The teleserye as Ateneo course

We had heard of this course at the Ateneo Graduate School that dealt with a study of the teleserye. It interested us largely because the Ateneo seemed to be the only one offering this course and also because we wanted to find out what made the university champion the project. We, therefore, decided to attend one class that dealt with The Strong Man in the Male Teleserye.

The students we found in the classroom were so quiet, their attention completely on the teacher in front of us. They had brought their laptops, pens, erasers, everything that would come in handy and were quickly scribbling or typing away what teacher Louie Jon Sanchez was saying.

Ateneo’s Louie Jon Sanchez discussing the role of the Strong Man in the teleserye

This course explores the contemporary soap opera called the teleserye on Philippine television, started teacher Louie, using cultural and media study frameworks. The exploration is historical, poetic and aesthetic in nature, attempting to explicate the development of the genre as it was practiced in the last 30 years, beginning with the return of democratized Philippine television and the entry of the Korean version. The course is designed for literature majors and minors wanting to engage in Filipino popular texts, communication majors desiring to deepen their understanding of the genre and all interested in subject.

At the end of the course, the students are expected to be able to outline the development of the Philippine teleserye as a genre in the last 30 years through selected teleserye episodes; analyze these episodes by carefully reading them against that of the history of the country in the said historical time frame, and relate the development of the genre with that of the national literary tradition while appraising its contribution in shaping contemporary literatures. The students are also asked to write weekly papers and two term papers on critical teleserye issues.

As we sat listening with pen in hand, we realized the many offshoots of a single topic. A student raised her hand and asked just what would be the characteristics of a Strong Man? Many answered they would all grow a moustache. The best model of the Strong Man would be Robin Padilla, explained teacher Louie, continuing that this man should look like the lover and redeemer of the woman in distress.

The next portion discussed the case of the Feminized Male and clearly he would be a man who loved to show off his body parts, abs, etc. and wouldn’t be shy about it at all. We then moved on to the Asianized Male as portrayed in My Husband’s Lover which was very popular in Asia with both females and males alike.

We were told that the next day would tackle Fantasy and Romance in the homosexual relationship. Those interested in attending the course in teleserye writing may contact teacher Louie through cellphone 0917-8129083.

(E-mail your comments at [email protected] or text them to 0917-8991835.)