Week 06: NYPD Blue

Week 06: NYPD Blue 
Tu 09.30/Th 10.02
Readings: eR— MTV—“21. A Whopping, Steaming Turd”-“41. I Want to Have a Nickname”
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness” 
Due: REFLECTION 4

Upcoming:

Week 07: Doctor Who

Tu 10.07/Th 10.09

Readings: MTV—“Part 4: Nothing Lasts Forever, and We Both Know Hearts Can Change”-“53. You have No Idea How I Miss It”

Class: Writers workshop; Reading presentation; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“An Introduction to Infographics”

Due: EXPOSITORY (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

TV News 09.27.14

• Once Upon a Time gets Frozen (Variety)
• Survey: Netflix users watch 90+ minutes a day (Los Angeles Times)
• Meanwhile in France: Netflix struggles against a skeptical country (Los Angeles Times)
• First look: Christopher Walken as Captain Hook in NBC's Peter Pan (Entertainment Weekly)
• Arrow and The Flash may spawn a larger DC television universe on The CW (Dark Horizons)

Reflection 04: Hey, That's Me!—Seeing Yourself on TV

To a young Whoopi Goldberg, the sight of an independent black woman on the bridge of the USS Enterprise was life-altering. Star Trek offered the future-superstar not only an opportunity to see her likeness on television, but a glimpse at a hopeful and prosperous future for her wary people. Meanwhile, Korean-Canadian, and Grey's Anatomy cast member, Sandra Oh laments that she never had the same opportunity as Goldberg: "I grew up never seeing myself on-screen, and it's really important to me to give people who look like me a chance to see themselves. I want to see myself as the hero of any story. I want to see myself save the world from the bomb." What is the significance of seeing people like yourself on television? Have you ever seen you and your life reflected on-screen? If so, were you represented accurately? If you've never seen yourself represented on television, why do you believe that is? What would it take for television to accurately represent who you are?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Network TV's Fall Lineup Distinguished by Diversity" (NPR)
• "Asexuality on 'House': You're Doing it Wrong" (Hollywood Jane)
• "An Analysis of the Portrayal of Poor People in the Media" (Everyday Feminism)
• "Disability Characters on TV: Who's Getting it and Who's Missing the Mark?" (Disaboom) 
• "The Thing About All These New TV Shows About Girls" (Thought Catalog) 
• "Thought Catalog: The First Time I Saw Myself on TV (Hulu)

Required:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must have a works cited page

Due: Wed. 10.01

Week 05: The Twilight Zone

Week 05: The Twilight Zone
Tu 09.23/Th 09.25

Readings: MTV—“Part 2: I Play My Part and You Play Your Game”-“20. Don’t Be a Wanker All Your Life”

Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Twelve Essential Grammar Rules to Know”

Due: REFLECTION 3

Upcoming:

Week 06: NYPD Blue

Tu 09.30/Th 10.02

Readings: eR— MTV—“21. A Whopping, Steaming Turd”-“41. I Want to Have a Nickname”

Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness”

Due: REFLECTION 4

Reflection 03: Did You Just See That?—When History Happens on TV

Sometimes, history plays itself out in real time and we are afforded a front row seat. Whether what we see inspires or terrifies us, historical events on television often captivate Americans. In fact, we often bond as a nation over these moments. For this reflection, watch excerpts from two of the following historical events. As you watch, consider why these events were significant for Americans, even if it did not pertain to us directly? And which historical events have you see played out on television?

Write about two of the following events:

• The Launch of Sputnik 1 (1957)
• The Assassination of President Kennedy (1963)
• The Assassination of Dr. King (1968)
• The Apollo 11 Moon Landing (1968)
• The Apollo 13 Splashdown (1970)
• The Resignation of President Nixon (1974)
• The "Miracle on Ice" (1980)
• The Attempted Assassination of President Reagan (1981)
• The Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana (1981)
• The Live-Aid Concerts in Philadelphia and London (1985)
• The Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion (1986)
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)
• The OJ Simpson Murder Trial (1994 - 1995)
• The Funeral of Princess Diana (1997)
• The Attacks of September 11th (2001)
• The Inauguration of President Obama (2009)
• The Memorial of Michael Jackson (2009)
• The Japanese Earthquake and Tsunamis (2011)
• The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton (2011)
• Boston Marathon Bombing (2013)
• Pope Francis Elected Leader of the Roman Catholic Church (2013)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• Two full pages in length

