Description
MCM 350 S Special Topics: Reality TV - At its best, Reality TV has been described as a “guilty pleasure”–at its worst, it is “morally bankrupt,” “bottom-feeding,” and “tacky, tawdry, and tasteless.” How can a genre that is so disdained also include some of the most popular, long-running television shows of the past two decades? We will focus on Reality TV through three lenses: the history of the genre; the thematic logics underpinning these shows; and the representation of different identities and stereotypes. Along the way, we will also consider the imperatives and incentives of the television industry as it adjusts for shrinking audiences and increased competition. Prerequisites: MCM 151, ENG 101 “C-” or better.