MRTS 4450/5660.001: IT’S NOT TV, IT’S HBO! University of North Texas Fall 2020

Professor: Jennifer Porst Email: [email protected] Class: T 2:30-5:20P Office Hours: By appointment

Course Description: Since its debut in the early 1970s, HBO has been a powerhouse in American television and film. They regularly dominate the nominations for Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and their success has profoundly affected the television and film industries and the content they produce. Through an examination of the birth and development of HBO, we will see what a closer analysis of the channel can tell us about television, Hollywood, and American culture over the last four decades. We will also look to the future to see what HBO might become in the increasingly global and digital television landscape.

Student Learning Goals: This course will provide students with an opportunity to: • Understand the industrial conditions that led to the birth and success of HBO • Gain insight into the contemporary challenges and opportunities faced by the media industries • Develop critical thinking skills through focused analysis of readings and HBO content • Communicate clearly and confidently in class discussion and presentations

Required Texts: 1. Edgerton, Gary R. and Jeffrey P. Jones, Eds. The Essential HBO Reader. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 2008. Available as an e-book via the UNT Library website. 2. Subscription to HBO Go/Now 3. Additional required readings and screenings will be available for free through the class website. 4. Students will need to register for use of the Packback Questions site, which should cost between $10- 15 for the semester.

Course Requirements: All assignments will be discussed in detail before we come to them, and assignment details are available on our course website in Canvas.

Class Participation & Attendance In order to do well in this class, it is essential that you actively participate. Quality participation includes completing the assigned readings and screenings before we discuss them, making intelligent and relevant comments in class, asking good questions, taking notes, participating in class activities and screenings, and active listening. Participation in discussion should demonstrate that students have completed the assigned homework for the week and can intelligently discuss the content of that homework. Students are expected to attend classes regularly and promptly and are responsible for all work done in classes when they are absent. Students should notify Prof. Porst in advance of unavoidable absences due to illness, family emergency, or religious holidays. Since life happens, all students get one “pass” for an absence. In order to excuse any additional absences, students must meet with Prof. Porst and complete makeup work. An unexcused absence will result in a letter grade deduction from your participation grade, and two unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for the class. Tardies or early departures from class will accumulate to equal one unexcused absence per twenty minutes. COVID-19 impact on attendance While attendance is expected as outlined above, it is important for all of us to be mindful of the health and safety of everyone in our community, especially given concerns about COVID-19. If you are experiencing

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cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, or any of the other possible symptoms of COVID-19 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) please seek medical attention from the Student Health and Wellness Center (940-565-2333 or [email protected]) or your health care provider. While attendance is an important part of succeeding in this class, your own health, and those of others in the community, is more important.

Packback Discussion The Packback Questions platform will be used for online discussion about the assigned homework BEFORE our weekly Zoom class meeting. Packback Questions is an online community where you can be fearlessly curious and ask open-ended questions to build on top of what we are covering in class and relate topics to real-world applications.

In order to receive your points per week, you should submit the following per each deadline period: • 1 open-ended Question per week with a minimum Curiosity Score of 60, each worth 33.33% of each assignment grade • 2 Responses per week with a minimum Curiosity Score of 65, each worth 66.67% of each assignment grade

Partial credit will be provided for questions and responses that do not meet the minimum curiosity score.

Small Group Discussions During our class time each week, we will spend approximately half of that class time in our Zoom meeting discussing the homework and extending or applying the homework to another related topic or case study. For the remainder of the weekly class time, students will work with their small groups to complete any additional readings and/or screenings and participate in the Canvas discussion board about those readings/screenings. Each student should post at least two quality responses to the discussion board prompt and small groupmates’ posts. See the rubrics on Canvas for additional grading information.

Research Project: For the research project, you will have a choice between three assignments: (1) you may write a paper analyzing one of HBO’s properties and its place in the HBO universe; (2) you may imagine that you have just taken over as CEO of HBO and write a white paper for the head of TimeWarner outlining your plan for the future of the network; or (3) you can develop a proposal for a new HBO series or movie. Papers (2) and (3) will support their plan/proposal based on the success and failures of HBO’s past programming and industrial strategies and the possibilities of the entertainment industry’s digital future. All projects will be 5-7 pages in length, and we will talk about this assignment in more detail in an upcoming class period.

