Description
Your reading for the week can be found in the Marriott Library electronic-reserve system, author: Stark, title: “Glued to the Set” (you’ll have to log in with your UNID and password to have access). You can access course reserves by selecting the course reserves tab in the Marriott Library catalog. Additional information on using course reserves can be found in the Marriott Library Course Reserve How to Guide. Here is a walkthrough that will explain searching courses, filtering courses and finally how to access copyrighted material from off campus. http://campusguides.lib.utah.edu/course_reserves_guide (Links to an external site.)
Here’s a pdf of the article as well: Glued to the Set 2.pdf.
Please also look at this article on Lucy: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/why-we-still-love-lucy/ (Links to an external site.)
And this one on a show that changed television:https://tv.avclub.com/ten-episodes-that-show-how-all-in-the-family-changed-te-1798232492 (Links to an external site.)
These chapters each discuss various “icons“, in television, from successful shows. A person who is an “icon” needs to fit the following parameters: S/he is an important and enduring symbol, is regarded as embodying the essential characteristics of an era or group and has staying power. These icons became larger than the actual shows they were part of and left an indelible mark on tv programming that can still be seen today. The stars discussed in the article all qualify, according to these descriptions. Please also watch the following clips to prepare to answer the assignment questions.
Here’s a clip of Milton Berle, with Lucy:
Uncle Miltie IS Auntie Mildred! (Links to an external site.)
Below are clips from I Love Lucy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuGc15i9ghs (Links to an external site.)
The Cosby show:
The Cosby show – Funny moment with Theo Huxtable (Links to an external site.)Archie Bunker (All in the Family):
Archie Bunker gives us a history lesson (Links to an external site.)
Seinfeld clips:
Funniest Seinfeld Moments Part 1 (Links to an external site.)
Minimize Video Funniest Seinfeld Moments Part 2 (Links to an external site.)
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Your assignment is to choose one of the people discussed in the reading or in the clips and compare that person with a TV actor or actress whom you predict will eventually attain that type of status (choose an actor who is in one of the TV shows listed on the syllabus). Find at least three ways to compare them. These comparisons can either point out similarities or differences between your two choices. You only have to choose one person to compare to the person from the reading. Your main objective is to be specific in your comparisons (in other words, give examples from the character on a TV show, and incidents on that TV show, that illustrate your point). It is your choice completely whom you decide to compare to one of the people in the readings. Try to be a little daring with your prediction. Don’t choose someone that is already iconic (for example, Jerry Seinfeld is already iconic). It is a prediction or a guess. It should be a person that is recognized from television more than film, since this is a television course. Note: Keep your work as concise as possible while still covering the subject matter. Make your choices, address the specific requests in the instructions above and use well-chosen examples to support your ideas. Be sure to clearly tell me the name of the person you’re comparing, and the name of the icon (from the reading) to whom you’re comparing them. Be sure to break up your ideas into manageable paragraphs rather than one LOOONG paragraph–make the response presentable and easy for me to read. Always (throughout the term assignments) remember to capitalize and italicize titles of TV shows, films or plays (eg: Mad Men, rather than mad men, Seinfeld rather than seinfeld). Some publications put quotations around the episode title (for example “The Contest” for a Seinfeld episode). You could also choose to put the show and episode titles in quotes (eg: “Seinfeld”). But be consistent (either italicize or put in quotes, but not both.
I repeat here what I said on your syllabus about these bi-weekly responses: To earn 20 points your response must be on time and show evidence of critical thinking in your answer. The use of specific examples to support your ideas is required. I care about clearly written responses–don’t just text or be sloppy in your response writing. Basic punctuation and complete sentences are essential, and clearly written, well-thought out responses will help you get full points. You can be concise and to the point, but don’t be incomplete or vague–you must fully answer all the questions in the assignment for full points. Also, avoid passive voice or wordiness–clear, active voice and straightforward wording is optimal.
