Desperate Housewives is an American comedy-drama serial created by Marc Cherry. After its premiere on October the 3rd, 2004 on “abc” the serial had altogether 111 episodes in six seasons. Desperate Housewives won several awards since its broadcast, like the Emmy, the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild Award. In April 2007 the serial was awarded as most popular show with an audience of over 119 million viewers.
The fictional setting of Wisteria Lane in Fairview is the home of a group of women protagonists: Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross), Edie Britt (Nicolette Sheridan) and Katherine Mayfair (Dana Delany) are the main female characters that are more or less friends. All of them have their own specialties and problems in their lives. The plot of each episode follows these struggles they have to deal with in their family lives in domestic surroundings. But with every episode it becomes clearer that even in beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhoods lots of secrets, crimes and mysteries are buried. The answers to these mysteries are mostly given by another friend of them – Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong) – who died in the pilot episode of Desperate Housewives because she committed suicide.
Mary Alice Young nevertheless appears in the series – but as the narrator of each episode. Her voice leads the viewer through the happenings and through the plot of Desperate Housewives and structures the series with her pro- and epilogues. The following composition is going to deal with the narration of Mary Alice Young and is based on the presentation to the according topic of Desperate Housewives in the seminar “Serial TV”. This term paper will first concentrate on the tradition of voice-over narration and afterwards on general facts of the voice-over narration in Desperate Housewives. In a final step the narration of Mary Alice Young will be discussed.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Voice-over narration in Desperate Housewives
- The tradition of voice-over narration
- General facts about voice-over narration in DH
- The narration of Mary Alice Young
- Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the use of voice-over narration in the television series Desperate Housewives. The objective is to examine the role of Mary Alice Young as narrator, exploring its function within the series' narrative structure and its connection to the broader tradition of voice-over narration in film and television.
- The tradition and evolution of voice-over narration in film and television.
- The specific use of voice-over narration in Desperate Housewives and its impact on storytelling.
- The character of Mary Alice Young and her significance as a narrator beyond the grave.
- The relationship between the voice-over narration and the show's themes of secrets, mystery, and suburban life.
- The impact of the narration on the viewer's engagement with the series.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by introducing Desperate Housewives, its premise, main characters, and overall success. It highlights the central role of Mary Alice Young, not only as a deceased character but also as the series' narrator, whose voice guides the viewer through the unfolding events. The chapter establishes the paper's focus on analyzing Mary Alice's narration and its place within the broader context of voice-over narration in television.
Voice-over narration in “Desperate Housewives”: This chapter delves into the use of voice-over narration as a stylistic device in the series. It establishes that Mary Alice's narration is not unique but builds upon a tradition seen in various films and television shows. The chapter briefly introduces examples such as Sex and the City and Scrubs, emphasizing the narrative power and audience engagement that can be achieved through such a device. The chapter sets the groundwork for a deeper examination of Mary Alice's specific narration style in subsequent sections.
The tradition of voice-over narration: This section explores the historical context of voice-over narration, tracing its origins and evolution in cinema. It highlights its prominent use in film noir and women's pictures of the 1940s, noting how female protagonists often delivered the narration. This historical context provides a framework for understanding the specific choice of a female, deceased narrator in Desperate Housewives. The chapter connects this tradition to the show's setting and character dynamics, suggesting a deliberate choice to engage the audience through a familiar yet unconventional narrative technique.
Keywords
Voice-over narration, Desperate Housewives, Mary Alice Young, film noir, women's pictures, narrative structure, television series, storytelling, audience engagement, female narrator, suburban life, mystery.
Desperate Housewives: Voice-over Narration Analysis - FAQ
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the use of voice-over narration in the television series Desperate Housewives, focusing specifically on the role and function of Mary Alice Young as the narrator.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the tradition and evolution of voice-over narration in film and television, the specific use of this technique in Desperate Housewives, the character of Mary Alice Young and her significance as a narrator, the relationship between the narration and the show's themes (secrets, mystery, suburban life), and the impact of the narration on viewer engagement.
What is the objective of the analysis?
The objective is to examine Mary Alice Young's role as narrator, exploring its function within the series' narrative structure and its connection to the broader tradition of voice-over narration.
What aspects of voice-over narration are examined?
The analysis examines the historical context of voice-over narration, tracing its origins and evolution, particularly its use in film noir and women's pictures. It then compares this tradition to the specific use of voice-over narration in Desperate Housewives.
How does the paper analyze Mary Alice Young's role?
The paper analyzes Mary Alice Young's character and her significance as a narrator beyond the grave. It examines how her narration contributes to the storytelling, audience engagement, and the overall themes of the show.
What is the relationship between the voice-over narration and the show's themes?
The paper investigates how the voice-over narration connects to and reinforces the show's themes of secrets, mystery, and the complexities of suburban life.
What is the impact of the narration on the viewer?
The paper explores how Mary Alice's narration impacts the viewer's experience and engagement with the series, considering its narrative power and how it influences the audience's understanding of the story.
What are some examples of shows mentioned in relation to voice-over narration?
The paper briefly mentions Sex and the City and Scrubs as examples of television shows that utilize voice-over narration, highlighting the narrative power and audience engagement achieved through this technique.
What are the key chapters of the paper?
The paper includes an introduction, a chapter on voice-over narration in Desperate Housewives, a chapter on the tradition of voice-over narration, and a conclusion (implied).
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Voice-over narration, Desperate Housewives, Mary Alice Young, film noir, women's pictures, narrative structure, television series, storytelling, audience engagement, female narrator, suburban life, mystery.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Hülya Akkaş (Author), 2009, Voice-over narration in Desperate Housewives, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/146835
