The program was canceled after six weeks for low ratings. The formulas that survive, that get high ratings, have wide appeal to a mass audience. This success, some critics say, means that there can be no artistic excellence. But, in looking at television from the literary point of view, we must remember our goal is not to define excellence or quality. The purpose of this class is to discover why certain formulas, the mystery, western, crime, lawyer, sitcom and soap opera programs are popular with American TV audiences.
Television is a unique literary form.
It creates its own version of the traditional popular arts. During the course of this semester we will explore the ways television changes and modifies traditional formulas. The goal of this class is to look at the link between TV program content and the culture it reflects and re-enforces to find out what American TV program genres say about American problems, interests, concerns, values, dreams, and nightmares.