Communication Studies 423 consists of the twelve units listed below.

Unit 1 The History of Television and the Nature of the Medium
Unit 2 The State of the Art
Unit 3 Sponsorship and Art
Unit 4 Genres and Formats I
Unit 5 Genres and Formats II
Unit 6 News, Tabloid TV and the Creation of Community
Unit 7 The Power to Educate and Inform
Unit 8 The Star System
Unit 9 Stereotypes and Role Models
Unit 10 The Offensive Side of Television
Unit 11 Chasing Popularity and Quality
Unit 12 Global Television

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the technology, aesthetics, politics, economics, philosophy, ideology, and morality of television. Students will be asked to look critically behind the scenes of the television world, and discern the various patterns of industry structure and thematic content. By looking at the medium itself, its major players, its content, and the audience responses to that content, students will be able to reach their own conclusions about just who, if anyone, controls the television industry. Selected reading and viewing assignments will help students appreciate the various tensions and conflicting undercurrents that make up the “flow” of television broadcasting. Students should develop a critical understanding of television producers, promoters, critics, and creative personnel, as well as a sense of the importance of ongoing debate in this field in which so few issues have been resolved.