Assignment 1 Due – Jan. 29
A. Read this section: Auteur-Centered approaches to television criticism. (Second edition chapter 9)
1. What is the idea behind the Auteur centered approach (30 or fewer words)?
2. Why did they give it a French name? Why not “Author centered approach?
3. In film it was the director who was credited as the auteur, in TV it’s the producer. Find the list of executive producers in the book (p. 70 or 1e; not in 2e*). Which one are you most familiar with? Why?
4. What are the steps to producing an auteur centered analysis? (I see four, but you may have another number in mind).
B. Read this section: Text Centered Approaches to television criticism. (Second Edition Chapter 5)
“Text” refers to the symbolic value of any thing or action and may vary in meaning by who’s doing the deconstructing. Right? They may be verbal, acoustic, or visual.
1. Using verbal codes, how do forms of address make meaning in a character? (for example, a man in a doctors office refers to the doctor as “Doctor Welby,” or “Marcus.” He doctor addresses the man as “Mr. Wilson” or “Mark.”)
2. Give an example of how two viewers’ social situations might make for a different reading of the same act.
3. Give an example of some sign which you think is pretty much universal, at least in our culture. (Something you think everyone will make the same meaning of when they see it).
4. Can you describe semiotic analysis in fewer than 25 words? Try it.
5. Easier: what is generic criticism?
6. How would you describe rhetorical criticism?
7. How would you describe narrative criticism?