Unit information: Contemporary Television Drama in 2026/27

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Contemporary Television Drama
Unit code FATV20035
Credit points 20
Level of study I/5
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Piper
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

None

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department Department of Film and Television
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

This unit will examine key trends and changes in contemporary television drama. This includes the exploration of different genres and narrative forms, along with the impact of new styles and technologies in changing industrial contexts, to include both broadcast and streamed services. The unit will also explore broader theoretical ways of understanding contemporary television, such as its relation to modernity and the nation state, globalization and the place of television in contemporary culture. Although much of the taught emphasis will be on English language television, students are invited to explore comparative examples from other countries and cultures in the context of developing a specific area of focus for a case study.

Your learning on this unit

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify and critically respond to central and emerging trends in contemporary popular television drama;
  2. Analyse television narrative, genre and aesthetics at an advanced level;
  3. Identify and apply key theoretical concerns in the study of contemporary television drama, and respond to the complexities of these approaches;
  4. Identify and evaluate pertinent evidence in order to support a cogent argument;
  5. Make useful contributions to academic discussions and learning.

How you will learn

3 hour weekly screening

2 hour weekly seminar

How you will be assessed

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

1X 10-minute group presentation (30%) [ILOs 1-4]

1X 3000-word essay (60%) [ILOs 1-4]

Contribution Mark (10%) [ILO 5]

When assessment does not go to plan

When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of
reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FATV20035).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.