A History of TV Style (Discussion)

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All groups

  1. Explain the concept that goes by the terms, "technological manifest destiny" and "technological determinism." Why is it a mistaken notion when applied to TV?
    • What are some examples that you've seen that prove this concept is wrong? (Don't rely on the examples in the book and you can refer to technology other than that involving video or TV.)
  2. What is a kinescope? How were kinescopes created and what characterized how they looked? (See figures in Television.)

Group 1

  1. Outline the history of video editing--listing the major technological changes. How did these changes have an impact on TV style?
  2. Why type of editing equipment do you suppose was used to cut the following programs:
    • All My Children
    • Northern Exposure
    • Seinfeld
    • The Cosby Show

Group 2

  1. List the elements of the production of I Love Lucy that make it significant to the history of TV style. Explain why each element is important.
  2. What are examples of recent (within the past five years) programs that are shot the same way that Lucy was shot?

Group 3

  1. The history of color TV is very complicated. Create a timeline that lists the significant events leading up to color TV's widespread implementation.
  2. What impact did color technology have on TV style?
  3. What is the NTSC and why was it created?
  1. 1946 CBS hybrid electronic/mechanical color TV system
  2. 1950 FCC approved it as official US system
  3. 1951 Color programming began
  4. 1951 Color programming ended (no color sets; materials used in Korean War)
  5. National Television System Committee (NTSC) formed to promote RCA all-electronic color system (compatible with B&W)
  6. 1953 FCC approved NTSC ("never twice the same color") system
  7. 1954 color broadcasting began with the NTSC system
  8. 1960s color programming became dominant -- by end of 1960s, most programming was in color

Group 4

  1. When did the remote control first appear and what were the names of the early devices?
    • How did they work?
  2. How do modern remote controls work and when did they become commonly used?
  3. What have broadcast networks done to try to combat zapping?

Zenith Flash-Matic (1955)

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1956_Zenith_Remote_Ad.JPG

Zenith Space Commander (1965-72)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Zenith_Space_Commander_600.jpg

Bibliography

  1. Butler, Jeremy G. Television: Critical Methods and Applications. Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007.

External links