Week 15: Felicity (The WB, 1998 - 2002)

Tu 5.1
Class: Watch—“Man of the House” from America on Primetime (2011)

Th 5.3
Class: Lecture—“The Pieces Come Together: Writing as a Process"
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY; REFLECTION 8

Fr 5.4
Class: Watch—“Man of the House” from America on Primetime (2011); Lecture—“The Pieces Come Together: Writing as a Process,” “Speed Dates: Thesis Statements”
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY; REFLECTION 8

Upcoming:

Week 16: Leave It to Beaver
Tu 5.8
In-Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies”

Th 5.10
In-Class: Final exam prep

Fri 5.11*

In-Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies;”Course review

*This is the final class meeting for Sec. 49

Sa 5.12

FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, LOCATION TBD

Week 17: I Love Lucy

Tu 5.15
In-class: Course review

TV News 04.27.11

Girls is one of many all-white casts currently on TV

• Is TV too white? New York Times
• They won't go away: The Kardashians get a new three-year deal Hollywood Reporter
• Carrie Bradshaw's townhouse from Sex and the City sells for nearly $10 million US Weekly 
• Coming soon to TLC: Obese & Expecting Entertainment Weekly
• Netflix hurting Nickelodeon shows SlashGear
• Even less Americans are watching TV Washington Post
  

Reflection 08: The Electronic Babysitter—TV and Young Kids

How much TV were you allowed as a kid?

According to a recent study by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the average child watches three to four hours of television a day. Not surprisingly, the study ties excessive television watching by kids to lower grades, weight gain, a lack of reading, and less exercise. While the consequences of watching too much television may not be surprising, the fact remains that many American families rely on TV to babysit the kids. In an era when both parents must work, its tempting to let the kids sit in front of the television as dinner gets cooked or the laundry gets folded. To what extent do you believe this is okay? Should parents strive to severely limit television watching or do kids who watch a lot of TV basically turn out okay? And what will be the place of emerging technologies, such as tablets and mobile phones? Finally, what was your experience watching TV as a kid. Was your TV viewing monitored?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion: 

• "Kids and Television" (University of Michigan) 
• "Brain Development: How Much TV Should Children Watch?" (Huffington Post)
• "Perspective: Tot TV" (KQED)
• "A One-Eyed Invader in the Bedroom" (New York Times)

  Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two-full pages in length
• Works cited page

Due: Th 5.3 (Sec. 05) / Fr 5.4 (Sec. 49)

Assignment: Editorial Essay

Are today's TV families more realistic than before?

Looking back, we can probably all agree that the sitcoms of the 50s and 60s showed us family life as we wanted it to be, not as it really was. In the world of Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver, every family member knew their place and there was no problem too big for mom and dad—but mostly dad—to fix. Fifty years later, TV families have evolved dramatically. Today's sitcom families better reflect our evolving society. For example, it is now not uncommon to see divorce, adoptions, and same-sex couples on family sitcoms. But while the trend has been toward more realistic depictions of families, have we really achieved a more accurate portrait of contemporary America? Do the TV families of today struggle with the same issues real-life families do, including pervasive unemployment, rising foreclosure rates, high education costs, and lack of healthcare? In which ways do today's shows do a better job of reflecting reality and how do they continue to fall short? In a concise editorial, explore the state of today's American television families, as well as the extent to which they truly represent contemporary American society. To make your case, utilize one episode from at least two of the following current sitcoms:

• Raising Hope (FOX)
• Suburgatory (ABC)
• Two and a Half Men (CBS)
• Modern Family (ABC)
• The Simpsons (FOX)
• I Hate My Teenage Daughter (FOX)

Additionally, use at least four of the following articles to support your thesis:

• “The Fallout Over TV's Nuclear Families” (Los Angeles Times)
• “Family on Television” (Museum of Broadcast Communications)
• “'Cosby Show’ Comedy had a Serious Impact” (Boston Globe)
• “'Roseanne’-Colored Glasses” (Baltimore Sun)
• “'The Simpsons’: An Imperfect Ideal Family” (The Simpsons Archive)
• “American Family Sitcoms: Early Years to the Present” (Cercles)
• “How Much Have TV Moms Really Changed?” (ABCNews)
• “'Modern Family's' Indictment of Modern Families” (FlowTV) 

