FIL-30006: Representing the Self, Family and Society on Contemporary British and American Television

School of Humanities

FIL-30006

Representing the Self, Family and Society on Contemporary British and American Television

Co-ordinator:

Mr Nick Reyland Room: CKF08, Tel:33297

Teaching Team:

Mrs Christine Edge, Miss Jo-Anne Watts, Darren Kerr

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

Credits:

Study Hours:

150

School Office:

Tel: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for

Film Studies Dual Honours (Level 3)
Film Studies Minor (Level 3)
Media, Communications and Culture Dual Honours (Level 3)
Media, Communications and Culture Minor (Level 3)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Barred Combinations

None

Prerequisites

None

Description

Television Studies interlinks with important areas of media, communication and cultural analysis, and aspects of film and screen studies. Focusing in particular upon contemporary British and American televisual texts, this module keys out the significance of televisual representation in the twenty-first century, focusing theoretically on key television studies theorists such as Jonathan Bignell, John Corner, Glen Creeber, and Trisha Dunleavy. Linking televisual representation to theories of culture, popularity, reception, generic categorisation and desire, you will explore the meanings encoded in TV texts not only via a study of aesthetics, but also through the study of televisual 'grammar'. Thematic areas of interest such as representations of self, the family and society, class, sex, the postmodern condition, and women are to be interrogated via close analysis of specific texts which may include: 'The Royle Family', 'Dexter', 'Gavin and Stacey', 'The Wire', 'Shameless', 'The Killing', 'Dollhouse', 'The Simpsons' and 'The Sopranos'.

Begin reading around the topic by dipping into Casey, ed., Television Studies: The Key Concepts (Routledge, 2008) and Jonathan Bignell's An Introduction to Television Studies, 2nd edn (Routledge, 2007).

Aims

To examine the relationship between selected televisual texts, the self, family and society.
To develop an understanding of influential theoretical ideas in television studies.
To study the generic and stylistic features of contemporary American and British television texts.
To encourage critical analysis of televisual and theoretical material and reflection on the practice of criticism.

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate the theories and techniques associated with contemporary televisual representation as well as the major concepts advanced by relevant literary and cultural theories will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
outline and critically assess the place of televisual representation within transformations of culture and aesthetic value will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
identify and explain the significance of televisual language will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
apply critically challenging concepts in the analysis of televisual texts will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
analyse in depth the value of distinct critical approaches to television studies will be achieved by assessments: 1,2

Study hours

20 hours tutorials/workshops
20 hours tutorial/workshop preparation
60 hours reading/watching primary and secondary texts
10 hours working on formative assessment
20 hours working on essay
20 hours revision and exam preparation

Description of Module Assessment

01: Reflective Diary weighted 50%

2000 word critical audio-viewing diary discussing 4 or 5 televisual texts
Students must present a reflective diary in which they discuss four or five televisual texts studied on the course in relation to one or two themes chosen from options provided by the tutors. These reflections will relate to the televisual representation of module themes such as the self, family and society, class, representations of women, types of television, etc, and draw on literature examined on the module.

02: Essay weighted 50%

A 2000 word essay
Students choose one question from a list of approximately 5. The essay will require students to reflect on aspects of television studies and apply their theoretical knowledge to a selected televisual text. Students will not be allowed to analyse the same primary text in the reflective diary.

Version: (1.06B) Updated: 02/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.