Television Drama: Theories and Genres

This course develops central issues and debates in television studies. The lecture series will explore the challenges and complexities of engaging with television texts, with a particular emphasis on television drama, often extending critical attention outside of the text to consider the contexts of television production and viewing. Students will examine the ?canon? of television studies theory and more current critical writing that addresses the rapidly changing nature of contemporary television. In addition, the course encourages critical engagement with a range of television texts across generic boundaries and formats from the historical context of early sitcoms (I Love Lucy) to contemporary hybrid dramas (Dexter) and South African television (Isidingo and Zero Tolerance).

DP requirements: All written work must be submitted by the stipulated dates. Students who miss more than two seminars will lose their DPs.

Assessment: Assessment for the lecture series will be based on classwork (30%) plus one two-hour examination (20%). The lecture series counts 50% and the seminar 50% of the final mark for the course.

The University of Cape Town awards credits based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to determine course and contact hour recommendations per course. 1 NQF credit represents roughly 10 notional hours of work which includes study time, assignments and examinations. Notional hours may very per courses depending on the course level and modality therefore, CEA recommends using NQF credits as a basis to determine U.S. equivalencies (1 NQF=.222 semester credits)