Description
Book SynopsisA Short History of the Modern Media is a concise history of the major media of the last 150 years, including print, stage, film, radio, television, sound recording, and the Internet. Each chapter includes focus boxes to help students explore the ways specific genres and specific works have impacted the media and popular culture.
Table of ContentsList of Figures ix
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction: Medium Message 1
Overview 2
Further Reading 11
1 Print’s Run: Publishing as Popular Culture 13
Overview 14
Genre Study / Terrifying pleasures: Horror 31
Document Study / The ravenous imagination of Edgar Allan Poe 38
Document Study / Carrie: Princess of blood, King of horror 44
Further Reading 49
2 Dramatic Developments: The World of the Stage 51
Overview 52
Genre Study / Notes from the stage: The Broadway musical 69
Document Study / Show Boat: High tide of the American musical 77
Further Reading 83
3 Reel Life: The Art of Motion Pictures 85
Overview 86
Genre Study / Horse sense: The logic of the western 102
Document Study / The Searchers: Monumental western 111
Further Reading 116
4 Making Waves: Radio in American Life 119
Overview 120
Genre Study / Worlds away: Science fiction 134
Document Study / The Mercury Theater on the Air: Worlds war 142
Document Study / Buck Rogers: Finding time (in space) 149
Further Reading 153
5 Channels of Opportunity: The Arc of Television Broadcasting 155
Overview 156
Genre Study / Screened realities: Situation comedy 173
Document Study / Seriously funny: I Love Lucy 181
Further Reading 187
6 Sound Investments: The Evolution of Sound Recording 190
Overview 191
Genre Study / Joyful blues: The rise and fall of rock and roll 213
Document Study / ‘‘Beat It’’: The integration of Michael Jackson 224
Document Study / Speak Now: The gently assertive voice of Taylor Swift 232
Further Reading 237
7 Weaving the Web: The Emergence of the Internet 240
Overview 241
Genre Study / Shared exchanges: Social media 260
Document Study / Wikipedia: The wisdom of crowds 268
Further Reading 274
Index 277
