As we all know, “Dallas” is one of the most popular soap operas in Hungary - and probably in many other countries, as well. The reason for this is quite complex, yet vary obvious. In modern societies human relations are getting weaker and weaker. There are many lonely people who need company but they simply cannot make friends. /This has got many reasons such as their fear, the effect of huge, crowded cities, however it could be the topic of another essay./ For these people and for many others who are in fact not lonely but still have a need for soap operas the characters of these films mean company. Watching these series they are getting to know them and after a while people feel that they know so much about these characters as if they were their close friends. /This is the explanation why an old lady in Hungary wanted to send a ransom for Isaura a few years ago./ So, people sit in front of the TV every time a new episode of the series is on, to see what happiness to the well-known “Heroes/heroines” and “intrigues”.
These characters are especially interesting as They are members of the “high society” of the United States. Isn’t it exciting to get involved in these people’s affairs, to see that they also have their everyday problems, they love and hate, cry and laugh as we do? Its suggests that wealthy people are just the same as we are, therefore the audience can identify him/herself with the characters and feel sympathy to them.
Furthermore there is another significant reason for the popularity of “Dallas”: the film is full of beautiful women and macho men dressed in wonderful clothes, they drive huge cars and go to parties all the time. This visual pleasure also attracts people to watch the film.
So, watching “Dallas” is an exciting experience which satisfies our need for company, pleasure, beauty, adventure and of course, entertainment. It is doubtless that it has great popularity but the question is whether besides giving joy to the audience it has got any use, as well. Does it transmit any useful information? Does it have any esthetic value? Is it a piece of art? It would be quite difficult to answer “yes” for these questions and also give a satisfactory explanation for it.
Still, there are certain factors which seem to have positive effects on particular groups of our society.
Let me take an “average” Hungarian family with a mother and a father plus two children. In the evening the mother coming home from work, prepares dinner for the family, then washes up, helps the children with their homework, bathing and going to bed. After all this she feels like dieing. And then comes “Dallas” - she does not have to do anything but sit in front of the TV, watch the film and enjoy it. She does not have to think, worry about the family, or work - she is having a rest. If she tried to sleep all her problems would come to her mind but during “Dallas” all she is doing is watching and listening.
She can see other people’s problems and delight - she can feel sympathy or sorrow or she can laugh with the characters. She forgets her everyday problems completely which means that watching “Dallas” is the best thing she can do. Isn’t it wonderful?
Or, have you ever heard of Dallas Club? Yes, a club is organised for all those people who watch “Dallas” regularly and would like to meet other people whose hobby is “Dallas”, too. They come together and talk about the events of the last episode or try to guess what is going to happen to Samantha, Jenna or Bobby. Thus, these people find a company where they can share their ideas with other who have the same interest they do and, on other hand, it is likely that they make new friends which is definitely a great help for those who cannot get in touch with other people easily.
But “Dallas” produces themes for those people who are actually not “Dallas” fans but when they do not have anything else to do they watch it. We can often hear them joking about it, parodising certain characters, etc. They are usually the authors of “Dallas-jokes”, as well however, many of them deny that they often watch these series.
And what about the actors synchroninsing the film? It is not doubtful that they earn much of their salary by lending their voices to the characters in “Dallas”. This factor cannot be neglected when we observe the use of “Dallas” as nowadays actors suffer from the economic crises in Hungary and the money they get for synchronising constitute a great percentage of their salary. So, “Dallas” with its endless number of episodes means a good way for many actors to earn their living. It is probably not the work they are dreaming of, but besides the money it brings them fame and popularity as well.
Finally, we all know that “Dallas” is a good topic for newspapers, especially for tabloid papers and women magazines. There is also a “Dallas” magazine which only deals with the series exclusively - it writes about the actors’ lives, gossips about them and also includes a short account of the Dallas Club or cut the adored characters pictures from it. Why is it useful, then? Because it gives a further access to people to come together and have fun.
Now, taking all these advantages of watching “Dallas” together we can say that it is definitely useful. It is very important for many people and it is unpredictable what will happen when “Dallas” comes to its final episode. It will probably cause more serious objections - or even scandal - than what Bobby’s sudden death caused. /It was not by accident that h e soon returned./ If the series come to the end people will loose their “friends” and something important will be ”stolen” from their lives. However, this is a question of the future.
Nevertheless, we should also have a look at the other side of the coin: what values does “Dallas” possess or transmit.
First of all, let me point out that the visual tools of the film mislead the audience everybody and everything appear to be perfect. All the characters are attractive and elegant the houses, gardens and offices are beautifully furnished, cars are splendid. Although it is pleasant for the eye, there is not an element of truth in it. Still, many of the people believe it. Moreover, the situations are simplified, the dialogues are naive, and the events are predictable. In summary, the plot of the stories are plain and boring. Obviously, it does not mean that it makes the film unenjoyable but it does not offer any “intellectual” entertainment. The actors’ play is artificial and weak, they are repeating the same sentences and gestures all the time. The characters never greet or say good-bye to each other on telephone and other values apart from money do not appear in the film. Power and money are in the center of the stories, everybody if fighting for them while real emotions are neglected or oppressed.
Everything seems to be artificial: the people and the way they behave, their environment and the events that take place, as well. Everything about “Dallas” is unrealistic. It is a fairy tail for adults.
One can say that “Dallas” was not designed to be a piece of art, it is light entertainment for people who like soap operas. On the one hand, it is true. But on the other hand, we must note that there is a group of the audience of “Dallas” who take it more seriously that it would be necessary and therefore cannot be critical with it. Briefly, I can say that “Dallas” can be useful if one knows “how to watch it” otherwise it is rather harmful.
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