"Programming & Sequence as Flow" (2003/1974)

In this excerpt from his book Television: Technology and Cultural Form, Raymond Williams analyzes the experience of watching broadcast television. He identifies flow as the defining characteristic of this experience. On broadcast TV, there is a seemingly endless sequence of various kinds of content that follow one another in an apparently illogical but (he suggests) ultimately unified flow.

As I discuss in this week's lecture, Williams is defining television partially by distinguishing it from the cinematic experience, in which a spectator goes to a theater, buys a ticket for single film, and leaves when the movie is over. Of course, convergence has changed this picture a bit, as we'll read about our second reading this week, a more recent take on flow by Derek Kompare.

I strongly recommend viewing this week's lecture beforehand. I provide some important context that should help you find your way into Williams's sometimes dense writing style!

Because there are two assigned readings this week, you must post at least two annotations to each one. You are still only required to do five total annotations, but these must be spread out across the two separate readings.

Be sure to review the guidelines for annotations in the syllabus (under "Coursework") before you begin. Because of the Labor Day holiday, annotations are due on Thursday this week, still at 2 p.m.

Read & Annotate "Programming as Sequence or Flow"