Television Storytelling: The Conditions of Narrative Complexity
ANTH 308
Spring 2014
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
AMST 316, FILM 319 |
This course examines the industrial and cultural conditions for the development of relatively complex forms of storytelling in commercial U.S. television. Narrative complexity is a cross-generic phenomenon that emerged over the 1980s and has proliferated within an increasingly fragmented media environment. In class discussions and individual research projects, students will analyze particular programs in-depth, with attention to their industrial and social conditions of production, their aesthetic and ideological appeals, and the cultural tastes and viewing practices they reflect and promote. We will also consider how television studies has responded and contributed to the increased prestige of certain types of programs. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS ANTH |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST)(ANTH)(FILM-MN)(FILM)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Michael Curtin & Jane Shattuc, THE AMERICAN TELEVISION INDUSTRY
Readings by Jason Mittell, Jeremy Butler, John Caldwell, Robert Thompson, Jeffrey Sconce, Jane Feuer, Christine Gledhill, Noel Carroll,Dana Polan, Janet McCabe, Kim Akass, David Lavery, Henry Jenkins, Amanda Lotz, Jennifer Gillan, Michael Newman, Elana Levine, and others
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Examinations and Assignments:
weekly research journal
short (5-7page) midterm paper
class presentation and final research paper
students will also take turns facilitating class discussions over the semester. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Each week there will be 2 to 3 hours of assigned viewing. In most cases, the assigned episodes will be accessible via netflix, iTunes, amazon.com, or other sources.
To be considered for admission, please contact the instructor at etraube@wesleyan.edu to request a questionnaire. Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by the end of pre-registration, in time to enroll during the adjustment period. |
| Instructor(s): Traube,Elizabeth G. Times: ...W... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: ANTH6; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 16 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Web Resources: Syllabus |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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