Unit 05 Group Discussion: Pushing the Envelope in 1990s Network Television - Group Discussions 1
Stuart Voytilla
From TFM430-01-Summer2020 2 2 unread replies. 2 2 replies.
PART ONE: INITIAL DISCUSSION POST "Pushing the Envelope in 1990s Network Television" (due by 11:59
pm Monday, June 29th) (target 250 words)
pushing the envelope: to go beyond the usual or normal limits by doing something new, dangerous,
unexpected, unconventional, etc. (Merriam-Webster)
For this Group Discussion, consider all of the episodes we've explored for this unit representing primetime
network programming in the 1990s. In what ways do these representative episodes demonstrate how network
programming was "pushing the envelope" in terms of what can be seen, discussed, experienced on national
broadcast television. Remember, by the end of the 1990s, OTA broadcast television includes ABC, NBC, CBS,
Fox, UPN, WB. Consider especially how this programming contrasts with what we've explored in previous
decades. Use specific examples from 2-3 of our course's episodes to support your analyses.
With your comparison between the two episodes, you may focus on any of the following:
Narrative, including structure, subject matter, sexuality, violence.
Genre Conventions.
Character types, stereotyping.
Representation of Social/Economic Class, Profession.
Gender dynamics; home, family, work responsibilities. Conventions, rituals of love, dating and marriage.
Family dynamics. Who holds the power in the family? How are family problems solved? What are the rules and
what is the punishment if rules are broken?
Race; ethnicity. Who is (and isn’t) represented within the world of the television show and what roles are they
playing? How well does the television show reflect the diversity of American culture during the decade of that
television show?
Whichever focus you take, integrate in your analysis how 1990s broadcast television was pushing the
envelope. Use clear examples from 2-3 episodes to support your analyses.
Keep your analysis focused, you have a 250 word target (I'm okay if it pushes to 300, no grade penalty, but
250 is the target -- take time to edit your work).
You are free to incorporate or build upon an analysis that you've explored in your My TV Logs. Make sure you
are using this Group Discussion to build upon or deepen that initial analysis.
Appropriate Formatting for Episode Titles in Posts: In your Discussion Post, include the episode titles, series
titles and original date the episode aired. I've included this information in the episode's link description. For
example if I'm referencing the episode from ER… my properly formatted reference would be: "In the ER
episode "Baby Shower" (aired 15 February 1996), Dr. Benton is determined to save a patient…" (Note that I've
formatted the television series title in italics and the episode title with quotation marks.)
PART TWO: Your Comment to your Peer's Post/Thread (target 100 words with an inserted image)
Read through all of your peers' posts/threads. Try to select a peer who hasn't received a comment and
"comment/reflect" upon the peer's post, based on the prompt:
"Based on our group's analyses, what have I learned about American culture in the 1990s as represented on
Broadcast Network Television, and why is the decade described as 'freedom of choice' for Broadcast
television?"
You should compose this comment in the form of an IMAGE with your justification.
Find and share an image that represents your observation about American culture in the '90s (as represented
on broadcast television) and represents why the decade is described as "freedom of choice" on Broadcast
television. It's your choice for the image (you can find it, create it; you can use an image from one of our
shows, or grab an image from media outside our course). Use the written portion to justify your choice of image
(target 100 words).
Sample Solution