Difference between revisions of "Genre Study (Discussion)"

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Jane Feuer, in the ''Channels'' chapter on genre, specifies three approaches to genre
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'''Group 2''': What dilemma do genre scholars face when trying to define a genre? Explain the ''theoretical'' way of escaping that dilemma and the ''historical'' way of escaping it. Within your group, conduct a survey to determine what its "cultural consensus" is for the definition of the sitcom. You may wish to refer to sitcoms we've seen in class.
#the aesthetic,
 
#the ritual, and  
 
#the ideological.  
 
She then summarizes the approaches to the sitcom of David Grote, Horace Newcomb and David Marc -- followed by her own genre analysis. And ''Television'' presents the work of Geoffrey Hurd.
 
  
Each group will explore the approach of one of these four authors.
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'''Group 3''': Genres may be defined based on their ''stylistic schema''. Explain that phrase and how it might be used to define a genre. According to the Mittell chapter, how might ''Dragnet'' fit into a stylistic schema?
  
'''Group 2''': Grote
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'''Group 4''': Genres may be defined by their subject matter--specifically, their ''narrative structure'' and ''themes''. Explain how Kaminsky and Mahan articulate the police show's narrative structure. Does the episode of ''Dragnet'' we watched support their argument? Explain the thematic structure that Hurd finds in the police show. Does this ''Dragnet'' episode support his argument?
  
'''Group 3''': Newcomb
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'''Group 1''':  
 
 
'''Group 4''': Marc
 
 
 
'''Group 1''': Hurd
 
 
 
#Using your author's approach, explain which of Feuer's groups it falls into.
 
#Apply his approach to the episodes of ''The Andy Griffith Show'', ''The Cosby Show'' and ''How I Met Your Mother'' we've viewed. What sort of questions would you ask about these eps? What conclusions might your analysis draw? How is ''How I Met Your Mother'' altering the genre's conventions (if, indeed, your author would think it is)?  ('''Group 1''': Do you see any of Hurd's narrative functions in these eps?)
 
#How does Feuer's own approach to genre and ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' differ from your author's?
 
  
 
==All groups==
 
==All groups==
#How does Feuer feel the genre changed in the 1970s?
 
 
#List two strength(s) of genre analysis. List two weaknesses of this approach.
 
#List two strength(s) of genre analysis. List two weaknesses of this approach.
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
#Butler, Jeremy G. ''Television: Critical Methods and Applications''. Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007.
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#Jeremy G. Butler, ''Television: Critical Methods and Applications'' (NY: Routledge, 2011).
# Robert C. Allen, ''Channels of Discourse, Reassembled'', second edition (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992).
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#Jason Mittell, ''Genre and Television: From Cop Show to Cartoons in American Culture'' (NY: Routledge, 2004).
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 15:12, 2 November 2010

Group 2: What dilemma do genre scholars face when trying to define a genre? Explain the theoretical way of escaping that dilemma and the historical way of escaping it. Within your group, conduct a survey to determine what its "cultural consensus" is for the definition of the sitcom. You may wish to refer to sitcoms we've seen in class.

Group 3: Genres may be defined based on their stylistic schema. Explain that phrase and how it might be used to define a genre. According to the Mittell chapter, how might Dragnet fit into a stylistic schema?

Group 4: Genres may be defined by their subject matter--specifically, their narrative structure and themes. Explain how Kaminsky and Mahan articulate the police show's narrative structure. Does the episode of Dragnet we watched support their argument? Explain the thematic structure that Hurd finds in the police show. Does this Dragnet episode support his argument?

Group 1:

All groups

  1. List two strength(s) of genre analysis. List two weaknesses of this approach.

Bibliography

  1. Jeremy G. Butler, Television: Critical Methods and Applications (NY: Routledge, 2011).
  2. Jason Mittell, Genre and Television: From Cop Show to Cartoons in American Culture (NY: Routledge, 2004).

External links