Project Presentation & Peer Review Students will present their research project as a work in progress to their classmates in the last week of class, and will provide peer-review feedback to two classmates.

Formatting of Written Work All written work should be formatted and, when necessary, properly cited according to either Chicago or MLA Style. Please keep in mind that these formatting guidelines refer to the overall formatting of the paper in addition to the formatting of the citations. Guides for both MLA and Chicago style are available on our course website.

Policy on Late Work Any written work submitted after the deadline will receive a one letter grade deduction for each day late. Assignments will not be accepted more than one week after the original due date unless other arrangements have been made in advance with Prof. Porst. Late Packback discussion board posts will not be accepted.

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Except in case of a documented emergency, students must be present and participate in the project presentations and peer review, or they will receive a failing grade for that project.

Grade Breakdown Zoom Attendance & Participation…………25% Project Presentation & Peer Review………10% Packback Discussion………………….....…20% Research Project…………………………..15% Small Group Discussion…..………………..30%

Letter grades indicate the following levels of performance: A = Outstanding work D = Below average work B = Good work F = Failing or Incomplete work C = Acceptable work

Office Hours and Email If you have questions about the class or your work, there are four ways to get the answers you need: (1) Take another look at the syllabus and all of the material posted to our course website. If you cannot find the answer there, then you can: (2) Post your questions in the “Questions about the class” discussion board. If you have a question, it is likely that others do too, so post it here and help create a valuable source of information for everyone. (3) At the beginning of each of our class Zoom meetings, I will ask if anyone has questions, and you may ask then. (4) If you have something that you would like to discuss with me individually, we can schedule a Zoom meeting. You may schedule an appointment with me via the calendar on Canvas.

Zoom Etiquette Avoid distractions from email, text messages, etc. by quitting those applications and silencing your phones. Wear appropriate clothing and make sure that everything that is visible in your surroundings is compliant with UNT’s guidelines. Basic guideline: if it wouldn’t be ok in the classroom, it’s probably not ok in Zoom.

Class Recordings I am aware that given our current (and currently changing!) situation, not all students may experience classes in the same way at the same time. In order to make sure that all students can access our class content, I will record our Zoom sessions and make the recording available on Canvas.

Please be aware that students are not allowed to record class sessions, unless the Office of Disability Services has approved it as an accommodation in which case, I need that documentation from the ODA. No one, including faculty and students, is allowed to share course content outside the course without consent of the instructor and all students in the course. It is a violation of privacy and copyright laws as well as university policy to share course content outside of the class and could lead to disciplinary action.

The UNT Writing Lab I encourage you to take advantage of the services available at the UNT Writing Lab. Tutors are available to work online with undergraduates and graduates. They can help with issues related to structure, grammar, punctuation, citation styles, and more. They do more than merely proofread; they teach you strategies and techniques to improve your writing for the long term. All services are free. Learn more about the Writing Lab by visiting their website (https://writinglab.unt.edu), calling them at 940- 565-2563, or by visiting their office in Sage Hall, room 152.

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Statement on Equity and Inclusion Every student in this class will be honored and respected as an individual with distinct experiences, talents, and backgrounds. Students will be treated fairly regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, disability, socio-economic status, or national identity. Issues of diversity will be a part of class discussion, assigned material, and projects, and I will make every effort to ensure that an inclusive environment exists for all students. Even though there may be times when students disagree, it is expected that all students in this classroom treat each other with respect. If you have any concerns or suggestions for improving the classroom climate, please do not hesitate to speak with me or to contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 940-565-2711 or by email at: [email protected]

Students with Disabilities The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking reasonable accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with a reasonable accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request reasonable accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of reasonable accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of reasonable accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class.

Students are strongly encouraged to deliver letters of reasonable accommodation during faculty office hours or by appointment. Faculty members have the authority to ask students to discuss such letters during their designated office hours to protect the privacy of the student. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.

