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Page 1: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

Television GenreTelevision Genre

Page 2: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

Traditionally: 2 genreTraditionally: 2 genre

Page 3: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

Traditional GenresTraditional GenresMelodramaMelodramaComedyComedy

WorkplaceWorkplaceDomesticDomestic

CrimeCrimePolicePoliceDetectiveDetective

Action – AdventureAction – AdventureWorkplaceWorkplace

Page 4: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.
Page 5: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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)

Page 6: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 7: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

Sample MelodramasSample Melodramas

Page 8: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 9: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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)

Page 10: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 11: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 12: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

SAMPLE DOMCOMSAMPLE DOMCOM

Page 13: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 14: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

Workplace Comedy ExamplesWorkplace Comedy Examples

Page 15: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

Action AdventureAction Adventure

Can include:Can include:Crime (cop and detective)Crime (cop and detective)WesternWesternScifiScifiSpySpyWarWarOther adventureOther adventure

Page 16: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 17: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 18: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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)

Page 19: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 20: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 21: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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)

Page 22: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 23: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 24: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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

Page 25: Television Genre. Traditionally: 2 genre Traditional Genres Melodrama Melodrama Comedy Comedy Workplace Workplace Domestic Domestic Crime Crime Police.

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!))