Module Identifier TF31110  
Module Title RADIO ANALYSIS  
Academic Year 2000/2001  
Co-ordinator Mr James Medhurst  
Semester Semester 2  
Pre-Requisite TF10410 or DR10210 or DR10220  
Course delivery Lecture   15 Hours  
Assessment Exam   2 Hours    
  Essay   2 x 1,200 word analysis of selected extracts    

Aims
The aim of this course is to introduce the student to a range of Radio Drama productions, studying each not only for its own merits and style but also as a means of examining the fundamental strands of Drama on the Radio.

Learning Outcomes:

Typically, upon completion of this module a student will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental strands of Drama on the Radio and how they are used to engage and
manipulate the imagination of the listener.
- demonstrate an understanding of the Language and Dialogue used in Radio Drama.
- demonstrate an understanding of key components of a Radio Drama (e.g. Structure and Holding Form; Characterisation
and Landscape; Soundscapes).
- demonstrate an understanding of the Grammar of Radio.
- conduct a grounded analysis of a chosen example from one of the Radio Dramas studied, and to consider why the results of
that analysis might be significant.

Content:

The key strands that will be pursued in the course are:
1. The Dark Tower by Louis MacNiece and Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas: as examples of fairly early Radio drama. The
structure and holding form of the plays will be examined as well as the use of a `poetic? language.
2. Samuel Becket: with reference to All that Fall; comparisons and contrasts between the naturalistic and non-naturalistic
approaches to language/dialogue and characterisation/landscape.
3. Howard Barker?s Scenes from an Execution and David Rudkin?s Hitchcock: holding form and content in more detail.
4. A Slight Ache by Harold Pinter: the rhythms of dialogue and how the dramatist can establish a linguistic style to suit the drama.
5. Head by Lucy Gough: the further frontiers of Radio Drama and the imaginative use of sound in creating landscape.
6. Anthony Minghella?s Cigarettes and Chocolate.
There may also be a number of guest practitioners.


Reading Lists
Books
** Essential Reading
Barnard, Stephen. (2000) Studying Radio. Arnold
Crisell, Andrew. (1997) An Introductory history of Briish Broadcasting. Routledge
Crisell, Andrew. (1994) Understanding Radio. Routledge
Shingler, Martin & Wieringa Cindy. (1998) On Air: Methods and meanings of radio. Arnold
Drakakis, John. (1981) British Radio Drama. CUP
Cooper, Giles. Listen/read: Under the Loofah Tree.
MacNiece, Louis. Listen/read: The Dark Tower.
Thomas, Dylan. Listen/read: Under Milk Wood.
Beckett, Samuel. Listen/read: All that Fall.
Rudkin, David. Listen/read: Hitchcock.
Minghella, Anthony. Listen/read: Cigarettes and Chocolate.
Barker, Howard. Listen/read: Scenes from an Execution.
Pinter, Harold. Listen/read: A Slight Ache.
Gough, Lucy. Listen/read: Head.