This module provides the framework to consider the contextual and textual analysis of television and radio, and investigates the creative, institutional, economic, and industrial practices which have shaped their development. The focus will examine how different programme genres have been produced and consumed by audiences through a series of case studies such as: drama, documentary, children’s, light entertainment, comedy, and game shows, and how they continue to maintain interest for contemporary audiences. The module also looks at the representation of LGBT+ and black experiences on television and radio, and how pioneers from these groups have impacted on the shape and growth of these broadcast media. There will be opportunities for you to locate and analyse different research resources to consider television and radio programme construction and engagement with viewing and listening audiences.

ASSESSMENT ONE: CRITICAL REVIEW

A 750 word or 10-minute verbal Critical Review of a television and/or radio history related academic book chapter, journal article or television/radio documentary. The exact text to be negotiated through discussion with delivery team to identify genre interest areas of research.

LOs (Learning Outcomes): 2, 4-5 30%.

ASSESSMENT TWO: ANALYTICAL REPORT

A 1500-word Analytical Report exploring a contemporary television or radio programme and its contextual significance.

LOs (Learning Outcomes): 1-5 70%.

Mixed mode delivery is promoted across the module to offer an interactive approach bringing ideas around your own viewing and listening experiences and to select and assess sources to come to your own learning conclusions. Workshops will be based around the genre case studies. Independent Study should be used to complete research tasks, viewing of extracts and complete programmes, preparation activities and wider reading.

1. DEMONSTRATE A KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRODUCTION AND RECEPTION CONTEXTS OF TELEVISION AND RADIO AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CREATIVE, INSTITUTIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND INDUSTRIAL PRACTICES.

2. DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION OF THE KEY CRITICAL DEBATES OF TELEVISION AND RADIO IN RELATION TO THEIR ARTISTIC AND INDUSTRIAL FORMS.

3. CRITICALLY ANALYSE TELEVISION AND RADIO FROM AN HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY BASIS TO EVALUATE AND INTERPRET ITS CONSTRUCTION.

4. COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY TO DISCUSS HOW THE CONTEXTUAL PRACTICES AND CREATIVE PIONEER PRACTITIONERS OF TELEVISION AND RADIO HAVE SHAPED THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

5. PRESENT, EVALUATE AND INTERPRET DIFFERENT RESEARCH SOURCES TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINED ARGUMENT WHICH CONSIDERS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION AND RADIO OUTPUTS.

Blackboard, Library, and online resources (including Box of Broadcasts), Blu-Ray/DVD/Audio/IT playback facilities.

The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Bourne, S. (2019) Playing Gay in the Golden Age of British TV, Cheltenham: The History Press.

Conboy, M. and Steel, J. eds. (2015) The Routledge Companion to British Media History, London: Routledge.

Cooper, M. (2022) Radio's Legacy in Popular Culture, London: Bloomsbury.

Creeber, G. ed. (2015) The Television Genre Book, 3rd edition, London: Palgrave/BFI.

Gorton, K. and Garde-Hansen, J. (2019) Remembering British Television, London: BFI/Bloomsbury.

Hendy, D. (2022) The BBC: A People's History, London: Profile.

Malik, S. and Newton, D. M. (2017) Adjusting the Contrast: British Television and Constructs of Race, Manchester: Manchester University Press.

See module handbook for a full listing of reading texts.

Creative TV & Radio Contexts is an exciting exploration around how popular television and radio programmes have been developed and how they have impacted on audiences. How did drama series and soap operas emerge and why do we continue to watch and listen to them? How have comedy shows challenged and entertained audiences? When did documentaries allow us to understand the world around us? These and further questions are some of the areas we will discuss on the module.