Unit information: Contemporary Television Drama in 2021/22

Unit name	Contemporary Television Drama
Unit code	FATV30022
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Shaw
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Film and Television
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will examine key trends and changes in contemporary television drama. This includes the exploration of different genres and narrative forms, along with the impact of new styles and technologies in changing industrial contexts, to include both broadcast and streamed services. The unit will also explore broader theoretical ways of understanding contemporary television, such as its relation to modernity and the nation state, globalization and the place of television in contemporary culture. Although much of the taught emphasis will be on English language television, students are invited to explore comparative examples from other countries and cultures in the context of developing a specific area of focus for a case study.

Unit aims:

• To examine trends and changes in the uses of genre, narrative and aesthetics in contemporary television drama;
• To explore the relationship between popular television and society and ideology;
• To deepen conceptual vocabularies and theoretical frameworks for the analysis of contemporary television drama.
• To foster both independent and collaborative research through a shared case study approach.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

(1) Identify and critically respond to central and emerging trends in contemporary popular television drama;

(2) analyse television narrative, genre and aesthetics at an advanced level;

(3) identify and apply key theoretical concerns in the study of contemporary television drama, and respond to the complexities of these approaches;

(4) identify and evaluate pertinent evidence in order to support a cogent argument;

(5) work collaboratively on a shared case study research project.

Teaching Information

3 hour weekly screening

2 hour weekly seminar

Assessment Information

15 minute Group Presentation (ILOs 1-5, 30%)

3000-word Essay (ILOs 1-4, 70%)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FATV30022).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.