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Nov 29 2008, 11:08 PM EST rrodrigo 7 words added, 2 words deleted

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My Show Project
Assignment Prompt
400 points

Description
This is your chance to demonstrate that you’ve learned a lot in this class by applying most of what you’ve learned to your analysis of one television show. Throughout the semester you are going to live, breath, and dream your show! Not only are you required to watch the show, I want you engaging in online activities, subscribing to text message feeds, participating in online chats or discussion boards…basically, everything! You'll then analyze the show in a variety of ways throughout the semester. At the end, you'll provide a presentation to the class about your show!

Get Started!
Pick a show and start watching…now!

Deadlines (10 deadlines x 20 points each = 200 points)
  1. 9/27/08: Selection Time—email the instructor with the name of the show you’ll be focusing on (include what season). Unless you have a very good argument, you should be selecting a show that is screening this fall. Briefly describe why you are selecting this show. Feel free to bounce ideas with the instructor. The instructor will make a wiki page for you and your show. You will be posting all of your work on that wiki page (or on subsequent wiki pages if you decide you want more than one page).--This prompt is final, SR!
  2. 10/11/08: Narrative and Wiki page Structure. This portion of the project asks for two things. First, map the narrative structure of one episode of your show (look at chapter 2 of the textbook for the categories to map narrative structure, i.e., identify main characters, narrative enigma, etc.). Second, start setting up your MyShow wiki page. Include a picture or two. Create links to the official, and if you find them unofficial, web sites. You'll be adding to this as you go; however, get started now!--This prompt is final, SR!
    Note: Please note that once you start "borrowing" pictures from other websites you need to start citing your sources. Wetpaint is very good about asking for alternate text for the image. Be sure to include a brief description of what the picture is and where you found it (trying making the image an actual link to the page you found it).
  3. 10/18/08: Embracing Your Show—After you’ve been living and breathing this show for a while, it’s time to reflect on your experiences. How/where/when are you watching/consuming the show? How do your viewing habits affect your understanding of the show? How have your extra-“curricular” activities (other stuff that is not just watching the show) impacting your understanding of the show? Who do you watch the show with? Who do you talk to about the show? Here is where you can have some fun with the wiki. Take pictures of where/what you watch the show and/or who you watch/talk about the show with. Link to discussion boards and other internet areas you are following. Now that you've analyzed your typical viewing habits of the show. Try watching it in another modality (iTunes, streaming on the web, etc.). How does this change your understanding/perspective on the show? Talk to someone new about the show? Does that person get you thinking about it in a different way?--This prompt is final, SR!
  4. 10/25/08: Contextual Analysis: What else is screened on the channel/network that your show runs on? News? Sports? Other Shows? What screens directly before your show? Directly after? Same time other days of the week? What advertisements are run before, during, and after your show? How does identifying and analyzing these contextual elements get you to reflect on the meaning/themes of your show in a different manner?--This prompt is final, SR!
  5. 11/1/08: Mise-en-Scene: Conduct an analysis of the mise-en-scene of one specific episode of your show. Be sure to include some summative details of the show (title, brief summary, key themes, etc.). In your analysis be sure to discuss different aspects of the sets, customs, and lighting.--This prompt is final, SR!
  6. 11/8/08: Video/Cinematography: Conduct an analysis of the video/cinematography (chapter 6) of one specific scene, of one specific episode, of your show. What would really help is if that scene is posted at one of the websites listed below that you can either link out to and/or embed in your wiki page. I will expect you to address focus, framing, and any special effects. You'll not only want to analyze what you are seeing in the scene, but discuss how/why it is shot in that manner (ie, it is a close-up because..., or the camera shifts focus because...). --This prompt is final, SR!
  7. 11/15/08: Editing: as in the work on video/cinematography, conduct an analysis of the editing of one specific scene, of one specific episode, of your show. --The prompt is final, SR!
  8. 11/22/08: Sound: at this point you know it...this is just proof of learning the basic TV analysis stuff...so conduct an analysis of the sound of one specific scene, of one specific episode of your show. Preferably something you can link out to and/or embed on your wiki page. --This prompt is final, SR!
  9. 12/6/08: Dig Deeper: What is the history of this show? How/why did it come in to being? What is the history and/or impact of this show globally? Basically do some research on the history of the show as well as its reception.--This prompt is final, SR!
    Draft of Final Presentation (20 points).
  10. 12/13/08: Sex, Drugs & Other Regulations: Is the show considered violent, why or why not? Does the show include a lot of sexually charged material? Is the show rated? Find and link out to some reviews about the show. Do those reviews mention issues about the shows "questionable" content? How do those reviews get you thinking about the show in different ways?--This prompt is final, SR!
    Peer review of two classmates' drafts of final presentation (20 points each).
  • 12/17/08: Final Presentation—5 minute PowerPoint video with synced audio file (or come present the 5 minute PowerPoint during class on 12/15/08). See detailed content and formatting requirement below.

Final Presentation

(200 points total, 60 of which is for draft and peer reviews)
Content: For this project you will be making a sales pitch about your show. How/why is it "good" television? How/why does it fit the target audience? How/why is it good in terms of its "formal" elements (format...audio, visual, editing, etc.)? How/why is it a good narrative? Etc. Basically you'll want to "sell" the show to your fellow classmates who are now TV connoisseurs. Your goal: to make everyone in the class want to watch the season of the show on which you are presenting. Use all of the content of your various MyShow homework assignments to build into the your presentation. You shouldn't have to start from scratch; instead, this presentation should be a culminating "report" of your work during the whole MyShow assignment sequence.

Format: A five minute Power Point presentation of 20 slides, which must automatically forward after 15 seconds (so four slides per minute). You must either sync an audio file with the presentation or come and present it live to the class on 12/15/08 (7:10-9:50pm). You will need to carefully design and choreograph your presentation.
  • 12/6/08: Draft (20 points)--to get full credit for the draft you must have a complete draft of the five minute script for the oral part of the presentation. Post it to your MyShow wiki page (either as an attachment or at the bottom of the page).
  • 12/13/08: Peer Review of Two Classmates' Drafts (20 points each)--go to two of your classmates' wiki pages and read their scripts for their MyShow final presentation. Here are the questions you should "answer" about each draft (see below). Post your peer review as a discussion board posting at the bottom of the page. Once you've finished both peer reviews, email the instructor and tell her who you peer reviewed (provide links to the page). The questions:
    • Do you have any unanswered questions after you finished reading the draft? What are they?
    • What did you like about the draft? How/why did you like it? How might the author build on that section?
    • What sections are confusing to you? How/why? Ask your classmates questions that would help you to make sense of the section.
    • Where would you like to know more? Ask questions!
    • Does the person actually engage in a "full" analysis of the show and how/why it is good (including analysis of the formal elements: narrative structure, cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing, sounds, etc.)? Where/how do you want to know more about this type of analysis in their report?
  • 12/15/08: If you want to present your presentation live, you'll need to attend the class on 12/15/08 (7:10-9:50pm).
  • 12/17/08 (midnight): The last day to submit the file of your complete presentation.
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