television genre
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Television GenreTelevision Genre
Traditionally: 2 genreTraditionally: 2 genre
Traditional GenresTraditional GenresMelodramaMelodramaComedyComedy
WorkplaceWorkplaceDomesticDomestic
CrimeCrimePolicePoliceDetectiveDetective
Action – AdventureAction – AdventureWorkplaceWorkplace
MelodramaMelodramaSeries Series
Typically Typically serialserial (large story and usual (large story and usual characters, carries from episode to episode)characters, carries from episode to episode)
Can be Can be anthologyanthology (idea and format carry (idea and format carry from episode to episode in a series)from episode to episode in a series)
RARE: RARE: repertory repertory (same characters, new (same characters, new stories)stories)
FORMULAIC -Episode contains dramatic FORMULAIC -Episode contains dramatic structure (exposition – rising action – structure (exposition – rising action – climax – falling action – resolution and climax – falling action – resolution and denouement)denouement)
Melodrama continuedMelodrama continued
HeroesHeroesSocial normsSocial norms
and villains and foolsand villains and foolsSocial deviant/absurdSocial deviant/absurd
Can use almost anything as a sourceCan use almost anything as a sourceExample: Example: Law and OrderLaw and Order takes plot lines takes plot lines
from headlinesfrom headlinesDemands justice (usually good is Demands justice (usually good is
rewarded or deemed better)rewarded or deemed better)Emotionally intenseEmotionally intense
Sample MelodramasSample Melodramas
Workplace ProgramsWorkplace Programs
Traditional prime timeTraditional prime timeEmphasizes American work ethicEmphasizes American work ethicDepicts:Depicts:
Working conditionsWorking conditionsProfessional ethicsProfessional ethicsWorkplace camaraderieWorkplace camaraderie
Mostly: male-based, heroicsMostly: male-based, heroics
History:History:Cops and docsCops and docsWorkcomWorkcomWork and home com/dramaWork and home com/dramaAlmost disappears (domcom winning)Almost disappears (domcom winning)1980s – 1980s – Hill Street BluesHill Street Blues and and St. St.
ElsewhereElsewhereSerial storySerial storyDocumentary style (focus on realism)Documentary style (focus on realism)
ComedyComedySituational Comedy –Situational Comedy –
Continuous castContinuous castCast is usually randomized, mix of types of Cast is usually randomized, mix of types of
peoplepeopleOften have shared place (work, school, home)Often have shared place (work, school, home)
½ hour½ hourResolved within episodeResolved within episodeVerbal sparringVerbal sparringSometimes divided into actcom (action Sometimes divided into actcom (action
comedy), domcom (domestic comedy) comedy), domcom (domestic comedy) and dramedyand dramedy
Domestic Comedy…Domestic Comedy…
Character based humorCharacter based humorWe care about themWe care about them
Warmth, family, moralsWarmth, family, moralsCharacter learnsCharacter learnsOriginally – only in house, very Originally – only in house, very
melodramatic, nuclear familymelodramatic, nuclear familyModern – hybrid, nontraditional and Modern – hybrid, nontraditional and
nonliteral familiesnonliteral families90’s more satirical than funny haha90’s more satirical than funny haha
SAMPLE DOMCOMSAMPLE DOMCOM
Workplace ComedyWorkplace Comedy
Characters and situations are work-basedCharacters and situations are work-basedUsually involves characters of different Usually involves characters of different
backgroundsbackgroundsHumor comes from:Humor comes from:
Personality of charactersPersonality of charactersInteractions of charactersInteractions of charactersSituations encounteredSituations encountered
Comedy OFTEN related to social concernComedy OFTEN related to social concernfoolfool
Problem: youth didn’t careProblem: youth didn’t care
Workplace Comedy ExamplesWorkplace Comedy Examples
Action AdventureAction Adventure
