Kill your television. TV is furniture. Film and theater are art. These are the vastly different and competing views on the value of television and its place in society today. When television began, it was on 8-in black-and-white sets. Today it arrives in color and often on personal devices much smaller and far more mobile than those early TV sets. In this seminar we will explore the history of US entertainment television by examining each topic within its cultural context. The story of US television is one of technological progress and the many social movements of the last century. Students will be invited to reflect on their own “personal television history” and ask questions such as: When did TV come into your home? Was it a “window on the world”? Did it separate or bring the family together? Did you learn about gender, race, and ethnicity from watching television? How has it shaped your perspective on the world around you?

Please Note: Fall 2020 Course Registration Opens Online on Monday, August 10th at 8AM (AZ Time)

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

• All Fall 2020 courses will be ONLINE ONLY.
• Courses will be delivered online via the Zoom video conferencing platform. All courses will be password protected and only available to enrolled students.
• All class sessions will be recorded and made available to enrolled students for a limited time to assist those who may not be able to attend the live class times.
• The Humanities Seminars Program reserves the right to cancel any seminar that fails to meet registration minimums. If a course is canceled all students enrolled in the canceled course will receive a full refund.