Research Paper

INTRO TO TV STUDIES | FS105

{DESCRIPTION}
For this project, you will conduct a multi-faceted analysis of television by conducting research into a series of your choice. By focusing on a single series both creatively or analytically, you will be able to dig deeply into TV as a complex system and use course concepts along the way to guide your thinking and creativity. Either option will ask you to use course concepts and think creatively about how your existing or proposed show operates in culture and society.
You will write a 5-7 page paper divided into five main sections demonstrating your research into or development of your show.
{FORM & STYLE}
In each section, you will address most of the questions for each section (listed below). Don’t worry about answering every single question, these are provided to help you dig deeply into your show. If you can’t find all the information or address all the questions – that is ok! That being said, you want to be sure you examine each of them and use them as a guide. These questions are designed to help you find and then tell the unique story of your TV series. Treat them as a roadmap to help you explore your existing or proposed show in a number of complex dimensions.
In order to make your research clear to other readers (you might want to share this with your family and friends!), it is important that you connect the ideas and information from each section to the other sections of the paper. So, even though your paper is divided into sections, your paper should flow (meaning: ideas in one section should carry over to ideas in the other section) and build (meaning: your ideas should get more complex; the ideas in the second or third section should add to our understanding of ideas in the first and second section). It is also important that you explain key terms and concepts in your own words. Do not assume the reader knows what L.O.P. stands for or the difference between episodic and serial TV.
Please use complete thoughts and sentences. Pay attention to run-on sentences, punctuation, and grammar. Always: Proofread, proofread, proofread (meaning: re-reading and correcting your work

after you have written it). A great strategy to help your writing is to read your work out loud to yourself or others. Reading out loud will help you catch awkward wording, typos, and run-ons.

{PROPOSALS}
❏ Initial Proposal: You will turn in a 2-3 page paper proposal Week 12 on Thursday, April 2nd.
The format of this proposal is an essay. Do not use lists or bullet points. This should be a 5
paragraph essay with complete sentences and ideas. Submit on Canvas before coming to class. Use the following format to guide your proposal.
1. Title: The title of your existing show.
2. Background & Basic Info: Relevant background information about your existing or original show (distribution service, time period, talent, producers, audiences, format, sponsors, etc.)
3. Guiding Questions: Two or three specific guiding questions based on areas we have covered or explored in class. What do you want to know about your show? What are you curious about? What do you know already?
4. Working Goals: What do you need to find out about your show (be specific).
5. Work Plan: How you plan on researching or creating your show over the next few weeks? What steps will you take and what sources will you consult to get the work done ?
❏ Updated Proposal: Because writing, creativity, and research is a process, I want you to treat it as such. You will turn in an updated 2-3 page updated proposal detailing your preliminary work in Week 15 on Thursday, April 21st. Here, you will provide detailed descriptions of what you have discovered or created thus far. For this proposal, you will provide a list of citations (in MLA format) you have consulted to find about your show or proposal idea. This is a completely new
paper. You can use elements and language from the first proposal, but you should not turn in a
slightly changed version of the first proposal.
1. Background & Basic Info: What have you discovered, changed, or explored about your existing or original show (distribution service, time period, talent, producers, audiences, format, sponsors, etc.). Provide detailed information about what you know so far and what you have created so far.
2. Guiding Questions: Now that you have done some work on the project, how have your guiding questions changed? Knowing what you discovered in the previous section, what do you still want to know about your show? Are there new questions that have emerged?
3. Working Goals: What you still need to find out about your show (be specific).
4. Work Plan: How you plan on researching or creating what you want to know? What steps will you take and what sources will you consult to get the work done?
5. Citations: Provide a detailed list of all the sources you have consulted in researching or creating your show. Please use MLA format. Citation Machine is a good website that helps you format your citations properly.
{ABOVE ALL}
Be creative. Be curious. Be inspired. Be interesting. Be thoughtful. Be thorough. Be clear. Be original.

{TOPIC} Research an existing series.

You will choose a series of your choice (from any time period, platform, region, or country) and conduct research into how it operates in the industry and culture in which it circulates. You will conduct research into the show’s historical background, industrial circumstances, format, and audiences. Using the concepts from class, you will find a unique element, event, or fact about your show. You will use your research about the show’s background and its unique element to make a larger statement about why it is important to understanding TV culture and history.
{PAPER FORMAT}
1. Section One | Introduction (1 paragraph)
Your introductory paragraph should address most of the following areas:
❏ Information about your TV show and the areas of the show you will be discussing
❏ Some brief relevant background information about your TV show (distribution service, time period, talent, producers, audiences, format, sponsors, etc.)
❏ A general statement about what you found out (in other words, what did your research reveal?)
❏ Your larger statement should be bolded at the end of the paragraph. This is your final statement about why your TV series is important (it should be no more than 2 sentences).
2. Section Two | Series Background (2-3 pages)
Historical Background: For this section, you want to explore the time period in which the show was created.
1. What were the time periods of the show’s initial creation and airing? When and for how long did it run?
2. What were major social, political, and economic events going on in the world and country at the time? What were the major social and cultural reactions to these circumstances? (for example: protests, special interest groups, cultural clashes, social movements, etc.) Did your show directly address or engage with any of these historical issues? (Did it try to avoid these issues or address them?)
a. Possible research sources for Historical Background: history books or essays, popular-press articles from the period (i.e., newspapers and magazines), oral histories from people who lived during this period, statistics about social trends and/or demographic shifts, documents related to social-interest group activities related to Television (social action groups, ratings boards).
Industrial Circumstances: For this section, you want to explore how the show was created and if it embraced or challenged certain industry trends of the time period.

