Welcome to Communication Studies 423: The Television Age, a three-credit university course that is part of the Bachelor of Professional Arts (Communications) program. The Television Age is a course that looks at something quite familiar to all of us, but does so in a variety of perhaps unfamiliar ways. Television is increasingly the focus of many critical schools of thought, just as the world of popular culture itself comes under increasing scrutiny.

This course will examine television as a technology, an industry, an educator, a propagandizer and an art form. Students will study the major trends in television broadcasting and performance, as well as major trends in critical responses to television. Through assignments and presentations as well as ongoing television viewing, students will examine and analyse the impact and the implications of television in the past, present and future. Is television a cultural tool or a detriment to civilized life? If it plays to the lowest common cultural denominator, does it succeed in creating large like-minded audiences? Is it in its infancy, ascendancy or decline?

You will have an opportunity to study television through the use of primary resources (television shows and ads) and secondary resources (government regulations and critical material), and will be asked to not only respond to past and current trends in television history and study, but to focus on your own television viewing experiences and your own relationship to television.

The student manual accompanies the course and is designed to supply you with the essential information about the course design, materials and assignments, and the procedures you should follow to complete the course successfully. Read the student manual carefully before beginning the course, and retain it so that you can refer to it as you work through the course. For further information, please contact your tutor or the course professor.