ENG 271 The Sitcom
First session, May 24-July 1
Course Description
The situation comedy, or sitcom, is one of the most enduring popular forms in U.S. culture. Since the early 1950s, there have been hundreds of sitcoms developed for U.S. television. Some are household names while others never even aired. This course introduces students to major issues in the study of sitcoms and sitcom history, as well as different genres of sitcom-related writing. Along the way, we will pay close attention to how the form has both evolved and remained remarkably stable over the decades. We will read widely in television studies and think critically about sitcom representation—that is, how the sitcom has shaped ideas and public discourse around social struggle, race, gender variance, sexuality, class, and the nation.
Some of the sitcoms we will consider include Reservation Dogs, Bewitched, Never Have I Ever, Julia, Good Times, All-American Girl, One Day At a Time, The Andy Griffith Show, The Donna Reed Show, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Sex and the City.
Course Assignments
Assignments in the course include:
- Episode recaps
- Episode analysis
- Sitcom Pitch (for an original sitcom)
A tentative assignment includes a sitcom scene rewrite that incorporates both creative and critical writing. For this assignment, students would take a scene from a classic sitcom set in the Pacific, such as Gilligan’s Island or McHale’s Navy, and introduce new characters and situations that disrupt the flow of the series and challenge hegemonic ideals.
Course Format
The course will be offered as a hybrid online course that blends synchronous and asynchronous elements. The dates of our synchronous sessions will be determined during the first week of class.
Course Requirements
The course is a no-cost course. There is no required textbook.
Some of the sitcoms we will look at may require a subscription to streaming services such as Hulu or Netflix, but I am also happy to figure out solutions and alternatives if access to those sites is a concern.
Course Features
The course fulfills the WI (Writing Intensive) requirement and is a prerequisite for all ENG 300-level courses.