FMST 080. Media Genres

How did we get from Dallas (USA, CBS 1978-1991) to The Landman (USA, CBS/Paramount+, 2025-), and from An American Family (USA, PBS 1973) to The Kardashians (USA, Hulu 2022-)? The study of genres is essential for the critical analysis of media from content creation, production and marketing to dissemination, reception and fan-based or commercial appropriation and remediation. As the tell-tale signs of mature media industries, genres not only reveal perspectives on a society’s aesthetic and cultural values but also on its economies of desire and anxiety, its behaviors, myths and blind spots. At the same time, as genres change and adapt to new technologies, production and reception practices, they remain contested attempts at categorizing diverse narrative approaches across media types emerging from specific national cultures while reaching across the globe. Students will study and discuss major debates in genre theory and evolving genre practices. In individual writing and group project assignments, students will grapple with some of the more challenging case studies in film, television, videogames and social media.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Spring 2027. Simon.
Catalog chapter: Film and Media Studies
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/film-media-studies

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