USING THE STYLISTIC LENS TO COMPARE PAKISTANI MAINSTREAM DRAMAS AND OTT WEB SERIES

Abstract

The Pakistani audiences show a remarkable shift towards streaming platforms in the past decade. Different studies discussed the difference in narrative of Over-the-top (OTT) web series and mainstream television dramas but none discussed the difference in their production techniques. The study uses a stylistic analysis to compare Pakistani mainstream dramas and OTT web series analyzing how production techniques construct visual meanings and gender representation. Visual Culture Theory and Gender representation theory are utilized to study the visual representation of gender roles through production strategies across both platforms. A comparative qualitative stylistic analysis is implemented by careful coding of production elements to identify stylistic similarities and differences across both platforms. One sample form both platforms has been selected which highlights key similarities and differences in the representation of both male and female characters through both platforms