Literature and culture today: Reading Contemporary American Television: Storytelling, Representation and the Canon 2510-f1ENG2S-LCT-RCA

https://moodle.umk.pl/course/view.php?id=4853 (term 2022/23L)

The class aims to broaden and contextualise the students' knowledge concerning one of the dominant forms of early 21st century American culture, namely: scripted television series.

The course consists of an introductory module, familiarising the students with the American television landscape and its changes, the notion of the canon as it may be applied to television studies, and introducing relevant critical and theoretical approaches. The students will learn about generic distinctions and the chronology of selected influential American TV series and the channels/distributors that broadcast them.

Subsequently, the students will learn about selected phenomena associated with contemporary television, such as the rise anti-hero drama, auteurial television series, the influence of societal and political changes (such as the recession or Obama's presidency) on television, discussing representation, changing audiences and various storytelling modes.

Total student workload

Contact hours with teacher: - participation in classes - 30 hrs Self-study hours: - preparation for classes - 10 hrs - final essay research and composition - 10 hrs Altogether: 50 hrs (2 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - skills

The graduate: U1: can read and comprehend academic and popular texts in English on the subject of American television (K_U02) U2: can discuss, describe and argue as well as form their own conclusions about issues connected with American television culture using various communication channels, in speech and in writing (K_U05, K_U15) U3: is able to research, analyze and interpret contemporary American television series using philological terminology and appropriate methods drawing on literary and cultural studies (K_U06)

Learning outcomes - social competencies

(in Polish) -

Observation/demonstration teaching methods

- display

Expository teaching methods

- description

Exploratory teaching methods

- seminar
- practical
- case study

Online teaching methods

- evaluative methods
- content-presentation-oriented methods
- integrative methods
- exchange and discussion methods
- cooperation-based methods

Course coordinators

Nelly Strehlau

Assessment criteria

Assessment of classroom performance and/or Moodle task completion showcasing knowledge of assigned readings documented by the teacher in an activity log. (U1, U2) (30%)

End of semester essay (U2, U3) (70%)

Final paper is assessed with regard to using knowledge gained in class and researched sources, as well as correct essay structure and English lexis and grammar.

Assessment criteria:

satisfactory- (60-69%)
satisfactory plus- (70-75%)
good - (76-83%)
good plus- (84-90%)
very good- (91-100%)

Active participation in classes is obligatory in a laboratory class; therefore, persistent lack of preparation or unexcused absences can lead to a lowered grade or result in a failing grade.

Practical placement

N/A

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2510-f1ENG2S-LCT-RCA in USOSweb