Synopsis
Genre is central to understanding the industrial context and the visual form of television. This new edition of a key textbook brings together leading international scholars to provide an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the debates, issues and concerns of television genre.
The Television Genre Book is structured in eleven sections which introduce the concept of ‘genre’ itself and how it has been understood in television studies, and then address in turn key televisual genres: drama, soap opera, comedy, news, documentary, reality television, children’s television, animation, prime time and day time.
The discussion is illustrated throughout with case studies of classic and contemporary programming from each genre, ranging from The Sopranos to Bleak House and from Monty Python’s Flying Circus to South Park.
The second edition includes selected guides to further reading and a full bibliography.
Library Journal
Studying the major television genres (e.g., drama, comedy, news, documentary) is critical to appreciating the television medium as a whole. With this work, first published in England by the British Film Institute, editor Creeber (Dennis Potter: Between Two Worlds; A Critical Assessment) aims to give telecommunications students a means of investigating and appreciating these genres. Focusing mainly on American and British TV, internationally recognized telecommunications scholars furnish capsule explanations of various aspects of TV news and entertainment. Each article includes a recommended reading list, and an exhaustive bibliography is provided at the end of the book. "Grey box" studies that give more focused attention to critical issues and standout programs are situated throughout. A quality addition to any telecommunications collection, this is recommended primarily for academic libraries. David M. Lisa, Wayne P.L., NJ Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.