New Television and Cultural Change

• • Introduction: What is quality television?
  • Basic concepts
  • Analysis 1
  • Analysis 2
  • Revision
  • Complex television
  • The HBO aesthetic
  • Nordic Noir and its influences
  • Comedy
  • Serial melodram
  • Realism and its subversions
  • Revision
  • Revision

You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:

GRF-COM120-Visual Culture, or GRF-COMM120 and GRF-COM110-Introducing Communication Studies, or GRF-COMM110 ;

Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s)

Special requirements

No special requirements

New Television and Cultural Change will analyze and research the emergence of quality television, the watershed development of the last fifteen years in Screen Media. Quality television is characterised by a number of key indicators, including narrative and character complexity, cinematic production values, challenging themes, resonant images, rich mise-en-scene, and refined textual practices, all of which extend the scope of television beyond standardised mass media formats and into the more specific market space of cable television. Quality television occupies this emerging market space, providing viewers with an experience at times closer to film, yet distinctly televisual at the same time. This subject will explore the industrial and technological mechanisms that have led to the growth of quality television, and analyze the deployment of refined textual practices that make these shows so addictive.

Programs to be examined include the American drama series Mad Men and Breaking Bad, and European high quality drama such as The Killing and The Bridge. Students will have an opportunity to research these programs as well as a range of other drama, comedy and docu-drama programs for the UK, America, Australia and other countries.

• Analytical Report (40%)
• Research Essay (50%)
• Online Discussion (10%)

Current study term: 07 Mar 21 to 04 Jun 21)