#8- International Media

Telenovelas

A telenovela is essentially similar to what we would call a soap opera in the United States. The name combines the Spanish words for television (televisión and tele for short) and novel (novela). When a telenovela is on TV, it will air around 5 or 6 times a week. In the telenovela world, there are series that air during the daytime, similar to American soap operas, and some that will air during prime time (usually 8 to 11 p.m.).

Telenovelas are different than American soap operas like Days of Our Lives or All My Children. American soaps typically take place in the same location for the entire series and might run for several years with different characters being written off or added on. For example, Days of Our Lives has been around since 1965 and still follows storylines regarding the three main families (the Hortons, the Bradys, and the DiMeras). A telenovela series will have around 120 episodes or more. Episodes are called capítulos in Spanish (capítulos translates to chapters). Unlike American soaps, telenovelas do end after a few months. Each one will cover a different topic and have its own special name. Telenovelas can feature storylines revolving around murder, romance, comedy, and fantasy, and actions are often more dramatic than regular acting. Overall, telenovelas are part of “a distinct genre with a global reach.”

Telenovelas were first created in the 1950s, which was around the time when television began to make its way into people’s homes. These series were first made and shown in Latin American countries. Today, telenovelas can be made and watched anywhere that there are Spanish-speaking citizens. Many telenovelas are produced in Mexico. Miami, Florida is also a popular place where telenovelas are made, and Spanish networks, such as Univision and Telemundo, are located there as well. This growth in production in Florida came about because of “American marketing opportunities, tax breaks and the growing Hispanic audience in the United States.” Telenovelas can also be found in Europe, most likely in the country of Spain. Some can even be found in Africa or Asia.

There are multiple ways for those in the United States to watch telenovelas. They can be viewed on Spanish-language networks that can be bought from your television provider, watched online, or seen on Netflix. Telenovelas available on Netflix include María la del Barrio, La Reina del Sur, La Familia P. Luche, and more. I would recommend watching telenovelas because they are highly interesting, and I actually prefer them more than American soap operas. I first watched a telenovela when I was visiting my friend’s house (who speaks Spanish). Even though there were no subtitles and I had no idea what the characters were saying, it was still fun to watch. I’m sure there are telenovelas out there that do have English subtitles. I also think that watching telenovelas or other Spanish-speaking shows would be beneficial to those who are trying to learn Spanish. You can gain practice translating other languages through watching these kinds of show, which will ultimately be helpful in the long run.
P.S. I've included an example of a telenovela's opening theme and a clip of a rather dramatic (but laughable) scene from María la del Barrio, a popular telenovela from the 90s.