The Wire

Here are a few articles for you to read about The Wire:

• http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/05/wire-season-1-episode-1-target-newbies.html
• http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/06/wire-season-1-episode-2-detail-newbies.html
• http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/06/wire-season-1-episode-3-buys-newbies.html
• https://justtv.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/the-wire-in-the-context-of-american-television/
• from Salon.com
• Jason Mittell, Middlebury College

Now that we've watched three episodes of The Wire I'd like to hear more about your thoughts and interpretations of the show. For today, please read one (or more) of the articles above - the first three each focus on a different episode, the others are about the show overall. Then, write your analysis of the show in a new Google Doc and submit it to turnitin.com. Consider these questions:

• What is this show about?
• Who are the main characters? (name them as best as you can - feel free to use internet resources as needed) What do these characters represent?
• What is the setting of the show, and why is it significant?
• What is the importance of the structure of the show (combining different stories, etc.)?
• Which parts of the show are most challenging / informative / entertaining / thought-provoking, and why?
• Do you agree / disagree with any of the points raised in the article you read? Which ones? Why?
• What is your sense of the show overall?

Twilight Zone - In-class essay

Greetings! Here is the link for today's assignment. You may want to check out my comments on yesterday's writing in turnitin.com - hopefully the feedback is helpful!

Twilight Zone - third episode

Today we will watch one more episode of The Twilight Zone together. Afterwards, you'll write a short response to it using this prompt. You'll upload your work to turnitin.com when you are done.

• Twilight Zone reponse

"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"

• William Shatner as Bob Wilson
• Christine White as Julia Wilson
• Ed Kemmer as Flight Engineer
• Asa Maynor as Stewardess
• Nick Cravat as Gremlin

• Creator of The Twilight Zone - Rod Serling
• This episode directed by Richard Donner

The Twilight Zone

We'll continue our look at the ways in which television and media reflect issues in society by turning our attention to a science fiction show from the late 1950's / early 1960's: The Twilight Zone
Here are two articles with good overviews of the show:

• Rod Serling and the Twilight Zone: Representations of the Cold War
• The Five Themes of the Twilight Zone

Signing up for turnitin.com

Go to turnitin.com

Class code: 14674847
Password: television