How TV shows create certain expectations and meanings.

This week you are going to take apart two TV shows of your choice. The emphasis here is on the form of the show and the way it creates certain expectations and meanings. You can submit your Anatomy Analysis in any way you like – a Slide or Slideshow, a video, a written analysis, an audio submission – just find a way to communicate how your shows are creating meaning in their own unique way. Here’s what to do:

– Pick one episodic show and one serial show (to be clear, you are picking a total of two shows). I encourage you to pick something randomly to make it interesting. You can use the “Reelgood Roulette” Wheel  to select a show (I’ll provide instructions below).

– After you have your two shows selected, pick one episode from each show and watch them (or re-watch them if you have seen them before). This means you’ll be analyzing two episodes from two different shows this week – one serial episode and one episodic episode.

– For each show do the following (you will do this a total of two times for this assignment):

1. Basic information: about the show and the episode you selected

Series Name, “Episode Name,” Season, and Episode Number

For example: The Simpsons, “Homer The Smithers,” S7E17

2. The Show: What basic format/structure does the show follow? What is allowed? Not allowed? What forms of hybridity are at work in the show? If it is a serial does it have episodic features that make specific episodes stand out? If it is an episodic show, do they have certain serialized elements that carry through from episode to episode? Does it follow the patterns of other similar shows? Does break from the expectations of the form in any way?

3. The Episode: How does this episode fit within the rest of the series? Does it break from the show’s conventions or structure? Does it meet the expectations of each show? What do you think this episode does for the overall show?

4. Enjoyment & Viewership: What types of enjoyment do you get from watching this show? What type of viewership is implied or encouraged by this show? Why do you think it exists in the industry?

– After you have completed the two analyses, reflect on what you have learned (you will only do this once and reflect on both shows at the same time):

5. Reflection: What do these analyses teach you about TV form and meaning? What do you think this says about TV viewing? What does it say about TV as a media form?