Watching TV For Homework! Sweet!
Analyzing Audience with Analytical Support
Major Assignment #2
We’ve seen that advertisers have a powerful and manipulative effect on today’s culture
(although the extent of their powers may still be up to some debate). What may be less debatable
is the fact that television is their most powerful medium for reaching a captive audience. The
articles we’ve read suggest that television and commercials can cause huge social changes in
behavior. But at the end of the day, ad agencies are really just trying to sell their products and
make a buck. But how does this work?
For this essay, first you will need to watch a television show—a half hour or hour show will
work fine. Be aware that the more your show fits into a genre, and the more your show seems to
have a target audience, the easier and more successful your task will be. Examples are: soap
operas, game shows, teen dramas, and many others; the choice is ultimately up to you. Beware
that sometimes a show you want to write on because you like it, may not be the best choice for
this assignment. Many papers on shows like the Simpsons set up a daunting task because the
target audience is simply too large and spans too many age ranges.
Your assignment is as follows:
Write an essay in which you make a clear assumption about whom the typical viewer of the
show might be. Base this assumption on the conventions of the show, the time period in
which it airs, what station it is on, or any other factors you consider relevant. Then analyze
the commercials during your show, always trying to figure out why these specific
commercials are aired during this specific show. Use your detailed analysis of the
commercials to support your assumption about the typical viewer’s identity.
Your paper should also touch on specific reasons why a relationship exists between a show
and its commercials at all. How you choose to organize all this information is a large part
of the assignment, but concentrate on organizing all your ideas in a logical manner with
smooth transitions. Of course, your essay needs to contain a clear thesis statement and
focus.
Remember, exactly what the episode was about, or whom the characters were, are not as
important as the general conventions of the show and how those conventions suggest a target
audience. For example, a convention of Dawson’s Creek was teenagers falling in and out of love
with each other; which may assume that the audience is also teenagers going through similar
love triangles, or just hoping to fall in love someday themselves.
Also remember you will not be discussing each commercial in detail (there are way too many of
them!). You should be discussing categories of commercials and perhaps only discussing a
handful of them in detail. We will be working on categorization of information in class. In order
to analyze the commercials sufficiently, you will probably need to view them many times. I
highly suggest you record both the show and the commercials you are writing on, in order
to perform this close analysis.
A good way to start this assignment is by making two lists. One list may be what you notice
about the show, and that will lead to the conventions. The second list may be a brief note of
every commercial during the show: the product, the images, the tone, or any other aspect that
catches your interest.
First draft is due on Friday October 15th. Bring 3 copies for peer edit workshop.
Second draft will be due on Monday October 18th.
The final draft will be due on Wednesday October 27th.
Please refer to the original syllabus for proper paper format. This paper should be 4-5 pages in
length.
If you have problems with TV set owning, recording issues, or all around access, please come
see me as soon as possible. We’ll make sure you can accomplish this assignment.