Course Syllabus
Glued to the Set: TV Shows, Norms and Culture |
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| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2020 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Communication. Film Studies. Media Studies. |
| Faculty Members: |
Anne Jespersen, annejesp@gmail.com |
| Program Director: |
Iben de Neergaard, idn@dis.dk |
| Program Assistant |
Rodlyn-Mae Banting, rba@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Thursdays, 13.15-16.10 Location: N7-A23 |
Course Description:
TV shows and sitcoms like Modern Family, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Killing, House of Cards, The Office, I love Lucy; and characters like Cosby, Homer Simpson, and Will and Grace both reflect and shape societies’ gender roles, race relations, class divisions, sexual norms, and values. This course critically analyzes the history and importance of various TV genres and shows in the U.S., England, and Scandinavia and view them as mirrors of society and culture.
The course offers an introduction to television history in the USA and Europe. It presents the rise of television in its various organizational forms (e.g. BBC in 1936 and NBC in 1939), and looks at concrete television genres and programs, while analyzing them as sociological mirrors or portraits of the time in which they were made. Each class will concentrate on one period, theme or aspect of television history and/or analysis and will often include a related viewing of a concrete program. The approach will be analytical, aesthetical, and historical.
Instructor:
Anne Jespersen. Cand.mag. (English Literature, Film History and Theory, University of Copenhagen, 1982.) Editor of the yearbook "Filmsæsonen". Bookpublisher (Forlaget April) 1985-93. Has translated several books and written film reviews and filmhistorical articles in periodicals both in Denmark and abroad. Lectures in Film and Television History and Theory at the University of Copenhagen. Has frequently lectured at The European Film College in Ebeltoft, Denmark, at Hamburg Media School, and at other universities abroad.
Has taught different film courses at DIS (Contemporary European Film, History of European Film), as well as a course on Popular Culture. With DIS since 1987.
Objectives:
By the end of the course, each student will have gained:
- A sound knowledge of the history of American and European television and its relation to cultural and social conditions.
- An understanding of the basic facts and methods of media analysis.
- The ability to produce an academic research paper demonstrating critical media literacy and the ability to interpret and discuss the history of American and European television.
Method:
The course will include lectures, discussions of shows and required readings, and viewings of individual shows.
Attendance Policy:
Attendance at all scheduled classes is required, and each student is responsible for all material covered or assigned in class. All papers and exams must be completed in order to pass the course. Included in the computation of the final grade in the course is participation. Participation extends to all class sessions, film viewings, as well as activity in class discussion and a general contribution to the progress of the class. If you miss two classes, the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student affairs, will be notified and they will follow-up with you to make sure that all is well.
Laptop Computer Policy:
While most students find that taking notes by hand in class is quite sufficient for review purposes, you are allowed to use a computer in class for writing lecture/discussion notes. However, you are asked not to use your computer in class to write emails, connect to social media, surf the internet or other such activities as this is quite disrespectful and distracting for both the teacher and your fellow students. Failure to show this courtesy will result in a reduction of your participation grade.
Literature:
All readings are to be found on Canvas. Excerpts from, among others, these books:
Gorman & McLean (2003): Media and Society in the Twentieth Century (Blackwell)
Steven D. Stark (1997): Glued to the Set (Dell Publishing)
Gerard Jones (1992): Honey I’m Home. Sitcoms: Selling the American Dream (St. Martin’s Press)
Edward Buscombe (2000): British Television. A Reader (Clarendon Press)
John Corner (ed., 1991): Popular British Television. Studies in Cultural History (BFI)
Robert C. Allen (2009): Channels of Discourse, Reassembled (Routledge)
Neil Postman (1985, 2005): Amusing Ourselves to Death (New Edition, Penguin, 2005)
Eva Novrup Redvall (2013): Writing and Producing Television in Denmark (Palgrave)
Grades & Evaluation:
The grades used by DIS instructors are as follows:
A = Excellent = 4
B = Well above average = 3
C = Average = 2
D = Below average but passing = 1
P = Pass
F = Failure or failure to complete = 0
I = Incomplete (only issued in place of final course grade if an agreement exists for completion
by a definite deadline which is approved by the instructor and the DIS registrar).
Plus (+) and minus (-) grades are used for examinations and home assignments as well as for final grades. For purposes of calculating grade points and averages, the "+" equals .3 and the "-" equals minus .3.
Evaluation:
Short Paper 10 %
Midterm 30 %
Research paper (incl. draft) 40 %
Class Participation (incl. ‘TV Moment’) 20 %
TV Moment
TV Moment is a small assignment that all students are to complete in turns throughout the semester. Depending on the size of the class, two-three students will in each class present a television program or show that has made a big impression on them. It is up to you to decide what kind of impression. It could be something very personal, or a program that has given you insight into something new and exciting, or just a fantastic entertaining experience.
You are to give a short talk to the class about your choice of program, show one clip (max. 3-4 minutes, - from YouTube or another source). In addition to your talk, you should hand in a written version of your talk. This will provide a part of the final participation grade.
Midterm:
The test consists of questions of relatively simple facts (like: Who is the artist behind, or who acted in this or that program?), questions of more complex character (like: mention the characteristics of this or that genre), and questions to be answered with a short essay. The answers will be weighted differently.
Midterm Exam will be held on March 5.
Research Paper Draft:
For Class #9 (April 2), you are to prepare a draft of your Research Paper, which will be discussed in groups in class, and handed in afterwards. The draft should indicate the topic of your paper, the issue/question/problem you wish to investigate/discuss, a detailed outline, and the sources you intend to use. When grading the final version of the research paper, the draft will be considered.
Research Paper:
The topic for the research paper is decided by the student with input from the instructor. Normally, it would be on (or relate to) subjects and television programs dealt with in the course.
Suggested structure of your paper:
- Table of contents.
- Introduction: Presentation of the subject to be investigated.
An overview of the contents.
A comment on the methodology.
- Description: Summaries, observations, references.
- Analysis: Comments, discussions, comparisons.
- Summary and conclusion.
- Notes & Bibliography.
The paper should be based on the required reading, the additional reading found in the DIS library and/or the Danish Film Institute Library, the programs seen in class, the class lectures and discussions.
In the Introduction and Description, the factual material is presented. The main emphasis, though, should be on the analysis - that is: your personal discussion of the material. It is necessary to present the substance of the topic through paraphrasing and quotations (remember, always to footnote sources of direct quotations), but it is not sufficient only to paraphrase. The analysis of the material - your personal understanding and interpretation - is the important part of the paper.
Length: Approx. 12 type written pages, or approx. 3600 words.
You can choose between two deadlines for the handing in of the Research Paper:
1) not later than April 23 (in class), and the paper will be returned to you before the Final exams week.
2) not later than April 30 (in class), and the paper will not be returned to you before the Final exams week.
The Danish Film Institute Library is located in the Cinematheque, “Filmhuset”, Gothersgade 55 (close to Nørreport Station). The Library has a large collection of books, periodicals, stills and other film and television related material. It is one of the largest (and oldest) film and television libraries in the world. The Film Building also houses a book store, a video library, a cafe, plus three cinemas that show films every day.
When writing your research paper, it is highly recommended that you do some of your research at the library, and/or take out material from their collections.
The Film Library is open (with staff):
Tuesday 10 am - 5 pm.
Wednesday+Thursday 12 - 5 pm.
Friday: 12 - 4 pm.
Without staff (you can enter with your yellow "sundhedskort"):
Monday to Saturday 9 am to 9 pm.
Sunday 9 am - 7 pm.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
Course Summary:
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