COMM 145 – Television Sitcom and American Culture

Course Description

Lecture, three hours. Historical analysis of sitcom genre from its beginning in late 1940s to present. Investigation of how sitcoms have influenced American life and culture and how American life and culture have influenced sitcoms. Exploration of issues of family, race and ethnicity, class and economy, gender roles, and political culture. P/NP or letter grading.

About Prof. Michael Suman

I have been a lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies since 1995. I received my B.A. from The Ohio State University and my Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA. Prior to working for our department, I lectured at various locations and universities throughout Asia, and was the Project Coordinator for UCLA’s Television Violence Monitoring Project and Research Director for UCLA’s Center for Communication Policy. Since 2004, I have also served as Research Director of the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future.I have authored and edited numerous publications related to the impact of computers and the Internet on society. I have also published work on television violence, religion and the media, and advocacy groups and the media.