Unit 4
Genres and Formats I

In this unit, we introduce the concept of “genres,” general types of television programming. The existence of genres raises important questions about creativity in television programming, and points out, once again, the contradictions inherent in sponsorship. We consider the positive and negative aspects of the use of formulas, and discuss two related genres and their possible social and political roles. Finally, we look at genre study as an intellectual discipline that accommodates various points of view and critical approaches. This unit provides a background for a more intensive study of ideology and genre in Unit 5.

Objectives

After completing this unit, you should be able to

1. identify the main biases circumscribing the study of television genres.
2. discuss the rationale for the use of formulas in television.
3. discuss positive and negative aspects of the use of formulas, and describe the possibilities for both submission and subversion within genre constructs.
4. compare selected genres, and discuss the different possibilities and prohibitions entailed in each form (especially the “cop show” and the “detective show”).
5. discuss how a genre’s popularity is related to social and political contexts.
6. describe different critical approaches within the field of genre study.