Television in the Age of Streaming (MSTU2008)

Course overview

Investigation of the history and nature of television as a medium, examining television programs and genres in terms of their significance, achievement and relationship to the ways in which they are used.

This subject investigates television as an aesthetic, industrial, and cultural form. The first part of the course will focus on the question of 'what is television now' in an era where subscription streaming platforms like Netflix and Stan operate in competition with traditional commercial and public service broadcasting, and, in turn those traditional models of TV are forced to develop substantial online presences. The second part of the course asks: if everything is changing in terms of how TV is delivered and watched, what forms of televisual content seem to persist,ﾠand why? We focus on persistent forms of content such as drama, comedy, animation, crime, and science fiction and fantasy, examining how these forms continue into the current TV era, and in what kinds of ways they are being reshaped in the age of streaming.

Course requirements

Assumed background

All students are assumed to have taken the prerequisite course MSTU1001 Introduction to Film and Television, and there will be no provision in this course for revision of the basic concepts taught there.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

2 units of BA list courses

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

MSTU1001

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

CCST2330, MSTU7003

Restrictions

Course offering may be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

The contact hours consist of a weekly lecture and a tutorial. Students should be engaging with the material in both for satisfactory completion of the course. The lectures will model the kind of attention and discussion you are expected to follow and develop in your assessment tasks. Tutorials will practice ways of approaching the subject matter for that week and will include some group discussions and exercises based on viewing clips of television, the set readings and the weekly topic. Your preparation for class each week will be based on set readings and suggested viewings. If anything is unclear as the course proceeds please contact the convenor for clarification immediately.

Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with: 

• Your name 
• Your student ID 
• The course code 
• A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference) 
• Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP 

Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team. 

Aims and outcomes

• To give students an overview of the contemporary television industry as a media ecology, comprising public service broadcasters, commercial broadcasters, cable networks, and streaming platforms.
• To examine how different segments of the industry compete with each other, and understand and value their audiences, and how this information is used to shape the production, buying, and selling of program content.ﾠ
• To examine the extent to which new technologies of distribution and viewing are reshaping television programming, and have shaped it in the past.
• To introduce students to some of the persistent genres of television fiction, and give them an understanding of their narrative patterns, character types, themes, and moods.ﾠ
• To find identify the industrial and cultural conditions that support innovation or stable continuity in television programming.ﾠ
• To provide students with a supportive and stimulating context for developing their analytical and close-reading skills.
• To help students hone their creativity, and their written, and oral communication skills.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

In-class Written Reflection

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Reflection

Weight

20% 1 Page

Due date

3/03/2025 - 26/05/2025

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Collected by the tutor at the end of class.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Please note: this is an in-class assessment item and students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal. Please contact your tutor or course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available. 

Late submission

Please note: as this assessment item is completed and submitted in class, late submission is not possible.

Short Essay

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

30% 1000 Words

Due date

11/04/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

TurnItIn Receipts: 

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Critical Project

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

50% 2000 Words

Due date

30/05/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L03, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

TurnItIn Receipts: 

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

• Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.  
• Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

• Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. 
• Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator. 
• Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request. 
• Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university. 
• Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

Communication Expectations 

While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.  

• Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.  
• You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.   
• You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.  
• You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).  
• Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.