Television & American Life
Spring II - PEL
Tom Hammond
Objectives:
This course is designed to give the
student an understanding of the most important and influential communications
medium of the past century. We will
study the following aspects of television: its invention, introduction, history
and development along with its social, cultural and political influences. Also covered will be how the basic concept of
television is changing and adapting to the ever-expanding areas of the
Internet, hand-held device technology and social networking. Students will explore the positive and
negative influences of television in all aspects of our national way of
life.
Class Blog: http://tvamerican.blogspot.com. You will be invited to post on this website.
Instructors Contact Information
– phone: 813-900-4759, email: hammontm@eckerd.edu or thammond1946@yahoo.com.
Face to face
meetings can be arranged before or after class.
Required Text:
Neil
Postman, “Amusing Ourselves to Death”
Netflix – A
monthly subscription is a good idea for the class. All assigned viewings are “streamable” on Netflix. It costs $9 per month and the first month is
usually free. You can obtain many of the
titles at the library, but availability might be a problem with a limited
number of copies on hand. You can rent
or buy, but Netflix is easily the most convenient and affordable method. If you subscribe, for an extra $7 you can
receive the titles by mail as well as streaming. Turnaround is about 2-3 days.
Course Requirements and Grading:
·
Attendance & Participation 20% of grade
·
Quiz & Exam 30%
of grade
·
Research
Paper 30% of grade
·
Blog Posting 20%
of grade
Attendance & Participation –
Every class covers a component of film history, theory and criticism vital to
your overall understanding of the subject.
If you can’t avoid missing a class, let me know in advance. Any pattern of absence or chronic lateness
will be noted and will adversely impact your final grade. Speak up in class. If that is difficult for you, bring in
something that will inspire discussion.
The Blog is a component of participation. Contributing to it will generate interest in
the class and good grades for you.
Quizzes – There will be at least
one quiz given during the course. It/they
will be at random and will cover the home viewing assignments. The questions will be general and not
analytical. They are designed to
determine if you have watched the assignment.
There will be no make-ups.
Final Exam – You are responsible
for the information presented in class, the content of the assigned readings,
and being familiar with class and required outside viewings. The exam will be a combination of objective
and short answer questions.
Blog Postings – You will be invited to participate in the
class blog. Postings and comments all
work in your favor.
Research Paper – A 3-5 page
paper on a topic of your choice dealing with class subject matter is due on the
final day of class. Be sure to get my
approval of your selection by the 4th week of class.
Academic Integrity – If you use
an idea from another source, you can quote it or paraphrase it, but please CITE
IT. Failure to do so will be a
violation of the Honor Code.
The Eckerd
College Honor Code: “On my honor, as an Eckerd College student, I pledge not to
lie, cheat or steal, nor to tolerate these behaviors in others.”
To affirm
this, you will write, “Pledged” followed by your signature on all assignments,
papers and exams.
Assignment Schedule:
·
All readings are chapters in the required text,
“Amusing Ourselves to Death” by Neil Postmam.
·
Assigned Viewings are films you are required to
see outside of class (all “streamable” on Netflix).
·
In class we will watch films, clips from various
shows and documentary material on television.
Much of this will also be posted on the Blog for your further study.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Written work must be in standard
written English, using conventional guidelines for style and citation (also
typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins). The presentation of your work
is an extension of your competence and ability to produce college level work.
If you wish, I am willing to review your work in progress. Contact me to arrange a time.
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If a problem exists which will
prevent you from completing work on time, please contact me.
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You are responsible for in-class
viewing and any handouts.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
Pre Class Assignments
Reading: Postman,
Chapter 1
Assigned
Viewing: Modern Marvels: Television,
Window to the World
Session 1: The History of Television
Invention
Growth &
National Adoption
Reading: Postman, Chapter 2
In-Class
Viewing: “Network”
Assigned
Viewing: “Outfoxed”
Session 2: Television News
Electronic Journalism
Reading: Postman, Chapters 3 & 4
In-Class
Viewing: TBA
Assigned
Viewing: “America in Primetime #1”
Session 3: Commercial
Structure
Advertising
& Ratings
Reading: Postman, Chapter 5
In-Class
Viewing: TBA
Assigned
Viewing: “America in Primetime #2”
Session 4: Programing
The Sit-Com
Reading: Postman, Chapters 6 & 7
In-Class Viewing:
TBA
Assigned
Viewing: “America in Primetime #3”
Session 5: Programing
The Dramatic
Series
Reading:
Postman, Chapters 8 & 9
In-Class Viewing: TBA
Assigned Viewing: “America in Primetime #4”
Session 6: Politics, Religion & Education
Campaign Reform
& Advertising
Televangelism
Sesame
Street
Reading:
Postman, Chapter 10
In-Class
Viewing: TBA
Assigned
Viewing: “Press, Pause, Play”
Session 7: Future
Directions & Definitions
The Digital Revolution
Alternate
Viewing Methods
Reading:
Postman, Chapter 11
In-Class
Viewing: TBA
Assigned
Viewing: “Nerdcore Rising”
Session 8: Final Exam
Final Exam
Research
Papers Due
Class
Evaluation
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
In the event
of an emergency or campus shutdown, class work will continue online at:
www.tvamerican.blogspot.com
You will be
invited to contribute as a blog correspondent at the beginning of the
semester. This is part of the
participation segment of your grade and the location for all information if
class can’t be held as scheduled.
Assignments will be posted there as well as suggested readings. Video lectures will be available if a
shutdown continues for more than one week.
You may also post any written assignments on the blog or send them to my
email at:
You can
contact me by phone at: 813-900-4759
Be sure to review the school handout on
procedure in the event of a hurricane.
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