More than drama, design!

In searching for a novela to study for this class, I contacted my high school Spanish teacher, Sra. Ruddle, who is from Puerto Rico. She supplied me with Amor Real and La Ursurpadora on DVD. Of the two, I have dedicated myself to La Ursurpadora because of the intriguing plot centered on twin sisters – one angelic and the other undeniably evil, of course.

I have enjoyed analyzing the ways in which the producer elicits the desired reaction from viewers through design.

One thing that has caught my attention so far is the use of subtle yet strong visual cues to add to the dramatization. The most distinguishing cue as to which sister is taking the screen is the lipstick used. The innocent sister always wears a powder-puff pink tint whereas her devilish counterpart broadcasts her role through a deep, blood-red hue.

Another cue to stir emotions is the dramatic audio that accompanies each turn in the plot. This is always paired with a shot of the fair sister’s horrified face that lingers a few seconds longer than necessary, just to emphasize the extent of her anguish.

All of this to say that through our class discussions and a closer inspection of the one I have chosen, I am beginning to see the telenovela as a design rather than dramatic overkill. Many of these elements that re-emphasize the plot’s development are necessary to the genre and, I expect, help contribute to the success of the telenovela as a global export by minimizing the linguistic dependency in transporting meaning. .