Television criticism is all about breaking down shows and figuring out what makes them tick. It's like being a TV detective, looking for clues in the story, characters, and visuals to understand the bigger picture.
This section covers key terms you'll need to know, from auteur theory to mise-en-scène. It also dives into different types of shows, storytelling techniques, and the nuts and bolts of how TV is made.
Key Terms in Television Criticism
Foundational Concepts in TV Analysis
- Television criticism analyzes, evaluates, and interprets TV content, encompassing artistic and cultural aspects of programming
- Auteur theory examines creative vision and stylistic choices of showrunners or directors as primary authors of TV series
- Intertextuality explores relationships between different texts or media, including references, allusions, or influences within TV shows
- Mise-en-scène encompasses visual elements within a frame (set design, lighting, costumes, actor positioning) crucial for analyzing televisual aesthetics
- Diegesis refers to fictional world of TV show, including all elements existing within narrative universe presented on screen
Narrative and Representation in Television
- Seriality describes ongoing, episodic nature of television storytelling
- Includes concepts like story arcs, cliffhangers, and narrative continuity across episodes or seasons
- Examples: Breaking Bad's multi-season character arcs, Lost's cliffhanger-driven narrative
- Representation examines portrayal of social groups, identities, and issues on screen
- Considers accuracy, stereotypes, and cultural impact
- Examples: Orange Is the New Black's diverse cast, Transparent's exploration of transgender experiences
Television Genres and Formats
Genre Classifications and Hybrids
- Genre categorizes shows with similar themes, narrative structures, or stylistic elements (drama, comedy, reality TV, science fiction)
- Hybrid genres blend elements from multiple established genres
- Create new subgenres like dramedy (drama + comedy) or sci-fi western
- Examples: The Mandalorian (sci-fi western), Fleabag (dramedy)
- Reality television encompasses range of subgenres
- Includes competition shows, docusoaps, and social experiments
- Each subgenre has distinct conventions and audience expectations
- Examples: Survivor (competition), Keeping Up with the Kardashians (docusoap), Love Is Blind (social experiment)
Television Format Structures
- Formats describe structural organization of TV shows
- Includes episodic series, limited series, anthology series, and procedurals
- Serialized dramas feature ongoing storylines developing across multiple episodes or seasons
- Contrast with procedural dramas typically resolving plots within single episode
- Examples: The Wire (serialized), Law & Order (procedural)
- Sitcoms (situation comedies) categorized into multi-camera and single-camera formats
- Each format has distinct production methods and comedic styles
- Examples: The Big Bang Theory (multi-camera), The Office (US) (single-camera)
- Anthology series present self-contained stories each season or episode
- Often united by common theme or creative team
- Allows for diverse storytelling within single show concept
- Examples: American Horror Story (seasonal anthology), Black Mirror (episodic anthology)
Elements of Television Production
Visual and Audio Techniques
- Cinematography includes shot composition, camera movement, lighting techniques, and visual style choices
- Contributes to show's aesthetic and narrative
- Examples: Breaking Bad's use of wide angles and unique perspectives, Mr. Robot's unconventional framing
- Editing techniques encompass continuity editing, montage, cross-cutting, and scene pacing
- Crucial for maintaining narrative flow and viewer engagement
- Examples: 24's use of split-screen editing, Sherlock's visual representation of deductive reasoning
- Sound design incorporates diegetic and non-diegetic audio elements
- Includes dialogue, ambient sounds, music, and sound effects
- Enhances viewer's immersion and emotional response
- Examples: Twin Peaks' atmospheric soundscapes, The Walking Dead's use of silence and ambient noise
Production Design and Visual Effects
- Production design creates visual world of TV show through set design, props, and location choices
- Establishes atmosphere and supports narrative
- Examples: Game of Thrones' elaborate set designs, Stranger Things' 1980s period details
- Special effects and visual effects (VFX) create fantastical elements or enhance realism
- Particularly important in science fiction and fantasy genres
- Examples: The Mandalorian's use of LED wall technology, Westworld's futuristic interfaces
- Color grading and color correction in post-production establish mood and maintain visual continuity
- Enhance overall aesthetic of TV series
- Examples: Ozark's blue-tinted color palette, Better Call Saul's vibrant desert scenes
- Multi-camera setups versus single-camera productions influence visual style, pacing, and production process
- Evident in contrast between traditional sitcoms and more cinematic series
- Examples: Friends (multi-camera setup), Modern Family (single-camera production)
Narrative Structures in Television
Episodic and Serialized Storytelling
- Episodic structure presents self-contained stories within each episode
- Serialized structure develops ongoing narratives across multiple episodes or seasons
- Story arcs span single episodes (A-plots, B-plots), entire seasons, or complete series
- Create layered narratives engaging viewers over time
- Examples: The X-Files (monster-of-the-week episodes vs. mythology arc), The Good Place's season-long arcs
- Character development occurs gradually, allowing for complex, evolving personalities
- Characters respond to events over extended periods
- Examples: Walter White's transformation in Breaking Bad, Piper Chapman's journey in Orange Is the New Black
Advanced Narrative Techniques
- Non-linear storytelling techniques add depth and complexity to TV narratives
- Includes flashbacks, flash-forwards, and parallel timelines
- Examples: Lost's use of flashbacks and flash-forwards, Westworld's multiple timelines
- Cliffhangers and plot twists create suspense and maintain viewer engagement between episodes and seasons
- Examples: Game of Thrones' shocking character deaths, Stranger Things' season-ending revelations
- Ensemble casts allow for multiple storylines and character perspectives
- Create rich, interconnected narratives typical of contemporary TV dramas
- Examples: This Is Us' multigenerational family stories, The Crown's exploration of various royal family members
- Narrative framing devices provide unique perspectives and add layers to storytelling
- Includes voice-over narration or documentary-style interviews
- Examples: How I Met Your Mother's future Ted narration, Modern Family's mock documentary format