Soap opera viewing in a communal context: an ethnographic examination of the viewing experiences of black Zuluspeaking students living in university residences
an ethnographic examination of the viewing experiences of black Zuluspeaking students living in university residences

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- Submited: October 19, 2022
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Published: October 24, 2022
Abstract
This paper presents some of the findings of an ethnographic audience study of the soap
opera viewing patterns and interpretations of Zulu-speaking students living in residences
at a South African university (Natal University’s Durban campus) who watch The Bold
and the Beautiful (an American soap opera) and Generations (a South African soap
opera). Although the research undertaken covered various aspects of the soap opera
viewing experience and the consumption of an international vs a local soap opera, this
paper will focus specifically on the nature of the viewing process and the ways in which
the respondents relate to both soap operas, and it touches briefly on how the viewing
patterns of the students and their motivations for watching compare with audience
studies conducted elsewhere in the world.
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