LFU:online

To offer students a basic knowledge of television studies and the US-American television system and its terminology.

What is the difference between distribution and transmission? What is syndication? What do narrowcasting, stunting, or transmedia storytelling mean? How does US television make its money and how does this influence the content screened? In order to find one's way around and to be able to work effectively in television studies, one needs first to gain a basic knowledge of the US-American television landscape. This course aims to be an introduction, which will enable students to analyze the current US television programs.

After a short historical look into US television, the different eras and changes will be examined more closely. Changes in programming, content, and advertising will be studied and industry terminology explained.

These different components of US television will be examined with examples, using examples from TV series the students have already seen.

General introduction to the topics, lectures, presentations, discussion.

A compulsory part of the proseminar is the attendance of the conference "The Analysis of Fictional Dialogue in Film and Television Series: Between Narratology and Pragmatics" on November 26 and 27, 2015 in Innsbruck. (Claudiana, Herzog-Friedrich-Str. 3) Details will be discussed in the first session.

Written paper, presentation, class participation.

Articles and excerpts from books, which will be posted on OLAT; students' own research depending on their presentation topic.

for the Bachelor Program (612): positive completion of compulsory module 14
for Bachelor Program Lehramt: positive completion of compulsory module 16
for the Teacher Training Program (Lehramtsstudium: 344): VO2: Introduction to American Literary Studies

BA "old" (2009): PS2: Discourse/Identity: American Cultures
Teacher Training Program "old" (2001): PS2: American Culture

Due to substantial differences in the allocation of ECTS-Credits in various curricula (teacher training program - BA/MA English and American Studies), the requirements for this course vary. Information will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the course.