Can include:Can include:Crime (cop and detective)Crime (cop and detective)WesternWesternScifiScifiSpySpyWarWarOther adventureOther adventure
AAAAStyle contains:Style contains:
Jolty camera movementsJolty camera movementsConflictConflictMovementMovement
Including exotic situationsIncluding exotic situations*Critics: stupid show, just escapism*Critics: stupid show, just escapism
JeopardyJeopardyThrillThrill
Violence: Strike first, think laterViolence: Strike first, think laterSex (women = objects or exotics)Sex (women = objects or exotics)Rise of nudityRise of nudity
Problems with AAProblems with AA
““pornography of violence” pornography of violence” Began violentBegan violent
Example: Example: The Untouchables The UntouchablesThen regulatedThen regulated
Late 1970’s – all violence is after 9pmLate 1970’s – all violence is after 9pmRepeatRepeat
CopsCops
Combination of social values and Combination of social values and action/violenceaction/violence
Car chases, gun battles, fistfightsCar chases, gun battles, fistfights Justice, social order, lawJustice, social order, law INITIALLY Presentation of Status Quo INITIALLY Presentation of Status Quo
(1 correct social order) (1 correct social order)
Cop HistoryCop History
Prior: RadioPrior: Radio40’s: all good cops40’s: all good cops50’s renegade good cops 50’s renegade good cops
Intro good cop and bad copIntro good cop and bad cop70’s wacky cop70’s wacky cop
Example: cop and dog sidekickExample: cop and dog sidekick1980’s beginning realism1980’s beginning realism
Except Except Miami ViceMiami Vice
DetectiveDetective
3 types3 typesPrivate eye (tough guy, rebel, loner)Private eye (tough guy, rebel, loner)Puzzle solver (Sherlock Holmes-esque)Puzzle solver (Sherlock Holmes-esque)Hybrid: screwball comedy + mysteryHybrid: screwball comedy + mystery
Often married peopleOften married peopleEx. Ex. Mr. and Mrs. SmithMr. and Mrs. Smith
Other Major GenresOther Major Genres
Game/QuizGame/Quiz““Reality”Reality”
MockumentaryMockumentaryDocumentaryDocumentaryNews-style (soft)News-style (soft)
Soap Opera (melodrama)Soap Opera (melodrama)Science Fiction (aa)Science Fiction (aa)
Game and Quiz ShowsGame and Quiz Shows
Late 1950’sLate 1950’sScandals (cheating people out of Scandals (cheating people out of
prizes, family members receive prizes) prizes, family members receive prizes) – regulated by Supreme Court– regulated by Supreme Court
Early were physical, then focus began Early were physical, then focus began on trivial and factual knowledgeon trivial and factual knowledge
Cultural imperialism: competition, Cultural imperialism: competition, successsuccess
RealityReality
Early: news, magazine-style news Early: news, magazine-style news shows, tabloid and entertainment shows, tabloid and entertainment showsshows
Then: amateur showsThen: amateur showsNow: mix of “documentary” style Now: mix of “documentary” style
footage, interviews, and editingfootage, interviews, and editingOften promotionalOften promotional
Soap OperaSoap OperaOriginally a serial radio program, Originally a serial radio program,
sponsored by…SOAP.sponsored by…SOAP.Long-running serial (storyline rolls Long-running serial (storyline rolls
from episode to episode)from episode to episode)Focus: “everyday” lifeFocus: “everyday” life
Strong emotionStrong emotionFemale demographicFemale demographicExcess and extremesExcess and extremesGossipGossipRelationshipsRelationships
SciFiSciFi
Futuristic or fantastic settingsFuturistic or fantastic settingsSpeculative storylinesSpeculative storylines
TechnologyTechnologyScienceScienceSometimes “magical” or alienSometimes “magical” or alien
Typically serialTypically serialTraditional: low budget (sorry, Traditional: low budget (sorry, Star Star
Trek)Trek)Modern: epic budget (thanks, Modern: epic budget (thanks, Lost!Lost!))
Behold the HYBRIDBehold the HYBRID
Modern audiences get bored…Modern audiences get bored…So we COMBINE genresSo we COMBINE genres
DramedyDramedySupernatural Sci-Fi/RomcomSupernatural Sci-Fi/Romcom
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