Criticism Paper

The purpose of this assignment is to apply your understanding of criticism to an actual

artefact. The annotated bibliography, production research, and episode notes should

help you begin your analysis. They form the background research upon which you’ll

base your critique of your television show (MY TV SHOW IS SHERLOCK).

1.

Choose one perspective from which to develop your critical analysis and briefly

explain why you think this perspective is the best lens through which to analyze

your show.

2.

The critical analysis of your program should be the central focus of your paper.

You might provide a dominant, negotiated, or oppositional reading of the

television text. You should briefly explain the basic themes, characters, and plot

lines of the program, describe the audiences targeted by the program, and

develop the socio-cultural milieu of the period during which it aired. How fully you

develop each of these explanations will depend upon which critical perspective

you have chosen.

3.

Choose one critical approach（Formal/Aesthetic Criticism, Narrative Criticism, Genre Criticism, Rhetorical Criticism, Cultural Criticism, Post-Modern Criticism） to your television show, then develop arguments

from this approach. That is, how does this viewpoint help us to understand the

program. What can we learn by viewing your television show through this critical

lens? Be sure to provide adequate explanations and examples to support your

conclusions. You should also use sources from your annotated bibliography or

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class readings/textbook when appropriate.

4.

Attach copies of your annotated bibliography and episode notes to your paper.

Your bibliography should reflect continued research. In other words, you should

have added at least 20 sources.

5.

While paper length is not an important criterion for judging the quality of your

ideas, one or two pages probably indicate an underdeveloped analysis and 50+

pages probably suggests that you need to narrow your topic. Most papers

average 4-10 pages in length.

6.

Since it is important for scholars to share their research with others, you will

critique other television show projects in this class. In addition, you will be

encouraged to submit your critical analysis paper to a regional or national

conference for presentation.

7.

Staple pages together. Do not use paper clips or acetate covers with slip-on

plastic spines.

8.

Number your pages. Put your name on your paper.