CRITICAL ANALYSIS length 3500 WORDS weighted at 50%. Learning Outcomes 1-6.

RESEARCH ANALYSIS length 3500 WORDS weighted at 50%. Learning Outcomes 1-6.

Cantrell, T. and Hogg, C. (2017) Acting in British Television, London: Palgrave
Cantrell, T. and Hogg, C. eds. (2018) Exploring Television Acting, London: Methuen Drama.
Cornea, C. ed. (2010) Genre and Performance, Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Donaldson, L. F. and Walters, J. eds. (2019) Television Performance, London: Red Globe Press.
Lovell, A. and Sergi, G. (2009) Cinema Entertainment, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Shingler, M. (2012) Star Studies, London: Palgrave Macmillan/BFI.
Springer, C. and Levinson, J. eds. (2015) Acting, London: I. B. Tauris.

See module handbook for a full listing of reading texts.

There will be a series of weekly workshops to explore the module's themes and aims. The emphasis will be around the deconstruction of the notion of entertainment and performances using a range of cinema and broadcast examples. These workshops will attempt to introduce some of the different approaches to performance and how certain styles can be analysed for consideration, particularly in terms of the meanings that they convey within their reception context on an historical level and also in terms of production. The first assignment will be a critical analysis of a performer and their style of presentation. The second assignment with be a group coursework on an entertainment genre.

Blackboard, Library and online resources (e.g. Box of Broadcasts), TV/Blu-Ray/DVD/Audio playback facilities.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

This module examines the notion of entertainment from a performance and drama perspective, with a consideration of how acting/performance are negotiated to audiences, and the range of viewing pleasures associated with this interaction. It also explores the definition(s) of ‘entertainment’ and how it is packaged across different media and textual formats. This focus enables you to explore and critically examine modes of performance within film, television and radio, and how different types of acting and presentation have evolved within these media. This will include looking at how certain genres of films and programming have influenced certain styles of acting, performance and presenting, and how these have impacted on viewers and listeners. We also consider issues from a production perspective by considering how particular creative individuals have collaborated with actors and performers to achieve certain results in their work.

The module will address how actors/performers have negotiated their style using specific vocal and physical techniques, and how certain levels of stardom and personality are achieved and reinforced. Dramatic entertainment will be analysed to consider: drama form, narrative, characterisation, representation, aesthetic style, performance and audience reception. The debate around ‘realism’ is also explored in terms of entertainment value(s) and performance styles. In the second teaching block, the module goes on to consider entertainment as a mode of television drama (police/crime, soaps, children’s, costume) and how these remain accessible and attractive to viewing audiences in a variety of reception contexts.

What is entertainment? How important is performance and drama within film, television and radio? This module looks at how acting and presentation performances are negotiated by audiences and the viewing pleasures associated with this interaction. This focus enables you to explore and critically examine modes of entertainment performance within film, television and radio and how the different styles of performance have evolved within these media. This will include how different genres of films and programming have influenced certain styles of performances and how, importantly, audiences have interacted with these. The module also attempts to address how certain actors and performers have negotiated their style through the use of specific vocal and physical techniques, and how certain levels of stardom and personality are achieved within film and broadcasting. The module also looks at the concepts of entertainment through such areas as drama (plays, soaps, serials and series) and light entertainment (variety, comedy) and the range of different target audiences.