Week 3 Lecture Slides(1)

MSTU2008 Television in the Age of Streaming

Week 3: Networks and Televisuality

  • Introduction to the week’s focus on television networks and the impact of streaming platforms like Netflix.

Tutorials and Schedule Changes

Important Tutorial Room Change

  • This week only, changes to tutorial locations:

    • MSTU2008/S1/STLUC/IN/TUT1/01

      • Size: 80

      • Location: Room 14-116

      • Time: Thursday 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

    • MSTU2008/S1/STLUC/IN/TUT1/02

      • Size: 80

      • Location: Room 03-309

      • Time: Thursday 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

    • MSTU2008/S1/STLUC/IN/TUT1/03

      • Size: 80

      • Location: Room 03-309

      • Time: Thursday 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Historical Context of Broadcasting

Prehistory of Public Service Broadcasting

  • In the UK and select European countries, public service broadcasting was vital in shaping television’s content.

    • Programs were designed to inform, educate, and entertain.

    • John Reith emphasized audience ignorance of their needs, advocating a paternalistic broadcasting approach focused on 'healthy' content supporting elite interests.

The Impact of U.S. Television

  • Despite public service broadcasting in the UK, the U.S. produced popular shows without such structure.

    • U.S. programs were so favored that nations regulated their broadcasters to prioritize local content.

Notable Television Broadcasts

  • The landmark live broadcast of Marty in 1953 exemplified original televised content, produced as a medium art but quickly outdated due to technological advances.

Innovations in Television Programming

I Love Lucy and its Significance

  • Launched in 1951, I Love Lucy is among television’s most acclaimed shows.

    • Unique for its taped production on 35mm film instead of live relay, allowing for improved quality and repeatability.

    • Lucille Ball, the star, transitioned from radio to television, using her extensive experience from stage performance and radio gigs.

Technical Innovations

  • Cinematographer Karl Freund’s contributions:

    • Developed techniques for uniform lighting across multiple camera angles.

    • Innovations like 'flat lighting' helped reduce shadows, resulting in brighter visuals for the show.

Overall Shift in Television Production

  • By the late 1950s, most shows transitioned away from live broadcasts to recorded formats, reshaping how audiences consumed television.

Emergence of Televisuality

Definition of Televisuality

  • In 1995, John Thornton Caldwell introduced the concept, dissecting television's transformation throughout the 1980s.

    • Noted a shift from traditional broadcasting styles toward a visually-driven medium emphasizing style and presentation.

Pre-Televisuality Era

  • Programs during this time exhibited a 'zero-degree style,' where production techniques lacked variance leading to homogeneity among shows.

    • This led to a flat visual experience, with minimal changes among series apart from stories and guest appearances.

Notable Shows of the Era

  • Examples include Dukes of Hazzard, CHiPs, Charlie’s Angels, among others, which typified the traditional aesthetic pitfalls.

Transition to Televisuality

The 1980s Shift

  • The 1980s introduced significant changes in television, signaling a movement toward style and self-consciousness in production.

    • This evolution represented television not merely as entertainment but increasingly as a layered performance of style.

The ‘Knowing Exhibitionism’ of Televisuality

  • Emerged as a dominant trend manifested through auteur-driven shows (e.g., Twin Peaks) and stylistic excess (e.g., Miami Vice).

Impact of Competition and Market Changes

  • By the early 1990s, network viewership was declining significantly due to competition from cable and satellite, prompting networks to adapt and innovate.

    • The notion of televisuality served as a response to this decline as producers explored visually rich narratives.

Deregulation and its Effects

De-regulation in the 1990s

  • A wave of deregulation began, posing new challenges and opportunities within the television landscape, reducing protections and altering broadcast dynamics.

    • Mark Fowler’s deregulation efforts under President Reagan stripped networks of their public interest obligations leading to increased industry instability.

Changes in Ownership and Production Models

  • The Telecommunications Act of 1996 led to consolidation as networks merged with studios, giving rise to significant corporate media empires.

  • Outsiders like Ted Turner acquired traditional media properties, reshaping the competitive landscape.

Looking Forward

Anticipating Future Developments

  • Discussions about the television industry exhibit consideration for emerging technologies, including digital platforms and new viewers’ habits.

    • It raises questions about the sustainability of legacy networks amid evolving media consumption.

    • Students encouraged to reflect on televisuality through analysis of mise-en-scène, sound, and moral implications of media consumption.

Tutorial Reflection Topics

  • Suggested topics for written reflections include:

    • Key arguments or insights from readings.

    • Importance of screenings in relation to the week’s theme of networks and televisuality.