a course in the critical analysis of television
in the context of the history of the times
for MA in Film & Televsion Studies
Dublin
City University
School
of Communications
agenda for postgraduate module (cm581) television drama
aims:
for MA in Film & Televsion Studies
Dublin
City University
School
of Communications
agenda for postgraduate module (cm581) television drama
aims:
• to examine alternative methodologies for the critical analysis of television drama
• to trace the recurring themes, images, plots, settings & modes of characterisation & the patterns of change emerging in these over the years
• to reflect on the relationship between the shifting shapes of tv drama & the larger pattern of social experience
• to participate in
an intensive study of particular tv drama series
syllabus:
part 1: concepts /
contexts
/ criteria
week 1: overview + what is tv drama? (lecture)
the nature of narrative: from ancient myths to current tv series
storytelling & the social order story, myth, dream & drama
television as a medium of drama
week 2: criteria
for criticism of tv drama (lecture)
part 2: tv drama & the temper of the times: case studies
representations of class, race, gender, morality, religion, crime, politics, culture in tv drama
week 3: case study
1 Fair
City: its evolution from 1989 to now (lecture)
week 4: case study
2 The West Wing (lecture)
week 5: case study
3 The Wire (lecture)
week 6: case study 4 Mad Men
week 7: reading week
weeks 8, 9, 10, 11:
presentations & seminars analysing contemporary tv drama series
part 3: future possibilities
week 12: scenarios
for new tv drama
assessment:
tv
drama resources shared with module on social history & tv drama