Module Identifier TF23720  
Module Title TELEVISION AND SOCIETY  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Professor Thomas P O'Malley  
Semester Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)  
Other staff Dr Jamie Medhurst  
Course delivery Lecture   20 x 1 hour  
  Seminars / Tutorials   10 x 1 hour  
  Other   Total of 30 viewing hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam 1 x 2 hour 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.shtml 50%
Semester Assessment 1 x 2500 word essay  50%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
To have gained a clear understanding of key theoretical approaches to the study of TV.

To have developed an understanding of the relationship between different approaches to the study of Television.

To possess the ability to critically evaluate key texts in the area.

Aims

The aim of the module is to investigate the role of television in society, working with the history of television and social theories about the relationship between TV and society.

Brief description

This module will develop an in depth understanding of major approaches to the study of television and will allow you to develop the ability to evaluate a range of empirical and theoretical tools for the analysis of television, with a particular emphasis on the history of televsion. The content includes in depth analysis of key issues, including, social theory and television and debates in TV history. This includes topics such as the development of television at key moments in television history, and questions of the relationship between television and
wider bodies of social thought and historical interpretation.

Module Skills

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Tracey, Michael (1998) The Decline and Fall of Public Service Boradcasting OUP
Williams, Kevin (1998) Get me a murder a day! A history of mass communications in Britain Arnold
Corner, John (2000) Critical Ideas in Television Studies OUP
Crisell, Andrew (2002) An Introductory History of British Broadcasting 2nd edition Routledge
Curran, James and Jean Seaton (2003) Power Without Responsibility: the press and broadcasting in Britain (6th edition) Routledge
Goodwin, Peter (1998) Television Under the Tories: broadcasting policy 1979-1997 BFI
Hutchinson, D. (1999) Media Policy: an introduction Blackwells
O'Malley, Tom (1996) Closedown? The BBC and government broadcasting policy since 1945. 2nd edition Blackwell
Curran J and Guervitch, M (eds) (2000) Mass Media and Society London, Arnold, 3rd Edition
Freedman, D (2003) Television Policies of the Labour Party 1951-2001 London, 2003
Hilmes, M (2003) The Television History Book BFI
Mill, J.S (1859) 'On Liberty' Various reprints
Williams, Kevin (2003) Understanding Media Theory Edward Arnold

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5