You'll explore the history, cultural impact, and production of TV shows. The course covers different genres, storytelling techniques, and how TV reflects society. You'll analyze popular series, learn about audience engagement, and study how streaming platforms are changing the game. It's all about understanding TV as a powerful medium that shapes our culture.

Is Understanding Television hard?

It's not typically considered a tough course, but it does require some critical thinking. You'll need to watch a lot of TV (awesome, right?) and analyze what you see. The readings can be dense sometimes, but class discussions are usually pretty engaging. As long as you keep up with the assigned viewing and participate in class, you should be fine.

Tips for taking Understanding Television in college

Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
Take notes while watching assigned shows - jot down themes, character development, and production techniques
Participate in class discussions - sharing your thoughts helps solidify concepts
Start essays early - analyzing TV takes time, don't leave it to the last minute
Watch a variety of shows outside of class to broaden your perspective
Check out "The TV Will Be Revolutionized" by Amanda D. Lotz for a deeper dive into TV's evolution

Common pre-requisites for Understanding Television

Introduction to Film Studies: This course covers the basics of film analysis, history, and theory. You'll learn how to "read" movies and understand their cultural significance.
Media and Society: This class explores how various forms of media, including TV, impact our social structures and daily lives. It's a great foundation for understanding TV's broader role.

Classes similar to Understanding Television

History of Broadcasting: Dive into the evolution of radio and TV from their inception to today. You'll learn about technological advancements and how they shaped content.
Screenwriting for Television: Learn the craft of writing for TV shows. You'll study different formats and create your own scripts for various genres.
Digital Media and Culture: Explore how digital platforms are changing media consumption. This course covers streaming services, social media, and their impact on traditional TV.
Gender and Race in Media: Analyze how TV and other media represent different identities. You'll examine stereotypes, representation, and the changing landscape of diversity in television.

Film and Television Production: Focuses on the technical and creative aspects of making TV shows and movies. Students learn about cinematography, editing, and directing.
Media Studies: Examines the role of media in society, including TV, film, and digital platforms. Students analyze media's impact on culture, politics, and social behavior.
Communications: Covers a broad range of topics related to how information is shared and interpreted. Students study various forms of media, including TV, and learn about audience engagement and message crafting.

What can you do with a degree in Understanding Television?

TV Producer: Oversees the creation of television shows from concept to final product. They manage budgets, coordinate teams, and ensure the vision of the show is realized.
Content Analyst: Works for streaming platforms or networks to evaluate and predict audience preferences. They use data and cultural insights to recommend content strategies.
Media Critic: Writes or creates video content analyzing and reviewing TV shows. They provide in-depth commentary on themes, quality, and cultural significance of television content.
Television Writer: Creates scripts for TV shows, developing characters, plot lines, and dialogue. They often work in writers' rooms collaborating with other writers to craft engaging stories.