This course looks at the premium cable channel that has dominated the primetime television landscape for the last decade-plus. Whether it is through its original series, documentaries, miniseries, comedy specials, or sports programs, HBO has raised the bar on what storytellers who wish to work in television can do. This course will take a critical look through the last 10-15 years of HBO?s cutting-edge, award-winning programming to examine how it has been such a successful juggernaut. We will study the production, distribution, and reception of programs through contexts (artistic, economic, political, social, cultural) that offer a deeper explanation, understanding, and appreciation of them.
