Module Identifier TF30120  
Module Title CONTEXTUALISING TELEVISION  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Mr Jamie Medhurst  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Professor Thomas P O'Malley  
Pre-Requisite TF10420  
Mutually Exclusive FT30120  
Course delivery Other   20 Hours 20 hours contact  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam   
Semester Assessment Essay: 4000 words For information on due dates for submission of assessed work, please refer to the departmental web pages at http://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/duedates.shtml100%

Learning outcomes

Typically, upon completion of this module a student will be able:

To demonstrate an awareness of the historical and institutional structures of television
To critically evaluate discourses relating to the academic study of television
To critically apply theoretical models of television theory to the televisual text studied
To present a well-informed essay on specific subject relating to television history or policy

Aims

This module aims to provide students with the ability to critically evaluate and engage with key debates in television history and policy.

Content

This module contextualises television in terms of institutional history and policy from the 1930s to the present day. It focuses on key moments in the development of the medium and will examine critical debated and public discourse on television. Topics include the early BBC, the origins of ITV, Pilkington and the cultural crisis of the 1960s, re-thinking public service broadcasting, and the changing face of television. There will also be an opportunity for students to undertake in-depth reading of academic writing and develop critical skills in this area.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Curran and Seaton (2003) Power Without Responsibility (6th edition) Routledge
FRANLIN (2001) BRITISH TELEVISION POLICY: A READER ROUTLEDGE
O'Malley (1997) Closedown Pluto Press
PLEASE REFER TO MODULE HANDBOOK FOR FURTHER READINGS

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6