Introduction to Project 3, Project 4, and Drama...(Updated with Homework Clips 7-28-09)

So far, we've discussed three different media forms:

1. In our first section, we discussed how comics relate theme, mood, characters and settings through a combination of words and pictures in order to create a story that talks about broader ideas.

2. In our second section, we discussed how music and lyrics can be translated into music videos, and how these changes can affect our own view of the overall message the piece is trying to convey.

In our third section, we are going to look at the concepts of theme, mood, characters and setting in a plot as it translates into the visual medium of television:

Project 3: Comparing and Contrasting Television Shows

In keeping with our focus on drama, I will focus on how each of these shows relate to specific Shakespearean categories of Tragedies (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Mad Men), Comedies (Freaks and Geeks and Mad Men), Histories (Battlestar Galactica and Kings), and Romances (United States of Tara and Pushing Daisies).

Remember, your paper will be about two of these shows. I have most of these shows downloaded onto my flash drive or I can point you to where you can view these shows online. It is in your best interest to watch these shows, or to be familiar with these shows, before the presentation so you can ask relevant questions and begin to write your paper as soon as you can.

Along with our examination of these shows, you will quiz your fellow students, give brief presentations, and hold a discussion after the show is viewed.

Project 4: Mixed Media Presentations

By the end of class, it is up to you to grade your fellow classmates on the poll listed in our website. Make sure you vote only once. If there are more votes than there are students in the class, I will take this part of the grade out of the equation when figuring your final grade.

HOMEWORK:
READ:
1) The background section of the wikipedia article on The Office (U.S. TV Series)and the summary for "The Job" episode (located on the sidebar)

2) The background section of the wikipedia article on Freaks and Geeks and the summary for "The Little Things" (located on the sidebar)

3) The background section of the wikipedia article on Shakespearean Comedy

Expect a quiz on each of these sections by next class.