TVR 30.5: Media Criticism (Television and Radio Criticism)

Class Schedule and Assignments - Summer, 2004

Monday through Thursday: 1:45PM - 3 :30PM; Library 384 (L384)

• Read Levinson, Chapters 14 and 15
  
• Final Submission of Term Paper for Grading

Alternate Day 21

Schedule Final Exam Period for other classes.

I will conduct the July 14 class (Thinking Systematically About Media) today for those who can't make it Wednesday, but I must know today who will be here.

Thinking Systematically About Media

• Read Allen, Afterword

Introductions:

• First Day of Class. The only thing due is your presence.

• Read http://davis.foulger.info/research/unifiedModelOfCommunication.htm
• Read http://evolutionarymedia.com/papers/hammerAsMedium.htm
• Index Card Assignment: On one side of an 3x5 index card, write:
• Your three favorite television or radio series (e.g. television shows)
• Your three favorite television or radio commercial series (e.g. products that have been advertised with more than one commercial over time).
• Your three favorite movies that have at least one sequel (a spoof that specifically sends up the movie can be counted as a sequel

• Read Levinson, Chapters 1, 2, 3
• Index Card Assignment: Research at least three choices from your list of favorite content (yesterday's index card assignment). Where can you find each possible body of content (NoteOnPickingaBodyOfContent)? You may want to look at a TV Guide to see what shows are on regularly. Shows that are daily in reruns may be particularly interesting in this regard. Taping shows with a VCR, TIVO, or other recording device can be a good way to gather content quickly. You may want to look at vendors of VCR tapes and DVD's of various television shows and movies. A seasons collection of a television show, for instance, might have anywhere from 12 to 24 episodes. A tape of the Super Bowl might have several series of commercials. On one side of a three by five card, document how you can quickly get each of three bodies of content.

• Read Allen, Introduction

Semiotics

• Read Allen, Chapter 1
• Bring a copy of your body of content to class (a CD, DVD, audio tape or VCR tape)

Narrative Theory

• Read Allen, Chapter 2
• First Annotated Bibliography Due. Find four references (in particular journal articles and books) that discuss your body of content, write down the reference information in APA style, and briefly describe (in a paragraph or so) what the reference has to say

Genre Theory

• Read Allen, Chapter 4

Writing Media Criticism

• Read Levinson, Chapters 4, 5, 6

Ideological Analysis

• Read Allen, Chapter 5
• Allen, Chapter 7 is an optional reading
• Short Paper 1 Due: Pick one of the following analytic approaches: Semiotics, Narrative Theory, or Genre Theory. Briefly analyze, using the form of a five paragraph essay, some aspect of your body of content using this method.

Audience-Oriented Criticism

• Read Allen, Chapter 3

• Read Levinson, Chapters 7 and 8

• Read Levinson, Chapters 9 and 10

Cultural Studies

• Read Allen, Chapter 8
• Short Paper 2 Due: Pick one of the following analytic approaches: Reader-Oriented Criticism, Reader-Response Criticism, Medium as Message, Auteur Theory, Ideological Theory. Briefly analyze, using the form of a five paragraph essay, some aspect of your body of content using this method.

• Read Allen, Chapter 6
• Second Annotated Bibliography Due. Find four references (in particular journal articles and books) that use or discuss the methodology you intend to use in your term paper. The references can discuss any body of content, but they must relate to the method you will use in your term paper.

Postmodern Approaches

• Read Allen, Chapter 9
• Term Paper Introduction Due

Using Media for Work, Play, and Art

• Read Levinson, Chapters 11, 12, 13
• First Complete Draft of Term Paper Due

Term Paper Presentations

• About a ten minute presentation, preferably including a short clip from your body of content

• About a ten minute presentation, preferably including a short clip from your body of content