TV drama-rama feedback

Some feedback for your viewing assessment.

1) Define target audience. What was the intended audience? Why? If discussing your personal response, mention your context and relevant attitudes and values.

2) Mention specific attitudes and values.

3) Formulate a thesis. Do we accept, reject, challenge, disagree, identify with the values and attitudes of the text? Justify your position and explain how the text presents these values. Don't just look at the characters, although they are a vehicle for such attitudes and values, but consider how text promotes or privileges certain values. Does the text use satire or humour?

I have an annotation of the question (in my scribble) and some good responses on the portal.

Enjoy.

If you have the attention, interest, desire and action, and would like to study for your test tomorrow, here are some ideas. You can re-view clips of the pilot episode, or episode two of Desperate Housewives (Season One) online. I have linked to a small section, with some interesting subtitles. Unfortunately I can't find any clips from The Socratic Method.

You can also comment/ask questions of your peers. You may like to explore relevant conventions and techniques and how they show issues, values and themes of the text.


Are there any interesting symbols in the pilot? How do they show key themes or attitudes in the text?

Created by Marc Cherry

The details for Desperate Housewives are listed here. As the show has many directors, just refer to the creator and producer Marc Cherry in your responses/assessments. I have also copied the key cast from IMDB below, or alternatively you can visit the site for some visuals.

Cast (Series Cast Summary - 18 of 298)

Teri Hatcher ... Susan Mayer / ... (159 episodes, 2004-2011)
Felicity Huffman ... Lynette Scavo (159 episodes, 2004-2011)
Marcia Cross ... Bree Van De Kamp / ... (159 episodes, 2004-2011)
Eva Longoria ... Gabrielle Solis / ... (159 episodes, 2004-2011)
Ricardo Chavira ... Carlos Solis (159 episodes, 2004-2011)
Brenda Strong ... Mary Alice Young (159 episodes, 2004-2011)
James Denton ... Mike Delfino (159 episodes, 2004-2011)
Doug Savant ... Tom Scavo (154 episodes, 2004-2011)
Nicollette Sheridan ... Edie Britt (112 episodes, 2004-2009)
Shawn Pyfrom ... Andrew Van De Kamp (111 episodes, 2004-2011)
Andrea Bowen ... Julie Mayer (99 episodes, 2004-2011)
Kyle MacLachlan ... Orson Hodge (93 episodes, 2006-2011)
Brent Kinsman ... Preston Scavo (88 episodes, 2004-2011)
Shane Kinsman.. Porter Scavo (88 episodes, 2004-2011)
Zane Huett ... Parker Scavo (81 episodes, 2004-2010)
Kathryn Joosten ... Karen McCluskey (77 episodes, 2005-2011)
Mark Moses ... Paul Young (75 episodes, 2004-2011)
Dana Delany ... Katherine Mayfair (65 episodes, 2007-2011)

The Question

How does the exposition of Desperate Housewives (episode one, series one) comment on American values and lifestyle?

One paragraph (you may do more if you wish) due Thursday. Use relevant dialogue, filmic techniques and so forth to illuminate your discussion of the text.

For the girls at ONSITE, you may view the first six minutes of the exposition, as shown in the link posted earlier.

For the rest of the class, you could even post some of these lifestyle aspects/attitudes here (see your notes) for their benefit.

responses to the socratic method

-skeptical--> medicine, how much we actually know about our own bodies
-sympathetic--> towards the boy and his mum, boy didn't experience 'normal' teenage life (camera shots create a sense of vulnerability)
-confused--> episode takes you on a journey of questioning (socratic method) answer is always so simple
-annoyed--> at House: he plays the hero but doesn't seem to celebrate his birthday and other happy 'human' occasions, annoyed at mother for calling authorities even though it was for the sons best interest( she wants to protect him and herself)
-intrigued--> through medical shots, glamourises everyday medical life and makes it seem more interesting
-hope--> restoring faith in medicine, House protects mum by playing villain. "that all important human connection, I thought I would give it a whirl"-House

Desperate Housewives

Here is part of the first episode of Desperate Housewives. We'll be looking at this early next week, as another text to discuss in your essay on television drama (coming up next week).

The House Effect: Are Real Patients Misled by TV Docs?

Interesting article from Time Magazine: "'House' Effect: Are Real Patients Misled by TV Docs?

1. Can you identify three issues that TV dramas such as House raise for the the public's understanding of the role of doctors?
2. What is the purpose of this article?
3. What features of medical dramas are mentioned in the article?