When Jordan Williams ’07 watches her favorite TV shows, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives,” she sees more than the latest plot twist. Williams is one of 18 students enrolled in the Communication course “TV Analysis and Criticism.”

“I analyze everything I watch,” says Williams. “I’m now more conscious of what the producers are thinking when they construct the show.”

The course, which requires students to watch two hours of television each week, analyzes how American culture and values are reflected in everything from sitcoms and reality TV to commercials and sports.

In a recent class, the group identified the main themes within a news segment about Donald Trump’s life: money, family, and the classic American rags-to-riches tale of a blue-collar worker making millions, falling on hard times, then making a comeback.

“Being able to recreate yourself is one of the basic notions of American culture,” says Deborah Vance, assistant professor of Communication. “Television constantly reproduces cultural values. And in watching them, viewers constantly reaffirm those values.”

She says the way stories are told and even the format of television reflect the values of American viewers. Even reality programs like “American Idol,” “Survivor” and “The Apprentice” are edited and tailored to highlight certain themes.

“Turns out, reality TV isn’t as real as you imagine,” says Lauren Schneider ’07.

And after this eye-opening view of what goes into the making of television, “You can’t watch TV just to watch TV anymore,” says Tom Shortridge ’07.