Academic Integrity Academic integrity is of central importance in education, and academic misconduct will not be tolerated in this class. According to UNT Policy 06.003, Student Academic Integrity, academic dishonesty occurs when students engage in behaviors including, but not limited to cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, forgery, plagiarism, and sabotage. A finding of academic dishonesty may result in a range of academic penalties or sanctions ranging from admonition to expulsion from the University. It is the responsibility of all UNT students to know and adhere to the University's policy on academic integrity, which can be found at: https://policy.unt.edu/policy/06-003. If you have any questions concerning this policy or about documentation of sources in work you produce in this course, please meet with Prof. Porst.

Acceptable Student Behavior Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The University's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including University and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct.

Emergency Notification & Procedures UNT uses a system called Eagle Alert to quickly notify students with critical information in the event of an emergency (i.e., severe weather, campus closing, and health and public safety emergencies like chemical spills, fires, or violence). In the event of a university closure, please refer to Blackboard for contingency plans for covering course materials.

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*This syllabus is subject to change. We will discuss any changes in class, and the most up-to-date syllabus will be available on the course website.

CLASS SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS

Key: [Reader] = The Essential HBO Reader

All assigned screenings are available streaming via a subscription to HBO Go/Now unless otherwise noted.

Please note that all readings and screenings are to be completed before class on the date on which they are listed.

WEEK 1: Tuesday 8/25 Introduction to the class and HBO

WEEK 2: The Birth of HBO and Early Original Programming Tuesday 9/1 Reading: Edgerton. “Introduction: A Brief History of HBO.” 1-18. [Reader] Screenings: 1. Fraggle Rock. Episode 8301 “Beginnings.” (1983). [link on Canvas] 2. Not Necessarily the News. (1983) [link on Canvas] 3. The Kids in the Hall. “Pilot.” (1988) [link on Canvas] 4. Tales From the Crypt. “Easel Kill Ya.” (1991) [link on Canvas]

WEEK 3: Live Comedy Specials and Talk Shows Tuesday 9/8 Reading: Haggins and Lotz. “Overview: At Home on the Cutting Edge.” 151-161. [Reader] Screenings: 1. Def Comedy Jam (1992-1997). [link on Canvas] 2. The Chris Rock Show. 1997-2000. Episode 1. [link on Canvas] 3. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. 2014-present. Watch most recent episode.

WEEK 4: Sports Programming Tuesday 9/15 Reading: Miller and Kim. “Overview: It Isn’t TV, It’s the ‘Real King of the Ring’.” 217-231. [Reader] Screenings: 1. “Canelo vs. Golovkin: The Draw in the Desert.” [link on Canvas] 2. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (1995-present). Sn 26. Ep. 7. August 2020. 3. Hard Knocks: Los Angeles. 2020. Episode 1.

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WEEK 5: Made-for-TV Movies, Theatricals, and Miniseries Tuesday 9/22 Reading: Heller. “Films.” 42-51. [Reader] Screening: And the Band Played On. Dir. Roger Spottiswoode. 1993.

WEEK 6: Documentaries Tuesday 9/29 Readings: Mascaro. “Overview: Form and Function.” 239-258. [Reader] Screening: 1. 4 Little Girls. Dir. Spike Lee. 1997. 2. “Sheila Nevins on Documentary Filmmaking – The New Yorker Conference.” 2008. [Link on Canvas]

WEEK 7: The Rise of Original Programming in the 1990s Tuesday 10/6 Readings: 1. Anderson. “Overview: Producing an Aristocracy of Culture in American Television.” 23-38. [Reader] 2. Plasketes. “The Larry Sanders Show.” 183-192. [Reader] Screenings: 1. The Larry Sanders Show. 1992-1998. Episode 1, “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” aka “The Garden Weasel” 2. Mr. Show. 1995-1998. Episode 1, “The Cry of a Hungry Baby.” 3. Tenacious D. 1999. Episode 1, “The Search for Inspirado/Angel in Disguise.”