 Requirements:

• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• 3-page minimum
• Cite from at least four of the above articles
• Include a works cited page 

The best papers:

• Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
• Have a concise thesis which clearly outlines an analysis of contemporary TV families
• Are written in a voice that is casual, yet informed
• Clearly support their thesis with solid evidence and a logical structure, citing from at least four articles above
• Conclude with a summation of the argument
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Are in compliance with MLA Style

Sample editorials from various national newspapers:

• "Rain, Snow, Sleet, and Congress" New York Times 
• "Why wait to get troops out of Afghanistan?" Chicago Sun-Times
• "Obama, the Happy Drug Warrior" San Francisco Chronicle 
• "Problem Children" Las Vegas Sun
• "Public Education Deserves Respect" Kansas City Star
• "Dalai Lama Proves an Endearing Icon" San Diego Union-Tribune 

Due: Th 5.3 (Sec. 05) / Fr 5.4 (Sec. 49)

Week 14: Beverly Hills, 90210 (FOX, 1990 - 2000)

Tu 4.24

Read: eR—“’The Simpsons’: An Imperfect Ideal Family” (The Simpsons Archive), “American Family Sitcoms: Early Years to the Present” (Cercles)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Th 4.26

Read: eR—“How Much Have TV Moms Really Changed?” (ABCNews), “’Modern Family’s’ Indictment of Modern Families” (FlowTV)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Fr 4.27

Read: eR—“’The Simpsons’: An Imperfect Ideal Family” (The Simpsons Archive), “American Family Sitcoms: Early Years to the Present” (Cercles), “How Much Have TV Moms Really Changed?” (ABCNews), “’Modern Family’s’ Indictment of Modern Families” (FlowTV)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Upcoming:

Week 15: Felicity
Tu 5.1
Class: Watch—“Man of the House” from America on Primetime (2011)

Th 5.3
Class: Lecture—“The Pieces Come Together: Writing as a Process"
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY; REFLECTION 8

Fr 5.4
Class: Watch—“Man of the House” from America on Primetime (2011); Lecture—“The Pieces Come Together: Writing as a Process,” “Speed Dates: Thesis Statements”
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY; REFLECTION 8

Week 16: Leave It to Beaver
Tu 5.8
In-Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies”

Th 5.10
In-Class: Final exam prep

Fri 5.11*

In-Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies;”Course review

*This is the final class meeting for Sec. 49

Sa 5.12

FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, LOCATION TBD

Week 17: I Love Lucy

Tu 5.15
In-class: Course review

TV News 04.18.12

 

• Dick Clark, icon of American television, has died at 82 Hollywood Reporter
• Lawsuit: The Bachelor and The Bachelorette are discriminatory Associated Press
• Is Microsoft, not Apple, most likely to buy Tivo? Forbes
• $15,000,000: Britney Spears' purported contract value for joining X Factor's judging table New York Daily News
• SyFy readies Total Blackout, a scary new competitive reality series Huffington Post
  
• Netflix to release ten new episodes of Arrested Development at once Entertainment Weekly

Week 13: Charlie's Angels (ABC, 1976 - 1981)

 

Tu 4.17

Read: eR—“The Fallout Over TV's Nuclear Families” (Los Angeles Times), “Family on Television” (Museum of Broadcast Communications)

Class: Watch—Excerpts from “Beaver Takes a Bath” from Leave It to Beaver (1959) and “Goodbye, Mr. Goldfish” from The Cosby Show (1984); Reading discussion

 

Th 4.19

Read: eR—“’Cosby Show’ Comedy had a Serious Impact” (Boston Globe), “’Roseanne’-Colored Glasses” (Baltimore Sun)

Class: Watch—Excerpts from “Lisa’s Pony” from The Simpsons (1991) and “Pilot” from Modern Family (2009); Preview—Editorial essay

Due: REFLECTION 7

 

Fr 4.20
Read: eR—“The Fallout Over TV's Nuclear Families” (Los Angeles Times), “Family on Television” (Museum of Broadcast Communications), “’Cosby Show’ Comedy had a Serious Impact” (Boston Globe), “’Roseanne’-Colored Glasses” (Baltimore Sun)

