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History of Television from Broadcast to the Digital Era

History of Television from Broadcast to the Digital Era

Critical Essay #1 Assignment Description


In this essay, you will conduct a critical analysis of a television show that aired before 1980, selecting a particular episode to examine in depth. The essay should situate the show in relation to its historical and industrial context in order to conduct a critical analysis of a particular episode.

The Essay should address the following questions/issues:


When did the show air historically and on what network? Was the show part of daytime or prime-time programming? What is its genre? What other shows did it compete with at the time, and what made your selected show unique?


What is the overarching concept of the show? How does the show’s overarching concept relate to social or political issues that were prominent in American life at the time of its airing? Who is the intended audience?


Considering television’s primary role as a medium of social communication, what does a close reading of a specific episode reveal about the show’s political messaging and American culture in the late-20
th century?


The essay should include at least 3 scholarly citations, which might include course readings, the Lotz book (esp. pp. 21-25), scholarly articles on your selected show, or scholarly articles on shows that clearly relate to your selected show in terms of its history and/or genre. The essay should also use historical context as presented in class discussion/lectures, although you need not cite this in the bibliography.


The essay should include a thesis statement that succinctly offers the main point you want readers to understand about social, political, cultural, aesthetic, and/or historical significance of the show you select. You should not feel compelled to address all of these issues, as particular shows are significant in specific ways.


The essay should be 1,250-1,500 words double-spaced (approx. 5-6 pages), with 1-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. Use MLA guidelines for citation(s).
It is crucially important that the essay is cleanly written. Avoid mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Sentence structure should be clearly legible. It might be a good idea to visit the writing center for pragmatic help on this front.


Below, you will find a list of selected shows that aired before 1980 in order to help in the selection process. You are completely free to select a show not on this list.

Select TV Shows: 1950-1979


The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Adventures of Superman
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Bonanza
Buck Rogers
Captain Kangaroo
Climax!
The Donna Reed Show
Dragnet
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ernie Kovacs Show
Father Knows Best
Flash Gordon
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
The Goldbergs
Gunsmoke
Howdy Doody
I Spy
Lassie
Leave It to Beaver
Perry Mason
Peter Gunn
Rawhide
Sea Hunt
See It Now
Texaco Star Theater
Playhouse 90
This Is Your Life
You Bet Your Life
Your Show of Shows
Batman
Adam-12
The Addams Family
The Andy Griffith Show
The Beverly Hillbillies
Bewitched
Captain Kangaroo
Car 54, Where Are You?
Combat!
Dark Shadow
Days of Our Lives
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Elvis (’68 Comeback Special)
F Troop
Flipper
The Fugitive
Get Smart
Gilligan’s Island
Gidget
Green Acres
The Green Hornet
Guiding Light
H.R. Pufnstuf
Hawaii Five-O
Hee Haw
Hogan’s Heros
The Johnny Cash Show
Julia
Laugh-In
The Mod Squad
The Man from U.N.K.L.E.
Mission: Impossible
Mister Ed
Mister Roger’s Neighborhood
The Monkees
The Munsters
My Favorite Martian
My Living Doll
My Mother the Car
My Three Sons
Naked City
The Patty Duke Show
Petticoat Junction
Playboy’s Penthouse
Romper Room
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Star Trek
That Girl
All My Children
The Amazing Spider-Man
Baretta
Battlestar Galactica
I Dream of Jeannie
The Brady Bunch
The Carol Burnett Show
Charlie’s Angels
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

Columbo
Dallas
The Partridge Family
The Dick Cavett Show
Diff’rent Strokes
Eight is Enough
Fantasy Island
Hart to Hart
The Incredible Hulk
The Jeffersons
Good Times
Kojak
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Kung Fu
Maude
The Mickey Mouse Club
The Odd Couple
Police Story
Rhoda
Sanford and Son
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Streets of San Francisco
Starsky & Hutch
Three’s Company
MASH
The Waltons

Last Updated on June 21, 2021

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