Due: Th 09.25

TV News 09.18.14

• Mystery Science Theater 3000 comes to Vimeo (Entertainment Weekly)
• After 51 years, Barbra Streisand returns to The Tonight Show (NBC News)
• MTV's Faking It to feature intersex character (Huffington Post)
• Netflix under pressure to crack down on VPNs (Forbes)
• NFL ratings on the rise despite league's scandals (WBUR)
• Study: Woman still face an uphill battle in the television industry (Vox)

MTV Highlights, 1981-1993

In support of I Want My MTV, here are some of the highlights from MTV's first dozen years:

• MTV launches (August 1st, 1981)
• Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star"—The first music video played on MTV (1981)
• "You'll Never Look at Music the Same Way Again" commercial (1981) 
• Duran Duran's "Girls on Film" (1981) [NSFW]
• Blondie's "Rapture"—The first rap video played on MTV (1981)
• Duran Duran's "Rio" (1982)
• Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" (1983)
• Michael Jackson's "Beat It" (1983)
• Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (1983)
• Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (1983) 
• WWF/MTV present "The Brawl to End It All" (1983)
• Madonna's "Borderline" (1984)
• "I Want My MTV" commercial (1984)
• Madonna performs "Like a Virgin" at the VMAs (1984)
• MTV's "Party House" Contest with John Cougar Mellancamp (1984)
• Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" (1984) 
• WWF/MTV present "The War to Settle the Score" (1985) 
• USA for Africa's We are the World" (1985)
• Live-Aid' s London finale and Live-Aid's Philadelphia finale (1985)
• a-ha's "Take on Me" (1986) 
• RUN-DMC and Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" (1986)
• Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" (1986)  
• Guns N' Roses, "Sweet Child O' Mine" (1987)
• George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" (1987)
• Guns N' Roses visit Headbanger's Ball (1987) 
• Sinead O'Connor visits 120 Minutes (1988)
• Yo! MTV Raps debuts (1988) 
• Bon Jovi performs "Livin' on a Prayer/Wanted Dead or Alive" at the 1989 VMAs (1989)
• Madonna performs "Vogue" at the 1990 VMAs (1990) 
• Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" (1990)
• Madonna's "Justify My Love"—Banned by MTV (1990)
• George Michael's "Freedom '90" (1990)
• "Yo! Unplugged Rap" on MTV Unplugged (1991) 
• Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1991) 
• Michael Jackson's "Black or White" (1991)
• Mariah Carey performs on MTV Unplugged (1992)
• The Real World debuts (1992)
• House of Style goes to Paris (1992)
• Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" wings Best Song at the 1992 MTV Movie wards (1992)
• Nirvana performs on MTV Unplugged (1993)

Week 04: Wonder Woman

Week 04: Wonder Woman

Tu 09.16/Th 09.18

Readings: MTV—“8. Midgets, Models, and Trannies”-“14. I’m Not Like Other Boys”

Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Reading Techniques: Best Practices,” "Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process"

Due: REFLECTION 2

Upcoming:

Week 05: The Twilight Zone

Tu 09.23/Th 09.25

Readings: MTV—“Part 2: I Play My Part and You Play Your Game”-“20. Don’t Be a Wanker All Your Life”

Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Twelve Essential Grammar Rules to Know”

Due: REFLECTION 3

TV News 09.10.14

• American Horror Story: Freak Show's new trailer takes you inside the tent (Variety)
• Mike Tyson curses at Canadian host on live TV (Deadspin) [NSFW]
• Also live: Justin Bieber strips, is quickly booed (Time)
• Producers readying Supergirl pitch (Deadline Hollywood)
• When will we get access to HBO Go without a subscription? (CNET)
• Reality TV stars are only too anxious to go nude (ABC News)

Reflection 02: As Heard on TV—The Music of Commercials

Let's face it, music can have great influence over us and that includes the ability to sell us things. Advertisers have known this for decades, which is why TV  commercials have been laden with music since the early days of radio. Today, music is still an integral part of commercials. Advertisers work diligently to find music that enhances the appeal of a product, knowing that pairing the right song with the right product can result in increased profits. Additionally, many artists' songs have been resurrected, or plucked from obscurity, after being placed in a major commercial. For many artists, having "that song from that commercial" can translate into a considerable bump in album sales. For this reflection, you will examine three of the following commercials to assess the overall impact music has in the ads. (Note we are not looking at songs that are modified for a particular campaign, but songs that are used in their original form in order to help sell you something.) Each of these songs was chosen for a reason. But what do you think those reasons were? What likely was the desired effect? How is the product enhanced by this music? If you are already familiar with the song, how does your prior knowledge affect your appreciation of the ad or the product? Finally, do songs in television advertising ever influence your own purchase of products?

