Television & Society
COMM 473/573 :: Spring, 2004
Professor: Dr. Jeffrey Jones
Office: BAL 614
Office Phone: 683-6267
E-mail: jpjones@odu.edu
Office Hours:
TR 9:30-12:00, or by
appointment
Class:
TR 8:00-9:15 a.m., Constant Hall 1042
Course Overview:
This course examines
television as both a cultural and economic force in American society, as one of
America’s leading industries and as our “most popular art.” We begin with a brief overview of the history
and development of broadcasting, including its numerous forms of delivery to
consumers. We investigate the authorship
and production of television in its commercial and public forms in both the
national and global contexts. The
factors and structures of television as an industry are also studied. Programming is examined, including the
aesthetics and grammar of television content.
Particular emphasis is placed on the mastery of various tools or
techniques for conducting critical analysis of television at all levels of
production, content, and reception.
Finally, we investigate the impact or effect of television on audiences
and culture.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Requirements for 473 Students:
Mid-Term and Final Exam: The tests will be comprised of multiple choice and
an essay question. The Final is not
cumulative. Please bring a scantron (bubble sheets) to both exams. Each worth 30%.
Paper: This
course is designed to analyze the contributions, significance, and effects of
the electronic media on contemporary American culture. This paper participates in this process by
asking you to identify and recount your various responses to television as you
grew up. The following are some questions that help you organize your thoughts
on the role that television has played in your life. This paper is a reflective essay. Try to be as vivid and candid as
possible. Take this paper up to the
present, and end with this course. The
questions below are simply starting points to be selected, jettisoned,
rearranged, and combined as you chose.
The paper should be typed, double-spaced, and 5-pages in length. Worth 25%.
1.
What are your
earliest memories of television programs?
2.
What has been
the pattern of your television viewing?
How has it changed as you have grown older?
3.
Is this
pattern of consumption different from your parents and/or grandparents’ use of
TV, and if so, how?
4.
What
television events left a strong impression on you? Describe the content and
corresponding emotional impact.
5.
How did
television compare with school? With home life? With play with friends? Did you
discuss programs, or act them out? How
did you use TV?
6.
Compare
through time specific programs, stars, personalities, etc. that are/were your
favorites and why?
7.
Compare and
contrast your television viewing with your use of radio, films/videotapes,
magazines, books, newspapers, records/CDs, Internet, etc.
8.
To what extend
did you participate in the media culture surrounding your interest in
television? Did you ever go to fan sites
or discussion groups on the web? Write fan letters? Own or use a video
camera? Act? Etc.
9.
How has your
clothing, choice of hairstyle, and/or language/speech been influenced by what
you have seen on television? How have
your consumption habits been influenced (e. g. what you buy or where you
shop?).
10.
What opinions,
attitudes, and views of the world do you think you developed as a result of
watching television?
Class Participation, Discussion: This
class is not a lecture class, though you should take notes for the two
tests. Rather, I employ a mild version
of the Socratic method. That is, a
directed discussion toward points that shed greater light on the truth, as well
as situate our study in the greater body of knowledge we have about the
world. Such a method is greatly
dependent on your coming to class prepared.
Preparation means more than simply having read the material. It means that you have reviewed the material,
considered what it means, perhaps have even written some notes or important
points, and come to class ready to engage both your professor and your peers. Our working through these texts, however,
will be based on more than simply how you feel
about them or your opinion about the issue under scrutiny. You should offer precise, articulate,
informed and thoughtful comments. Your
participation grade is based partly on how well you achieve this goal. To do these things, you also have to be in
class, be there on time, and read the material.
These quizzes therefore account for 60 % of your participation
grade. Your participation grade is 15%
of the overall score.
Requirements for 573 Students:
1. Mid-term and Final Exam
(each worth 15%)
2. Class participation
(taking the lead in contributing your ideas to the class). Worth 20%.
3. Final Paper (preparatory
work): Abstract, outline, method of analysis, and annotated bibliography. Approximately 5-6 pages. Worth 15%. Due on Thursday, March 18.
4. Final Paper: 15-page analysis of a television and society
topic of your choosing. Begin developing
your topic early through library research and discussions with me. Worth approximately 35%. Due on Tuesday, April 27.
Class Policies
Attendance:
This class has no official
attendance policy, though attendance is strongly encouraged. Learning is more than simply reading books
and taking tests. The professor will
take roll by administering a daily quiz at 8:01 a.m. Quizzes
cannot be made up if you miss class or are late. You are allowed two quiz drops. Quiz grades account for 60% of your
participation grade, which accounts for 15% of your overall class grade.
E-mail account activation
As a participant in this
class, you are required to have an active and working ODU e-mail account. This is important for class communication, as
well as required for you to access Blackboard and to fill out the teaching
evaluations at the end of the semester.
