Television & American Culture
Television and American Culture This course explores American life in the last seven decades through an analysis of our central medium: television. Spanning a history of television from its origins in radio to today’s digital convergence via YouTube and Netflix, we will consider television's role in both representing and constituting American society through a variety of approaches, including: the economics of the television industry, television's role within American democracy, the formal attributes of various television genres, television as a site of gender and racial identity formation, television's role in everyday life, the medium's technological transformations, and television as a site of global cultural exchange. Note to students: this course involves substantial streaming of television for assigned viewing.
Television and American Culture This course explores American life in the last seven decades through an analysis of our central medium: television. Spanning a history of television from its origins in radio to today’s digital convergence via YouTube and Netflix, we will consider television's role in both representing and constituting American society through a variety of approaches, including: the economics of the television industry, television's role within American democracy, the formal attributes of various television genres, television as a site of gender and racial identity formation, te …Read more
Professor Mittell is an amazing teacher. It is very clear that he is super knowledgeable and passionate about television. Even though the class has a lot of reading, the lectures are much more like discussions than actual lectures. Professor Mittell's grading system is a bit complicated, but it allows students to pick and choose which assignments they want to do. Every assignment is graded pass/fail, so as long as you put some effort into the assignments, you will do fine. All of the materials for the screenings are also provided online so if you miss a screening it is not the end of the world. I would Highly recommend this class to anyone who loves television and wants to engage more with the medium.
Professor Mittell is an amazing teacher. It is very clear that he is super knowledgeable and passionate about television. Even though the class has a lot of reading, the lectures are much more like discussions than actual lectures. Professor Mittell's grading system is a bit complicated, but it allows students to pick and choose whic …Read more
Very interesting course material, learning about many things I daily experience but never really delve into. Screening were always interesting and I liked the way he structured them. Engagement activity work style lead to low-medium weekly load.