This document provides an overview and guidance for Section B of the B322 exam, which focuses on TV comedy. It states that Section B is worth 30 marks and tests knowledge of audience and institutions. Students must prepare two case studies comparing and contrasting different TV comedies from different channels. They will answer a single question split into two parts on institutions and audience. The document provides guidance on the types of questions that could be asked about audience pleasures and channel institutions. It also includes suggestions to help students think about different types of TV comedy and examples to draw from.

1. B322 exam - Section B = TV Comedy
11 lessons

2. B322 Exam Overview
• B322 is split into two sections:
• Action adventure (representation) 50 marks
• TV comedy (audience and institution) 30 marks
• Paper total time = 1h 45 mins
• 30 mins to watch and make notes on AA clip
• Real writing time = 1hr 15 mins
• 45 mins writing on AA
• 30 mins writing on TV comedy

3. What does Section B test me on?
• Knowledge and understanding:
– Audience (who watches)
– Institution (companies)
– Production (the making)
– Consumption (how they’re watched)
– Subject terminology (using the right technical terms)

4. How is Section B tested?
• You will need to prepare TWO case studies
• These case studies must look IN DETAIL at two
different TV comedies
• The comedies must be of the same type as you
will be expected to COMPARE and CONTRAST
them
• They should also be from different CHANNELS

5. How is Section B tested?
• A single question to answer – split into 2 sections
with separate marks
• Part one will focus on institution
– Scheduling / channel brand identity / regulatory issues
• Part two will focus on audience
– Programme’s target audience / pleasures offered /
audience positioning

6. Audience questions you should know
the answers to by your exam
• How a text addresses a mass / niche target
audience?
• What pleasures does the text offer its
audience?
• Why a text has been scheduled on a particular
channel?
• How the channel’s audience fits with the
channel itself?

7. Institution questions you should
know the answers to by your exam
• Why is the text scheduled on a particular
channel?
• Why the text is scheduled on more than one
channel?
• What the channel’s target audience is?
• Why the text has been scheduled at a certain
time?
• Why the text has been scheduled between other
texts?
• What else the text competes with at the time it is
scheduled?

8. Some initial questions to get you
thinking…
How many
different
types of TV
comedy
show can
you list?

9. Some initial questions to get you
thinking…
• Celeb panel shows
• Sit coms (situational
comedy)
• Stand-up shows
• Sketch shows
• Comedy drama
• Prank shows
• Variety shows
• Chat shows
How many
different
types of TV
comedy
show can
you list?

10. Some initial questions to get you
thinking…
• Celeb panel shows
• Sit coms (situational
comedy)
• Stand-up shows
• Sketch shows
• Comedy drama
• Prank shows
• Variety shows
• Chat shows
How many
examples
can you
think of for
each of
these?

11. Some initial questions to get you
thinking…
Why do
people
watch TV
comedy?

12. Audience pleasures
• Escapism
• Stereotyping
• Regularity (time slot)
• Intertextuality
• Superiority
• Easy to watch
• Easy to understand
• Schadenfreude
• Narrative (resolution,
character identification,
snowballing, suspense,
comedy)
• Recognition, familiarity,
anticipation
• Difference-within-
repetition
• Performance
unpredictability and
spontaneity
• Transgressive
• Associated with
performers or
personalities

13. Uses and Gratifications Theory
• What people do with media
• The same TV programme may satisfy different
needs for different individuals
• Associated with individual personalities, stages
of maturation, backgrounds and social roles
• 4 areas of audience pleasure:
– Personal relationships
– Personal identity
– Diversion
– Surveillance

14. Audience – personal relationships
• Gaining insight into circumstances of others –
social empathy
• Identifying with others and gaining a sense of
belonging
• Finding a basis for conversation and social
interaction
• Having a substitute for real-life companionship
• Helping to carry out social roles
• Enabling one to connect with family, friends
and society

15. Audience – personal identity
• Finding reinforcement for personal values
• Finding models of behaviour
• Identifying with values in others
• Gaining insight into one’s self

16. Audience – diversion
• Escaping, or being diverted, from problems
• Relaxing
• Getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment
• Filling time
• Emotional release

17. Audience – surveillance
• Finding out about relevant events and
conditions in immediate surroundings, society
and the world
• Seeking advice on practical matters or opinion
and decision choices
• Satisfying curiosity and general interest
• Learning – self education
• Gaining a sense of security through knowledge

18. Apply your knowledge
• The Inbetweeners
• What kind of TV
comedy is this?
• The show was originally aired
on E4 in 2008
• What do you know about the channel E4?
– What do we think would be their target audience?

19. Apply your knowledge
• Watch the episode
Bunk Off
– Original air date
1st May 2008
– Channel E4
• Whilst you’re watching, identify which
pleasures are gained from this programme.
You’ll need these for after the programme has
finished!

20. Answer this typical exam question
• Discuss how
The Inbetweeners
offers audience
pleasures.
• Use specific examples from the episode you
have just watched, using the subject
terminology you have learnt.
• 15 mins