History of American Television

From its relative appearance in American homes (ca. 1950 - 1955) through the first decade of the 21st century television has remained (arguably) the most culturally, socially and politically determinative technology in American life.  The exchanges that occur between the content of American television and its ever-broadening audience really shaped perspective on the American character and American values across fifty years.  Indeed, it’s difficult to imagine that the cultures of consensus and conformity that shaped the 1950s were in fact attainable in the absence of television.  But, and at the same time, we must admire the creativity of shows like Donna Reed or Wagon Train that made certain that subtilty insured the advocacy for a more democratic America.  

We begin with brief attention to the most immediate creative influences on early television: vaudeville, and radio.  Across the semester we will then consider the evolution of the various technologies that shaped and reshaped the American experience of television.  While our focus remains on creative content, we must also note the moments where television afforded new experiences of collective sympathy (JFK and MLK assassinations, the Vietnam War etc.) as well as collective failure (The Pentagon Papers, Iran Contra, Rodney King) and triumph (Civil Rights Movement across the American South, the moon landing etc.). We will also, of course, consider the full implications of television “events” that afforded news kinds national debate concerning the very soul of America: Roots, the final episode of  M*A*S*H*,  and The Day After)

Finally, we will conclude with discussion of HBO and the formative impress of unprecedented creative achievement: The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Mad Men; and, we must consider that during the early years of the 21st century these serial dramas represent a particular (and unprecedented) manifestation of American art and artistry.