Module: MCO4100-20 Introduction to Television

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Andy Brown

Module Tutor Contact Details: a.brown@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Introduction to Television aims to provide you with the opportunity to study the key debates in the growing discipline of television studies from a number of critical perspectives. The module examines the emergence of television criticism, considering the relationship between television genres and their social and cultural contexts. It will go on to explore critical writing concerning the representations of gender in television genres including soap operas, teen programming and science fiction. The module will also examine the relationship between television and public debate including news, reality television and lifestyle programming, and the role of the audience in participative programme formats. Introduction to Television will identify a range of contemporary debates and encourage you to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of such literature in relation to a range of contemporary popular genre texts. The assessments will test your ability to analyse extant literature in the field of television studies, your skills in applying such work to relevant programming and your capacity to communicate your ideas effectively in a range of written and verbal formats.

2: Outline syllabus:

The Public Sphere

Soap Opera

Sitcom

Medical Drama

Teen Drama and Youth Culture

News

Talk Shows

Reality TV

Crime Drama

Lifestyle TV

Science Fiction

History of UK television

History of American television

3. Teaching and learning activities:

Introduction to Television will cover a number of key debates concerning the academic analysis of popular television, with each debate being introduced in a formal lecture and then challenged, considered and reconsidered in the ensuing seminar. Each debate will require looking at the relevant lecture slides, the essential reading, a range of further readings as outlined in the module handbook, an appropriate television text and the introduction of relevant extra materials. The Minerva site for the module will act as a research centre for students and will contain both weekly support materials (lecture slides, further reading, links etc.) and broader research materials such as links to academic journal articles, programme websites, review materials and audience demographics.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW
• Description: Research Essay (2000 words)
• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW
• Description: Research Portfolio and Reflective Commentary
• % Weighting: 50%