 

Choose three of the following ads for your analysis:

1. Audi A3's "Dues" featuring "We Are the Champions" by Queen (2014)
2. Google Play's "Play Your Heart Out" featuring "Rainbow Man" by Busy P (2014)
3. Nissan Rogue's "Comute" featuring "Y.A.L.A." by M.I.A (2014)
4. Apple iPhone's "Metal Mastered" featuring "Ooh La La" by Goldfrapp (2013)
5. Target's "Threshold" featuring “So Groovy Now" by Jocelyn Alice & Right The Stars (2013)
6. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' "Misfit Right In" featuring Major Lazer ft. The Partysquad's "Original Don" (2013)
7. Chipotle's "The Scarecrow" featuring "Pure Imagination" by Fiona Apple (2013)
8. Taco Bell's "Viva Young" featuring fun's "We are Young" in Spanish (2013)
9. Target's "Color Changes Everything" featuring "Alouette" by The Delta Rythmn Boys (2012)
10. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' "Let Him Go" featuring Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2012)
11. Internet Explorer's "IE9" featuring "Too Close" by Alex Clare (2012)
12. Chipotle's "Back to the Start" featuring Coldplay's "The Scientist" (2011)
13. Hieneken's "Date" featuring “Jaan Pehechaan Ho” by Mohammed Rafi (2011)
    
14. Volkswagen Passat's "The Force" featuring "The Imperial March" by John Williams (2011)
15. Apple iPod's "iPod Nano" featuring "1234" by Feist (2007) 
16. The Gap's "The Skinny Black Pant" featuring "Back in Black" by AC/DC (2006)
17. Apple iPod's "Life is Random" featuring "Jerk it Out" by The Caesers (2006)
18. Epic Games' Gears of War's "Mad World" featuring "Mad World" by Gary Jules (2006)
19. The Gap's "Pretty Khaki" featuring "I Enjoy Being a Girl" from Flow Drum Song (2005)
20. Chanel's "Le Film" featuring "Claire de Lune" by Claude Debussy (2004)
21. Mitsubishi Eclipse's "Days Go By" featuring "Days Go By" by Dirty Vegas (2003)
22. Mitsubishi Outlander's "Breathe" featuring "Breathe" by Télépopmusik (2002)
23. Volkswagen Jetta's "Big Day" featuring "One Million Miles" by J. Ralph (2001) 
24. Volkswagen Cabriolet's "Pink Moon" featuring "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake (2000)
25. The Gap's "Khaki Swing" featuring "Jump, Jive, and Wail" by Louis Prima (1998)
26. Diet Coke's "Diet Coke Break" featuring "I Just Want to Make Love to You" by Etta James (1994)
27. Pepsi's "Just One Look" featuring "Just One Look" by Doris Troy (1992)
28. Nike Air's "Revolution" featuring "Revolution" by The Beatles (1987)
29. Honda Scooters' "Don't Settle for Walking" featuring "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed (1986)
30. Levi's "Launderette" featuring "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye (1985)

Required:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length

Due: Th 09.18

Week 03: Downton Abbey

Week 03: Downton Abbey
Tu 09.09/Th 09.11
Readings: MTV—“Part 1: Pictures Came and Broke Your Heart”-“7. A Hail Mary Pass”
Class: DIAGNOSTIC; Reading discussion

Upcoming:

Week 04: Wonder Woman

Tu 09.16/Th 09.18

Readings: MTV—“8. Midgets, Models, and Trannies”-“14. I’m Not Like Other Boys”

Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Reading Techniques: Best Practices”

Due: REFLECTION 2

TV News 09.03. 14

• Once again, Sophia Vergara is TV's highest-earning actress (Forbes)
• Here's what TV characters would pay in rent in real-life (Boston Herald)
• How should TV news handle ISIS beheading videos? (Variety)
• Gotham coming to Netflix exclusively in '15 (Entertainment Weekly)
• Jimmy Fallon and Adam Levine try out the "Wheel of Musical Impressions" on The Tonight Show (E!)
• First look: Allison Williams as Peter Pan (People)

Multimedia Presentations

As you know, this semester you and a classmate will be responsible for a 10-minute multimedia presentation and class hand-out.

By midnight on Friday, September 5th, follow these steps:

1. Click on "Comments" at the end of this post.
2. In the "Post a Comment" box, leave the group's names (first and last), section, topic, and the preferred date—only one entry per group is required.

