Film Question

Follow all the Directions for this Guided Analysis Assignment

Purpose of Assignment: This assignment will help you address and think about TV from an analytical perspective. You’ll dig deeper into TV as “a text” with a limited view of a very first outgoing message to an audience. (ex: a pilot episode) To be clear, this paper is designed so that all you need to do is watch one episode and answer very clear and guided questions.

The Goal of the Assignment: To help you think about TV genres, TV and representation, and TV tropes, using concrete and descriptive language. Analyze the episode-as-text using the bullets/questions below with as many details directly from the episode as you can find to satisfy the prompts.

2 Steps in the Assignment:

Step 1: Choose “the Pilot” or First Episode of one of the TV series listed below and write ONLY about this single episode. Do not choose a random episode or an episode other the very first episode of the show.

New term: A pilot is the FIRST episode of a series, often the one executives use to “pitch” a series or present a series to audiences for the first time. Can you think of any you may have seen?

Choose from one of the 15 shows listed below. They are from a variety of platforms, many for free and without a subscription. Please choose your show early and watch it at least twice before you write your paper! (Enjoy viewing the show — maybe even watch it with some friends to talk through the ideas you’ll address in the paper!) It’s a good idea to watch the show once for pleasure, then again with the questions in front of you, taking notes as you view, as a way to begin writing your paper.

Abbott Elementary
Shrill
Pose
Reservation Dogs
Superstore
Primo
With Love
The Chair
Queen Charlotte
I May Destroy You
The Equalizer (2021 re-boot with Queen Latifah)
Watchmen (2019 series with Regina King)
Beef
Insecure
The Fosters
Be sure to check any trigger warning, ratings, and your own access to these shows. There should be something for everyone to access here and shows range from TV-Y to TV-M audience ratings.

Step 2: Write a 2-3 page paper about your episode. By focusing on a first or pilot episode and specific points of the show, you can avoid writing a review, using non-supported claims or opinions as fact, or using terms like “the director did a good job…”

Note: You need to give examples and be specific to support your view but be brief. (for example, what evidence can you point to in the show and what definition of genre or trope can you use to explain your point? Be sure to edit and revise your text. Just don’t type your stream of consciousness.)

Follow each of the below 5 prompts. For each point, address all the questions with as much detail as possible in your answers:

1. Genre: What is the genre of the show? How can you tell? Is the show a subgenre or hybrid genre? What kinds of “genre conventions” do you find in the show concerning plot, characters, setting, props, etc? Give examples and definitions to help prove your point.

2. Characters: Who are the main characters? What are their demographics (gender, race, age, sexual orientation)? Do any characters present unique abilities or disabilities? How do the characteristics of the main characters affect plot and story? Do they reinforce or challenge stereotypes about their gender, race, etc.? Give examples and definitions to help prove your point.

3. Audience: Who is the intended audience? What assumptions does the content make about the audiences interests? Give examples and definitions to help prove your point.

4. Tropes: Which of the characters or plot lines embody tropes; do particular tropes show up repeatedly? Tropes are not necessarily bad, but several (e.g. the Damsel in Distress) are problematic, especially when used repeatedly. ALL shows have tropes. What are a few them and how are they presented in your show? What is the significance? Describe at least one aspect of cultural representation and your chosen show. For example, does the show address class, environment, education, or other social, cultural, political issues in its text and subtext? Give examples and definitions to help prove your point.

Still don’t know what “Tropes” are? See below:

- - According to : Tropes are devices and conventions that a writer can reasonably rely on as being present in the audience members minds and expectations.
  - Go to TVTropes to identify one or two tropes that appear in your show. Are the representations positive, negative, neutral, or a mix? How and when do the tropes appear?
  - Examples: Is the show primarily cast with Black actors and focus on issues of race and class? Is the show a coming-of-age LGBTQ+ drama that tackles mental health and addiction? Does the show employ a multi-cultural writers room?
  - (You can find out some of the production information about your show on IMDB, just be sure to cite any information you use from the website).

5. Overall Opinion and Conclusion: Conclude with one paragraph summarizing your overall opinion of the show. You should discuss what the show gets right, or gets wrong when it comes to representation, tropes. Answer if the show perpetuates or challenges stereotypes. Is it part of the “Vast Wasteland” or a “Cultural Vegetable”? Would you continue to watch another episode or the whole series, why or why not?

IMPORTANT Pro Tips:

Edit, revise and check for spelling and grammar issues BEFORE you submit your paper!
Your writing should be 12 pt font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins.
Citations: You do not need to provide citations for this assignment as you will only look directly into show you choose to watch. UNLESS- you use info from sources like IMDB or other websites/resources
Research: You do not need to engage in outside research, though using IMDB to help you with character names may be useful – but please cite IMDB if you use it for any other written material you paraphrase or borrow (same with any other website or AI Generator – you must cite your sources or you are cheating!)
DO NOT submit links for google docs, cloud docs, etc. You must first download your paper to YOUR desktop, save it as a PDF or Word doc and submit that to Canvas.

Warnings: this assignment prompt and the selected shows have been tested through several AI Generators. We are aware of what the writing for this work looks like when it is not made by a human. Do not use AI tools without citing the generated material in your paper.

Use simple terms for this assignment

please give AI report at the end I CANNOT USE AI.

Requirements: whatever the assignment asks for

WRITE MY PAPER

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