English/Film Studies 291
Introduction to Television Studies
Fall 2016, Section 201
Online – 3 credits
Instructor: Bridget Kies
Email:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
For decades the television set has been an important fixture in our daily lives. Today we increasingly watch television on the go, using computers, cell phones, DVRs, and DVDs to keep up with our favorite shows. This course provides an introduction to television studies by looking at the different factors shaping how television looks, how we encounter it, and how we understand it. We will also spend time thinking about how television influences and reflects upon society, and how society in turn influences what we see on television. We will have screenings from a variety of time periods and genres in order to give ourselves the broadest scope of understanding.
There are no prerequisites for this course, and you are not expected to have any prior knowledge of television or media studies. You are, however, expected to treat the material as a legitimate object of study. We will begin with the premise that television offers much more than "entertainment" and that studying it is a serious undertaking which requires rigor and diligence.
COURSE TEXTS AND SCREENINGS
· All readings will be provided as PDFs on D2L.
· Screenings can be accessed for free on sites like YouTube and Hulu. From time to time, I will assign a show that might be behind a subscription wall like Netflix or Amazon Prime, but I will always strive to offer a free option. Because online content comes and goes, all screenings are subject to change (check D2L for most recent updates). Some may find it helpful to subscribe to Netflix or Hulu Plus ($7.99) or rent episodes on Amazon ($1.99).
TECHNOLOGY EXPECTATIONS
In order to succeed in this course, students should have the following minimum technical skills: creating documents in Microsoft Word, submitting files on D2L, logging into and utilizing UWM email, downloading and installing appropriate software (noted on below), navigating D2L and downloading/opening files, and formatting papers using MLA (a style guide can be found here).
Students must be up-to-date with software and system requirements in order to stream TV shows online. Software required include Adobe Flash Player 11.1 or above and HTML5 player or Silverlight to watch content on Netflix. Internet browsers (Internet Explorer 10+, Firefox 15.0+, Safari 5+, or Chrome) and computer systems (Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Mac OS X 10.6, or Linux) must be updated, and JavaScript and Cookies should be enabled. Students must also have a strong Internet speed connection (I recommend 1.5 Mbps). You can test your speed here. During the first week of class, I will ask students to test their technology capabilities to ensure they can stream the films smoothly and without interruption.
Students should also have Microsoft Office installed on their computer in order to submit assignments as .doc files. As a student with access to Office 365 through your USM email, you are allowed to download Microsoft Office for free. Log in to your UWM email, click on Office 365 in the top left corner, and select “Install Now.”
A Typical Week
Sunday-Wednesday: Prep days
· Allotted time for readings and screenings, as well as the review of lecture/reading notes and discussion questions.
· Self-check quiz due by 11:59pm on Wednesday.
Wednesday-Saturday: Discussion
· Initial post due by 11:59 pm Thursday.
· Two response posts due by 11:59 pm Saturday.
You are welcome to work at your own pace as long as you are meeting the deadlines. In other words, if you prefer to do your discussion posts early or to do your reading at 2am, that’s fine. Because we want to encourage good discussion, you will have to check in every week; this is not the type of online class for which you can do the semester’s work all at once at your leisure.
**All screenings are subject to change**
Course Work
The course will be divided into three units: Narrative, Production and Aesthetics, and Ideology and Representation. At the conclusion of each unit, you will be asked to write a 5-page essay that demonstrates your ability to apply concepts from the unit to a particular television show.
1