Class: Watch—Excerpts from “Beaver Takes a Bath” from Leave It to Beaver (1959), “Goodbye, Mr. Goldfish” from The Cosby Show (1984), “Lisa’s Pony” from The Simpsons (1991), “Pilot” from Modern Family (2009); Reading discussion; Preview—Editorial essay
Due: REFLECTION 7

 

Upcoming:

 

Week 14: Beverly Hills, 90210

Tu 4.24

Read: eR—“’The Simpsons’: An Imperfect Ideal Family” (The Simpsons Archive), “American Family Sitcoms: Early Years to the Present” (Cercles)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Th 4.26

Read: eR—“How Much Have TV Moms Really Changed?” (ABCNews), “’Modern Family’s’ Indictment of Modern Families” (FlowTV)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY

Fr 4.27

Read: eR—“’The Simpsons’: An Imperfect Ideal Family” (The Simpsons Archive), “American Family Sitcoms: Early Years to the Present” (Cercles), “How Much Have TV Moms Really Changed?” (ABCNews), “’Modern Family’s’ Indictment of Modern Families” (FlowTV)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY

 

Reflection 07: Hey, That's Me!—Seeing Yourself on TV

To a young Whoopi Goldberg, the sight of an independent black woman on the bridge of the USS Enterprise was life-altering. Star Trek offered the future-superstar not only an opportunity to see her likeness on television, but a glimpse at a hopeful and prosperous future for her wary people. Meanwhile, Korean-Canadian and Grey's Anatomy cast member Sandra Oh laments that she never had the same opportunity as Goldberg: "I grew up never seeing myself on-screen, and it's really important to me to give people who look like me a chance to see themselves. I want to see myself as the hero of any story. I want to see myself save the world from the bomb." What is the significance of seeing people like yourself on television? Have you ever seen you and your life reflected on-screen? If so, were you represented accurately? If you've never seen yourself represented on television, why do you believe that is? What would it take for television to accurately represent who you are?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Asexuality on 'House': You're Doing it Wrong" (Hollywood Jane)
• "Disability Characters on TV: Who's Getting it and Who's Missing the Mark?" (Disaboom) 
• "The Thing About All These New TV Shows About Girls" (Thought Catalog) 
• "Thought Catalog: The First Time I Saw Myself on TV (Hulu)

 Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two-full pages in length

Due: Th 4.19 (Sec. 05) / Fr 2.20 (Sec. 49)

TV News 04.11.12

• The battle for Britain: BBC's The Voice UK beats down Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent Independent
• Alis volat propiis: Simpsons creator says Springfield is in Oregon Entertainment Weekly 
• Is your favorite show on life support? Boston Herald  
• Flashback: Fox to re-air Married ... with Children pilot Hollywood Reporter
• Sour note: Glee returns to low ratings Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• General Hospital will live to love another day Deadline

 

Week 12: NYPD Blue, 1993-2005 (ABC)

Tu 4.10

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 6

Th 4.12

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH: 1. ONE COPY OF DRAFT 1 AND 2. A ONE PARAGRAPH RATIONALE FOR YOUR REVISIONS)

Fr 4.13 

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH: 1. ONE COPY OF DRAFT 1 AND 2. A ONE PARAGRAPH RATIONALE FOR YOUR REVISIONS); REFLECTION

Upcoming:

Week 13: Charlie’s Angels

Tu 4.17
Read: eR—“The Fallout Over TV's Nuclear Families” (Los Angeles Times), “Family on Television” (Museum of Broadcast Communications)

Class: Watch—Excerpts from “Beaver Takes a Bath” from Leave It to Beaver (1959) and “Goodbye, Mr. Goldfish” from The Cosby Show (1984); Reading discussion

Th 4.19

Read: eR—“’Cosby Show’ Comedy had a Serious Impact” (Boston Globe), “’Roseanne’-Colored Glasses” (Baltimore Sun)

Class: Watch—Excerpts from “Lisa’s Pony” from The Simpsons (1991) and “Pilot” from Modern Family (2009); Preview—Editorial essay

Due: REFLECTION 7

Fr 4.20
Read: eR—“The Fallout Over TV's Nuclear Families” (Los Angeles Times), “Family on Television” (Museum of Broadcast Communications), “’Cosby Show’ Comedy had a Serious Impact” (Boston Globe), “’Roseanne’-Colored Glasses” (Baltimore Sun)

Class: Watch—Excerpts from “Beaver Takes a Bath” from Leave It to Beaver (1959), “Goodbye, Mr. Goldfish” from The Cosby Show (1984), “Lisa’s Pony” from The Simpsons (1991), “Pilot” from Modern Family (2009); Reading discussion; Preview—Editorial essay
Due: REFLECTION 7

TV News 04.07.12

• Eliminated: San Jose's DeAndre Brackensick sent packing on American Idol (E!)
  
