Your task for this assignment is to examine a well-known television show according to three aspects: genre, historiography and ideology. Consider how the chosen show is both similar and different from other shows of its type. For example, how is Seinfeld both a typical and innovative sitcom? Second, what is the connection between the stories, characters and ideas of the show and developments, trends and events in American society? For instance, what does The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air tell us about the experience of African-Americans in the 1990s? Lastly, what might be the ideological aspects of the show as they relate to issues such as class, race and gender? Sex in the City is often cited as an example of the struggles facing urban single women in the 1990s, while it also has much to say about class in contemporary society. How does this show define femininity and masculinity and what might the ideological aspects of those definitions? It is critical that your discussion also include a critical methodology such as genre criticism, feminism, Marxism, semiotics et. al.

If you wish, you may compare two shows to one another but no more than two. As with the midterm assignment, do not summarize in detail episodes of the given show. Only provide as much description as is absolutely necessary to make your observations convincing. If you would prefer to write about a different media form, such as film, magazines, blogs, websites and the like, please make sure that you have spoken to the instructor in advance and had your paper topic approved.