I am interested in studying past stories (on TV & film) that have tried to treat health and social ills. I'm focusing specifically on the social ill of prejudice (racism, etc.). I am attempting to reverse engineer these programs to see what can be learned.
To reverse engineer is "to study or analyze (a device, as a microchip for computers) in order to learn details of design, construction, and operation, perhaps to produce a copy or an improved version." (Dictionary.com)
Put another way: Reverse engineering is "The analysis of a completed system in order to isolate and identify its individual components or building blocks" (Sci-Tech Dictionary).
I am analyzing television programs and films in order to learn their structure in hopes of bettering our understanding of entertainment education. What can we learn from past programs?
See also: Merriam-Webster, Wikipedia, Reverse Engineering (ComputerWorld), Reversing by Eilam (p. 3-4), Reverse Engineering by Raja (p. 2-5), "A Methodology for Reverse Engineering," "Reverse Engineering: A Roadmap," "Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) about Reverse Engineering" (see specifically: What is reverse engineering? How does reverse engineering differ from other types of engineering? What stages are involved in the reverse engineering process?)