This class utilizes
Blackboard. Please use this site
regularly for class announcements, updates to the syllabus, exam review sheets,
and other distributed materials.
Blackboard also allows for class discussion to occur outside of
class. Your participation grade can be
greatly enhanced when you participate in discussions about television on the
site. All (reasonable) subjects related
to television are fair game. The professor, in particular, appreciates student
arguments—that is, the challenging of each other’s ideas. Learning is greatly accelerated under those
circumstances.
Course Evaluation
As a participant in this class, you
are required to fill out a student evaluation of the course on-line. During the last
two weeks of class, please complete the evaluation by going to the ODU webpage,
(click on) Current Students and
(click on) Course Evaluations. You
will receive further instructions on this later in the semester.
Paper Submission and Late Papers:
Papers are due at the beginning of class.
Late papers will be deducted one letter grade per calendar day (note: calendar day, not class day). Late papers not delivered to me
personally should have the Communication Department secretary sign and date and
time the paper. Otherwise, the late
grade is based on when I receive it (which could be a day later than when you
submitted it). Papers over 5 calendar
days late will not be accepted under any circumstances. I do not accept papers via E-mail. You are responsible for printing
your work yourself.
Students with
Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations
are provided for students with disabilities.
Students should present me with the appropriate documentation from the
Office of Disability Services and contact me as soon as possible to discuss the
appropriate accommodations.
The Office of Student
Judicial Affairs has published a guide on College Classroom Conduct. In short, you should refrain from:
·
arriving late
·
conversing
during a lecture
·
answering a
cell phone (or allowing it to ring by not turning it off)
·
leaving
without permission
·
packing to
leave before class is finished
·
eating in
class
·
sleeping or
studying unrelated materials in class
·
surfing the
net or instant messaging
Grades:
The following grade scale
applies to all written work:
A
= 95
A-
= 92
A-/B+
= 90
B+
= 88
Etc.
If you would like to
discuss how to improve your grades, please come see me during office hours
(I don’t discuss graded work in the hallway or after class). I also require a 24-hour pause or
moratorium between the time you receive a grade and when I am willing to
discuss it with you.
Remember to include or
address the following items. Failure to
address these will result in a grade deduction.
It is highly recommended
that you ask someone to edit your
writing prior to submission. Every
article, book, news story, etc., that you see in print is the product of
several sets of eyes. Students should
develop the habit of having someone mark their papers for grammatical errors or
awkward syntax and phrasing. Learn to
give and take criticism productively.
Readings
Schedule (you
should expect this schedule to change several times during the semester. New versions will be distributed and posted
on Blackboard).
Tues., Jan. 13:
Class Introduction
Thurs., Jan. 15:
Studying Television: Industry and Criticism
Head, ch. 1; Vande Berg,
ch. 3
Tues., Jan. 20: History of Broadcasting
Head, ch. 2
Thurs., Jan. 22:
History of Broadcasting
(continued)
Tues., Jan. 27:
The Post-Network Era: Cable and Recorders
Head, ch. 3
Thurs., Jan. 29: Producing Television
Head, ch. 8
Tues., Feb. 3: Production Criticism
Vande Berg, ch. 10
Thurs., Feb. 5: Programming
Head, ch. 9
Tues., Feb. 10: Genre Criticism
Vande Berg, ch. 6
Thurs., Feb. 12:
Case Study: Reality Shows
No reading
Tues., Feb. 17: Narrative Criticism
Vande Berg, ch. 8
Thurs., Feb. 19: The Business of TV: Distribution
and Advertising
Head, ch. 6
Tues., Feb. 24: Measuring Audiences
Head, ch. 10
Thurs., Feb. 26:
TBA
Tues., Mar. 2: Exam #1
Thurs., Mar. 4:
No Class
March 9 & 11:
**Spring Break**
Tues., Mar. 16:
Public Television
Head, ch. 7
Thurs., Mar. 18:
The Case of Ken Burns
***Paper Due (473 and 573
students)
No reading: Guest Speaker, Dr. Gary Edgerton
March 23 & 25:
Film Festival—Viewing Assignments TBA
Tues., Mar. 30:
Television Effects
Head, ch. 11
Thurs. Apr. 1: Audience Criticism
Vande Berg, ch. 12
Tues., Apr. 6: Audience Criticism
Vande Berg, ch. 13
Thurs., Apr. 8: Representations: Race
Vande Berg, ch. 13
Tues., Apr. 13: Global Issues
Head, ch. 14
Thurs., Apr. 15: Cultural Criticism
Vande Berg, ch. 14
Tues., Apr. 20: Rhetorical Criticism
Vande Berg, ch. 7
Thurs., Apr. 22:
Case Study: News
No reading
Tues., Apr. 27: TBA
Tues., May 4:
Exam #2