1. What individuals, studio, production company, and sponsors created this television program? Which network, cable channel, or streaming service ran the series, and when? In what time slot?
2. Was the show part of a cycle of similar programs or a broader programming strategy (such as “L.O.P” or “Must See TV” or “Jiggle TV”)? How was the show promoted? Was a specific demographic group targeted?
a. Possible research sources for Industrial Circumstances: trade or industry publications such as Variety, Broadcasting, Advertising Age, Broadcasting and Cable, Hollywood Reporter, Video Age International, TV Quarterly, NAB newsletters, ratings, sales statistics, advertisements, publicity files, network documents, network websites, TV series, and network websites
Format & Meaning-Making Elements: Here, you will want to consider the format of the show and its major stylistic qualities.
1. What genre or format is the show? What expectations does this type of show carry with it? Does the show meet or subvert genre expectations and conventions? Does it borrow from other shows that came before? Did it establish conventions that many have followed after?
2. What are the typical patterns and structure of the episodes? Are there episodes or seasons that challenge these patterns? Does this provide any insight into how the show creates meaning?
a. Research sources for Stylistic Meaning-Making Elements: Here is when you will use the show itself as your primary source. You can refer to other online guides and scholarly analyses of the show to help guide your interpretation. But this should be your opportunity to take what you have learned and analyze the show through your own unique perspective. Find an episode, or a season, or something about the whole series that you think is relevant and important.
Audience: Part of understanding TV is knowing how it circulates in society and how meaning is made out of it.
1. How successful was the program once it was aired? What ratings did it get? How did television critics respond to the program? Were there any public controversies surrounding the show?
2. What did audiences tend to like or dislike about this program, and why? What did viewers say about the series? What kinds of fan practices formed around the show?
a. Possible research sources for Audience and Society: letters to the editors of newspapers and magazines, fan mail, internet fan discussions, interviews with fans/producers, press reviews or commentaries, fanzines, attendance at fan conventions, onsite observations of viewers, Nielsen ratings.
3. Section Three | Unique Element (2-4 Pages)
Using the concepts from class and the research you have conducted into the background of your show, you will find a unique element, event, or fact about your show. Here, you will describe

and explain the unique element of your show using your research to guide the discussion. Be sure to cite the sources you used for your research throughout your paper.The unique element of your TV series can be:
1. a new format
○ Is there a combination of formats we never seen before? Who thought of it? What is allowed now that wasn’t’ before? Why do you think it was made?
2. a new spin on an old format
○ Is this a variety show similar to that of the 1940s and 50s? Why would it reappear now? Do you see a certain show as the end or beginning of format’s long history?
3. a court case or public controversy
○ Did this show push boundaries in any way? Did a specific group target it? Was the show targeted by the government?
4. an interesting production history
○ Is there a diversity of makers here? Tensions between studios and producers or writers? Were there any labor disputes?
5. an important representation of race/class/gender
○ Is there a unique challenging of dominant ideologies? Does it surprisingly reinforce dominant ideologies? Does it present an unseen world or population or dynamic?
6. a sign of media consolidation
○ Does this series reveal something about synergy? Product placement? Sponsorship?
7. an important series for fan communities
○ Did fans save this show at any point? Did this inspire strong or significant fan pushback? Are there unique fan communities related to the show?
4. Section Four | Cultural Relevance Statement (1-2 Pages)
Cultural Relevance: In this section, you will bring all of your research together and explain your statement about your TV series. This section will give a full explanation of your larger thesis statement. You will explain here why the show has an important place in TV history and culture. In other words, you will make an argument about why this one TV series matters to someone who doesn’t care about TV.
1. What does your show say about society at a certain point in time? What does it say about the industry?
2. Why was your show made and what does it add to our understanding of TV history and culture?
3. What does your show say about changing beliefs, ideas, and values? What does it say about our fears, anxieties, fantasies, hopes, and dreams?
a. Example: “During the height of the Women’s Movement in the 1970s, Charlie’s Angels represented women in newly powerful yet sexualized ways, revealing that U.S. broadcast networks hoped to capture young audiences by including themes of gender

equality, while protecting and pleasing more conservative audiences at the same time. Charlie’s Angels’ mode of representation demonstrates the complicated and contradictory nature of social change and cultural progress in the U.S.”
5. Conclusion (1 Paragraph)
Your concluding paragraph should summarize everything you have explored in the paper, giving the reading an overview of the argument, research, and conclusions.