living room (wardrobes) which could suggest his class (house is to small) which makes the audience sympathise with the character. Close ups are used to obviously show emotion and reactions, to involve audience which also adds realism. ( specific episode I annalyesd from below)

The opening credits in 1979 compared to 2011 :

In 1978 the opening credits connote the class, style and econmic state of coronation street at this particular time. the opening credits are incredibly dull, grim, musty and boring. The shots are extremely static and show no movement or feeling at all. The shots immediately go into showing the rows of tight houses,lined up next to eachother which all look old and washed out with musky colours, also the houses are all identical which seems to be neverending. This connotes that the everyone is the same, there is no individuality that everyones "dull and boring" which isnt nesercarily true but this is what the credits suggests. It also shows the economic state, with the run down roof tops which shows class and status, with there being no sense of glamour, life or colour. In this case the colours are dirty, musky, dull, boring and miserable ( navy,dark green, grey,black,brown etc). Also the fact that there is no one in the credits accept for a cat suggests there is no life to the street, no lively, exciting good-feeling atmosphere.

2011 - Episodes from 1960 till now are complete opposites in every way, just by the opening credits immediately gives 2011 corronation street a whole different atmospher and outlook than before. Firstly the colour palet is bright, romantic and vibrant which connotes Coronation street is a "happy and welcoming" place which gives a positive feeling to the audience. Camera movements used are tilting, panning, crane shots to show a variety of different parts of the street at different angles. Editing such as CGI (the pegion, last shot) are used to connote the soap is more advanced and technical. Each shot had spefic things in and out of focus to suggest important probs/parts, also every shot had edited in sunlight to again make the whole credits look brighter and happier. This is used to connote Corrie is a welcoming and friendly place.There are people in the 2011 opening credits compared to there being none in the 1961 and 1979 to again show its a lively, sociable and busy place..