Television shows not only serve as entertainment but also as valuable resources for research and academic work. When it comes to properly acknowledging these sources, The Chicago Manual of Style provides a structured approach to citation. Whether youre a student or an academic, mastering Chicago style citations for TV shows is crucial for maintaining the credibility of your work and respecting copyright laws. In this guide, we’ll delve into how to cite TV shows accessed through several mediums, including streaming platforms, DVDs, and broadcast.
Citing TV Shows Accessed Through Online Streaming Platforms
In the digital age, online streaming platforms have become a treasure trove of television content. When referencing TV shows from platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, Chicago style requires specific details to ensure a clear path for readers to follow. For instance:
Writer’s Last Name, Writer’s First Name. “Episode Title.” Title of the Show, season “, episode “, directed by Director’s First Name Director’s Last Name, aired Month Day, Year, on Streaming Platform. URL.
Heres an example:
Harmon, Dan. “Remedial Chaos Theory.” Community, season 3, episode 4, directed by Jeff Melman, aired October 13, 2011, on Netflix. http://www.netflix.com/watch/70155589.
Referencing Episodes from TV Series in Chicago Format
When citing a specific episode from a TV series, the Chicago format changes slightly to emphasize the episode itself. Your citation should look like this:
Writer’s Last Name, Writer’s First Name. “Episode Title.” Series Title, episode “, Directed by Director’s First Name Director’s Last Name, aired Month Day, Year, on Network. In Producer’s First Name Producer’s Last Name, Title of the Show, season “. City: Studio/Network, Year of release.
An example citation may appear as follows:
Morgan, Peter. “Assassins.” The Crown, episode 9, directed by Benjamin Caron, aired December 8, 2017, on Netflix. In Peter Morgan, The Crown, season 2. Los Angeles: Netflix, 2017.
Formatting Citations for Broadcasted TV Shows in Chicago Style
For TV shows viewed on traditional broadcast channels, you’ll need to adjust your citation format to accommodate this medium. The format is similar to that of streaming platforms, but youll include the network name instead of the URL. The citation format is as follows:
Writer’s Last Name, Writer’s First Name. “Episode Title.” TV Show Title, season “, episode “. Directed by Director’s First Name Director’s Last Name. Aired Month Day, Year, on Network Name.
As an example:
Benioff, David, and D.B. Weiss. “The Iron Throne.” Game of Thrones, season 8, episode 6. Directed by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Aired May 19, 2019, on HBO.
Chicago Style Citations for TV Shows on DVD and Other Physical Media
Physical copies of television shows, such as DVDs or Blu-rays, often come with additional considerations for citation. Citing these formats requires information about the physical medium itself. Follow this format:
Writer’s Last Name, Writer’s First Name. “Episode Title.” In Show Title, season “, episode “. Directed by Director’s First Name Director’s Last Name. City: Distributing Company, Year of Publication. Medium.
Here is how it should look:
Chase, David. “The Sopranos Pilot.” In The Sopranos, season 1, episode 1. Directed by David Chase. New York: HBO Home Video, 1999. DVD.
Annotating Your Bibliography with TV Show References in Chicago Style
While your footnotes provide brief citations, your bibliography should include more comprehensive details about each TV show cited. A bibliography entry for a TV show in Chicago style should look like this:
Writer’s Last Name, Writer’s First Name. Title of the Show. Season “. City: Producer’s First Name Producer’s Last Name, Year of release. Medium.
The corresponding entry might appear as follows:
Chase, David. The Sopranos. Season 1. New York: HBO Home Video, 1999. DVD.
Understanding how to correctly reference television shows in your academic work using Chicago style is integral in producing credible, high-quality writing. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you will ensure accuracy and consistency in your citations. Remember to pay close attention to the detailsnames, titles, dates, and mediums are all crucial in pinpointing the exact source of your reference. Whether it’s an online streaming platform, broadcasted show, or a DVD collection, Chicago style accommodates a wide variety of formats, allowing you to cite with precision.
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