WEEK 8: Original Dramas Tuesday 10/13 Readings: 1. Thorburn. “The Sopranos.” 61-69. [Reader] 2. Simon. “Letter to HBO.” 3. Rose. “The Wire.” 82-90. [Reader] Screenings: 1. The Sopranos. 1999-2007. Pilot. 2. The Wire. 2002-2008. Episode 1, “The Target.”

WEEK 9: Original Dramas take on Classic Genres Tuesday 10/20 Reading: Perlman. “Deadwood, Generic Transformation, and Televisual History.” 104-112. Screenings: 1. Deadwood. 2004-2006. Episode 1, “Deadwood.” 2. Westworld. 2016. Episode 1, “The Original.”

WEEK 10: Original Sitcoms 1995-2005 Tuesday 10/27 Readings: 1. Simon. “Sex and the City.” 193-203. [Reader] 2. Lavery. “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” 204-211. [Reader] Screening: 1. Sex and the City. 1998-2004. Season 4, Ep. 2, “The Real Me.” 2. Curb Your Enthusiasm. 2000-present. Season 2, Ep. 4 “The Shrimp Incident.” 3. Entourage. Episode 1, “Entourage.” 2004-2011

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4. The Comeback. Episode 1, “Pilot.” 2005, 2014.

WEEK 11: Original Sitcoms 2005-Present Tuesday 11/3 Readings: 1. Nygaard. “Girls Just Want to Be ‘Quality’: HBO, Lena Dunham, and Girls’ Conflicting Brand Identity.” 2. Wenger. “’Looking,’ Marriage, and the New Gay Sadness.” 3. Warner. “HBO’s Risky Racial Politics.” Screenings: 1. Girls. 2012-2017. Pilot. 2. Looking. 2014-2016. Episode 1, “Looking for Now.” 3. Insecure. 2016-present. Episode 1, “Insecure as F**k.”

WEEK 12: Conglomeration, Commercial Intertextuality, and Active Audiences Tuesday 11/10 Reading: Hardy. “Mapping Commercial Intertextuality: HBO’s True Blood.” 327-334. Screening: 1. True Blood. 2008-2014. Episode 1, “Strange Love.” 2. Six Feet Under. 2001-2005. Pilot.

WEEK 13: HBO Goes Global and OTT Tuesday 11/17 Readings: 1. McIntosh. “Will Yingshuiji buzz help HBO Asia?” 65-80. 2. Lee. “HBO Max is Here to Take on Netflix. Is it Too Late?” Screenings: 1. The Teenage Psychic. Season 1, Ep. 1. 2017. 2. The Pact. Season 1, Ep. 1, “The Sacrifice.” 2017-present. 3. Los Espookys. Season 1, Ep. 1, “El Exorcismo.” 2019-present.

WEEK 14: No Class - Happy Thanksgiving!!

WEEK 15: Project Presentations and Peer Review; Class Review and Wrap Up Tuesday 12/1

WEEK 16: Projects due Final projects should be submitted to the assignment link on our course website before 12:30P Tuesday, December 8.

Reading List

Hardy, Jonathan. “Mapping Commercial Intertextuality: HBO’s True Blood.” Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Critical Reader. Eds. Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, 2015. 327-336.

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McIntosh, Shawn. “Will Yingshuiji buzz help HBO Asia?” It’s Not TV: Watching HBO in the Post- Television Era. Eds. Marc Leverette, Brian L. Ott, and Cara Louise Buckley. New York: Routledge, 2008. 65-80.

Nygaard. “Girls Just Want to Be ‘Quality’: HBO, Lena Dunham, and Girls’ Conflicting Brand Identity.”

Perlman, Allison. “Deadwood, Generic Transformation, and Televisual History.” Journal of Popular Film and Television. 39.2 (2011), 102-112.

Simon, David. “Letter to HBO.” The Wire: Truth Be Told. Ed. Rafael Alvarez. New York: Pocket Books, 2004. 2-39.

Warner. “HBO’s Risky Racial Politics.”

Wenger, Daniel. “’Looking,’ Marriage, and the New Gay Sadness.” The New Yorker. 22 March 2015.

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