Issues in Radio/Television/Film (398-CN-65)

Topic

Early American Television

Instructors

Jason Nebergall

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-339: Tues 6:15PM - 9:15PM

Overview of class

After the Second World War, the United States found itself a superpower for the first time. American popular culture reflected and supported this shift in national self-image through mass media. While radio and cinema had been common for decades, the rise of commercial broadcast television supercharged American cultural evolution and self-reflection. Television both reflected culture and advanced new ideals for the new Atomic Age. However, not all of the changes it advocated were popular and many revived old bigotries and biases for the midcentury (as a result, screenings and discussions will often address difficult themes, offensive language, and harmful stereotypes). The course will involve two essays, one at midterm and one final. Attendence and participation are required. Screenings will include episodes and clips of the Ernie Kovacs Show, Texaco Star Theater, Omnibus, See It Now with Edward R. Murrow, I Love Lucy, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Amos and Andy, The Andy Griffith Show, The Tonight Show, Star Trek, The CBS Evening News with Walter Kronkite, coverage of the Vietnam War, Soul!, the Moon Landing, Videospace, Sesame Street, the resignation of Richard Nixon, Sanford and Son, Image Union, and All in the Family.

Carries humanities credit.