Example:
David Cortez and Kerry Clancy: TV Genres: Hospital Dramas, 10.16.14

Please be sure to post in the correct section! All topics and dates are first come, first serve.

Requirements:

• The work distribution is up to each group, though it should be somewhat equitable
• The presentation must be approximately 10 minutes in length—everyone must present at least part of the time
• There should be approximately 10 slides, including at least one video clip (no more than 2-3 minutes in length)
• You must provide a handout related to or outlining your presentation (23 copies) 
• On the day of your presentation, email both your presentation (or a link) and handout to me at dhdelao@gmail.com.

You may utilize any presentation program you like. 

The best presentations will:

• Have an introductory slide which contextualizes the topic—very important 
• Use words economically 
• Include visually interesting illustrations—gifs are also acceptable
• Avoid a heavy use of animation and effects 
• Have a style that complements the subject matter and strikes the appropriate tone
• Engage the class through a conversational style, utilizing questions and/or activities
• Embed a relevant video or audio clip (e.g. YouTube, SoundCloud)—ad blockers are also helpful in saving time*
• Conclude with a slide that summarizes the topic—also very important

Remember, this is an opportunity to be creative, so feel free to have fun with the visual layout of your presentation.

*If you use PowerPoint 2007, here is a quick video explaining how to embed a YouTube clip into your presentation. Remember, embedding clips can save time during a presentation.

Lower scoring presentations might:

• Begin without an introductory slide and/or fail to offer any context upfront
• Be thinly researched
• Allow visuals to overrun their content, or lack a cohesive style
• Fail to engage the class in any meaningful way
• Lack multimedia
• End without a concluding slide

Remember, you are responsible for providing your own laptop. Also, Macs will require a special conector.

Email me your group's first and second choices from the list below:

1. Event Television: The Day After
2. TV Genres: Variety Shows
3. Watch It!: What You Can or Can’t Say, Do, or Show on Television
4. A Brief History of Soap Operas
5. The Women of SNL: Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, and Kristn Wiig
6. Groundbreaking Television: The Golden Girls
7. Iconic Black Characters: Lt. Uhura, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, and Oliva Pope
8. VH1: The Early Years
9. Iconic 90s TV: The X-Files, Beverly Hills 90210, and Dawson’s Creek
10. Groundbreaking Television: All in the Family
11. TV Genres: Hospital Dramas
12. Inside the Degrassi Universe
13. Based on the Brits: Three’s Company, American Idol, and The Office
14. A Netflix Original: House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Arrested Development
15. Groundbreaking Television: I Love Lucy
16. Iconic Latino Characters: Ricky Ricardo, Dora the Explorer, and Betty Suarez
17. Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show
18. TV Pioneers: Edward R. Murrow
19. A Brief History of CNN
20. A Look at ABC’s Wide World of Sports
21. Groundbreaking Television: American Bandstand
22. Visions of the Man of Steel: Adventures of Superman, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and Smallville
23. Groundbreaking Television: The Daily Show
24. TV Pioneers: Phil Donohue
25. A Brief History of Game Shows
26. Event Television: Roots
27. Iconic Asian Characters: Lt. Sulu, Apu, and Kelly Kapoor
28. Inside the Star Trek Universe
29. The Roots of Reality TV: An American Family
30. Groundbreaking Television: The Twilight Zone

In that email, include your first and second choices for presentation dates:

Week 04: Wonder Woman - Tu 09.16/Th 09.18

1.

Week 05: The Twilight Zone - Tu 09.23/Th 09.25

1.

Week 06: NYPD Blue - Tu 09.30/Th 10.02

1.Josh N. and Neda N.—The Women of SNL: Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, and Kristn Wiig

2. 

Week 07: Doctor Who - Tu 10.07/Th 10.09

1.

Week 08: Mad Men - Tu 10.14/Th 10.16

1.

Week 09: Scandal - Tu 10.21/Th 10.23

1.

2.

Week 10: American Horror Story - Tu 10.28/Th 10.30

1.

Week 11: Star Trek: The Next Generation - Tu 11.04/Th 11.06

1.

Week 12: Cheers - Tu 11.11

1.

Week 13: I Love Lucy - Tu 11.18/Th 11.20

1.

2.

Week 14: The X-Files - Tu 11.25

1.

Week 15: Leave It to Beaver - Tu 12.02/Th 12.04

1.

Week 16: Sex and the City - Tu 12.09

1.