Calderwood Seminar in Public Writing: The Dark Turn in Television Storytelling
ANTH 361
Spring 2020
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
FILM 362, AMST 362 |
| Certificates: Writing |
| Course Cluster: Writing Certificate |
This course, offered in association with the Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing, examines a certain tendency in contemporary television storytelling. Taking the debut of "The Sopranos" in 1999 as a benchmark, we will explore the emergence in dramas and comedies of a dark, uncertain, pessimistic, or disillusioned address within a medium long known for its reassuring tone. We will consider the industrial and social conditions for this tonal shift, as well as the role it has played in elevating public perceptions of television's cultural value. The course will use the "beat model" developed in certain Calderwood Seminars, where students become "experts" in specific bodies of material. In this case, students will select a particular series on which they will focus over much of the course. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA FILM |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ANTH)(FILM-MN) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
There will be six written assignments over the course of the semester, approximately 800 words each, due every other week. students serve alternately as writers and editors; working in teams, writers will submit their first drafts of that week¿s assignment to their editors a few days before class and, based on their editors¿ and the instructor¿s comments, they will revise their drafts for presentation in class. Readings in academic and popular television studies will be assigned throughout the semester and approximately one hour of television will be assigned for most classes.
Book review (800 words)
Interview with a television professional or critic (2000 words)
Op Ed: pros and cons of thematically dark television dramas (800 words)
Pilot review (1000 words)
Translate a scholarly article in television studies for a non-specialist audience (800 words)
Identify and analyze a tendency in contemporary television programming for a popular audience (1000 words)
Interview with a television professional or critic (2000 words)
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| Instructor(s): Traube,Elizabeth G. Times: ...W... 07:10PM-10:00PM; Location: ANTH6; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 12 | 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. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 2 |
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