Understanding Television: American Television, A Cultural History
American television gets studied as a cultural technology rather than just entertainment in this MIT OpenCourseWare class from spring 2003. The course traces the medium's technological and economic development alongside theoretical approaches from anthropology, literary studies, and film criticism, treating prime-time commercial broadcasting as a system of storytelling and myth-making. Students work through substantial required viewing of broadcast programming paired with readings in media theory and cultural interpretation, examining how television constructs shared narratives and represents American life. Materials include the syllabus, viewing assignments, and readings as posted by MIT. The approach favors close analysis of specific programs and genres over general media commentary, situating television within broader questions of cultural practice and representation. No certificate is offered, consistent with MIT OCW's open publication of course materials rather than a formal instructor-led enrollment.