• Mad Men making secretaries fashionable again (Business Insider)
• Seven years in and hotter than ever: How I Met Your Mother (New York Times)
• Coming soon from Apple: The iPanel (Digital Spy)
• VH1 spotlights the 20th anniversary of the LA Riots (TVbytheNumbers)
• What Say Yes to the Dress can teach you about your finances (Huffington Post)

Reflection 06: Do-It-Yourself—Learning from How-To Reality Shows

Lost in the wilderness? Man vs. Wild can help!

The promise of how-to reality shows is simple: You can do this! Be it building a cedar deck or cooking a French meal, these shows present viewers with a world of possibility. In reality, a kitchen renovation takes longer than 30 minutes and a simple wardrobe makeover may not the key to a happy life. Nonetheless, anything is possible on a how-to reality show. But if the big ratings of these shows are any indication, people want to be made to feel like anything is possible. What is your experience with how-to reality shows? Do you watch them and have you ever been inspired to try something they feature? For this reflection, watch, then write about, one of the following how-to segments. Would you attempt the task demonstrated in the clip? Why or why not? What do you believe is the appeal of this particular how-to for viewers? Ultimately, what does the clip promise viewers?

• "From Weedy to Wonderful" from HGTV's Designed to Sell 
• "Veggie Penne with Pesto" from Food Network's 30 Minute Meals
• "Indoor Pulled Pork" from PBS' America's Test Kitchen 
• "Girl Reconstructed" from Style Network's How Do I Look? 
• "Tin Tiles Ceiling" from HGTV's Don't Sweat It
• "Sour Cream Cheesecake" from Food Network's Good Eats
• "Seal-Skin Wetsuit" from Discovery Channel's Man v.s Wild (Warning: Graphic)
• "Laying a Stone-Paver Patio" from DIY Network's Extra Yardage 
• "The Contessa's Mac and Cheese" from Food Network's Barefoot Contessa
• "Worldly Color" from HGTV's Design on a Dime 
• "Sloppy Sweaters and Giant Jeans" from TLC's What Not to Wear
• "Homemade Biscuits" from Hallmark Channel's The Martha Stewart Show

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly one page in length*
• A Works Cited page 

*Note that this reflection should not exceed one full page

Due: Tu 4.10 (Sec. 05) / Fr 4.13 (Sec. 49)

Week 11: Father Knows Best (CBS, 1954 - 1960)

Tu 4.3
Read: STREET—Ch. 16 – 18

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Th 4.5
Class: Reading discussion, Writers workshop

Due: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY (DRAFT 1—BRING 3 COPIES)

Fr 4.6

Read: STREET—Ch. 16 – 18

Class: Reading discussion; Writers workshop; Presentations

Due: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY (DRAFT 1—BRING 3 COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 12: NYPD Blue

Tu 4.10

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 6

Th 4.12

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH: 1. ONE COPY OF DRAFT 1 AND 2. A ONE PARAGRAPH RATIONALE FOR YOUR REVISIONS)

Fr 4.13 

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH: 1. ONE COPY OF DRAFT 1 AND 2. A ONE PARAGRAPH RATIONALE FOR YOUR REVISIONS); REFLECTION 6

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
As we wind down, I have decided to mix things up a bit in class. So, in the spirit of some of the most popular reality competition shows, such Survivor, you now have the option of passing on the final exam. If you choose to pass, you will instead participate in a SJSU-based scavenger hunt. The details will be revealed later, but should you win, you will automatically gain the full 50 points of the assignment, plus 30 points. If you lose, however, you will receive 0 points and potentially devastate your grade. If interested, leave your name and section number in the Comments section below. All entries must be in by midnight on 04.01. Good luck!