HFMB10121U FM - TV Series, Webisodes and Cross-Media Fiction: Theory and Analysis

Volume 2021/2022
Education

Bachelor's elective study in Film and Media Studies, 2019 curriculum (HFMB10121E)

Master's elective study in Film and Media Studies, 2019 curriculum (HFMK13001E)

Content

During the 2000s, both Danish and international television fiction has undergone remarkable changes with the emergence of innovative narrative forms and changing modes of expression, often discussed in relation to scholarly notions of ‘Quality TV’ or ‘Complex TV’. Simultaneously, new formats such as 'webisodes' and cross-media productions like SKAM (2015-2017, NRK) have appeared in the slipstream of digitalisation and media convergence.

This course analyses these recent developments with a focus on genre hybrids, narrative innovations and aesthetic breakthroughs in various forms of serial fiction for both traditional television and other platforms. The course also provides an understanding of different production frameworks and distribution strategies in the current media landscape and discusses trends and tensions when traditional ‘legacy’ broadcasters and public service television cultures, such as the Danish, are suddenly challenged by global streaming services and changing audience behavior.

 

The course has been selected to be part of the ‘Research Based Education’- programme and has received funding to conduct experiments with integrating research linked to activities in the on-going research project ‘Reaching Young Audiences: Serial Fiction and Cross-Media Storyworlds for Children and Young Audiences (RYA)’. This involves working with surveys and media diaries as well as field trip visits and guest lectures by both Danish industry practitioners and international scholars, such as Vilde Schanke Sundet (author of the 2021 book TV Drama in the Age of Streaming). The course will end with a seminar in collaboration with RYA partners.

Learning Outcome

BA:

At the examination, the student is able to demonstrate:

Knowledge and understanding of:

  • Danish and international TV fiction, starting with the emergence of ‘quality TV’ in the 1990s, with a focus on key genre developments, serial narrative forms and aesthetic breakthroughs
  • key theories and analytical frameworks of understanding for fiction aired on traditional television and across platforms
  • changing forms of production, distribution and expression in a digital and cross-media media landscape.

 

Skills to:

  • analyse TV series, webisodes and cross-media fiction on the basis of a selected theoretical distinction
  • characterise and interpret different types of fiction with an understanding of the circumstances of their development, production and distribution
  • analyse genres, narrative forms and aesthetics, both across and in the interaction between different media platforms.

 

Compentecies to:

  • apply theories and concepts in a specific and delineated analysis of TV series, webisodes and cross-media fiction
  • evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different fiction theories and analytical methods in relation to specific problems
  • communicate theoretical-analytical problems and insights regarding fiction, both orally and in writing.

 

MA:

At the examination, the student is able to demonstrate:

Knowledge and understanding of:

· a selected area of research in film and media studies

· relevant theories and methodology.

 

Skills to:

· identify and structure media-studies questions and subject them to independent analysis

· apply relevant theories and methodology to a topic related to the course

· expand upon and contextualise a specific topic in relation to the broader fields of film and media studies.

 

Competencies to:

· reflect in a critical manner on choices of theory and methodology in relation to an academic problem

· communicate the problem studied in an academic manner.

 

BA: The syllabus consists of 700 standard pages of course literature set by the lecturer and 300-500 standard pages chosen by the students and relevant to the topic chosen by them for the exam. The students’ syllabuses do not have to be approved in advance by the lecturer. For make-up exams/resits, students must e-mail their syllabus (which is the same as for the regular exam) to the lecturer no later than the day that the deadline for registering for resits expires. The lecturer formulates two questions based on the syllabus for the set assignment, one of which the students must answer.

MA: The syllabus consists of 700 standard pages of course literature set by the lecturer and 300-500 standard pages chosen by the students and relevant to the topic chosen by them for the exam. The students’ syllabuses do not have to be approved in advance by the lecturer. For exam in case of non-approved active class participation, students must email their syllabus (which is the same as for the regular exam) to the lecturer no later than the day that the deadline for registering for resits expires. The lecturer formulates two questions based on the syllabus for the set assignment, one of which the students must answer

Class teaching with discussion, presentations and group work
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 84
  • Preparation
  • 325,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Take-home assignment on optional subject following approval of active class participation.
Active class participation consists of:
• Two approved short presentations (oral or written) connected to the classes.
The lecturer specifies the scope of the presentations.
Scope: 11-15 standard pages.
Exam registration requirements

If a presentation is not approved, the student is given 7 days to rework it. If the reworked version is also rejected, the presentation is considered “not approved”.

Approved active class participation remains valid for the following 2 exam periods.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam

See Curriculum:

https://hum.ku.dk/uddannelser/aktuelle_studieordninger/film_medievidenskab/Bachelor_s_Electives_at_Film_and_Media_Studies_2019_adj._2020_TG.pdf

Criteria for exam assesment
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Take-home assignment, optional subject, following active class participation. Active class participation consists of:
• Three approved oral or written exercises set by the lecturer (10-15-minute presentation or 3-5 standard pages per submission).
Scope: 11-15 standard pages.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam

See Curriculum:

https://hum.ku.dk/uddannelser/aktuelle_studieordninger/film_medievidenskab/Master_s_Electives_at_Film_and_Media_Studies_2019_adj._2019_and_2020_TG.pdf

Criteria for exam assesment

Assessment: Internal exam with one examiner, the 7-point grading scale.

Active class participation must be approved by the lecturer.

Regulations for group exams: The take-home assignment can be written individually or as a group (max. 3 students) with individual assessment. If several students work together on an assignment, their individual contributions must constitute distinct units that can be identified and assessed separately. The joint part must not exceed 50% of the total. The scope of take-home assignments for group exams is: 16-22 standard pages (2 students) or 22-30 standard pages (3 students).

Exam language(s): Danish or English.

Permitted exam aids: All.

Make-up exam/resit: Conducted in the same manner as the original exam.

See Curriculum:

https:/​/​hum.ku.dk/​uddannelser/​aktuelle_studieordninger/​film_medievidenskab/​Master_s_Electives_at_Film_and_Media_Studies_2019_adj._2019_and_2020_TG.pdf