In this course, we think and write critically about television, focusing specifically on how the medium and its programming provides evidence of ideological conflicts related to race, class, sex, gender, and sexuality in U.S. culture. How do television programs represent cultural divisions related to race and ethnicity? How do comedic programs challenge viewers’ ideas about gender roles and identities? Why do people get so mad at television news? In readings, screenings, discussions and written assignments, we develop a working knowledge of different concepts that scholars use to study ideological conflicts as they take place on television. From the very start, we try to move beyond simplistic assessments of television itself as being either “good” or “bad” for U.S. society, or even particular images and narratives as being “positive” or “negative” representations of women and racial and ethnic minorities. Instead, we survey the complicated routes through which television programming shapes viewers’ understandings of themselves and the world around them. Throughout the term, you are asked to question many ideas and beliefs that people take for granted and/or hold dear: that television “causes” people to believe certain things, that particular images of minorities are “bad,” or that we could ever live television-free lives or form political opinions without consulting the news—even if we wanted to do just that. The overarching aim of the course is nuance—a deeper understanding of television and a refined critical lens for assessing its role in U.S. culture. 

Required Texts: Not required