Description
Book SynopsisDrawing upon the existing scholarship of period drama and emerging research into new media ecologies, instigated by television streaming services such as Netflix, this book establishes a critical framework for understanding the representation of nationhood and cultural identity in television drama.
By formalising the term post-heritage' the book proposes a methodology which recognises the interplay of traditional and innovative elements within period drama productions. The book applies this critical perspective to popular British period drama productions from the 2010s, with examples including The Crown, the society dramas' of Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey, Steven Knight's Dickens adaptations, and Stephen Poliakoff's recent oeuvre, to demonstrate the benefits of evaluating period drama as part of twenty-first century television's developments. It challenges the assumptions around characteristics and ideological purpose that period drama dis
Trade Review
‘Offering a welcome, fresh focus on British television period drama since the 2010s, Post-heritage Perspectives on British Period Drama takes a considered approach to several key examples of the genre, situating them sensitively in relation to the contemporary televisual, cultural and socio-political context. With commendable even-handedness, the book reconsiders the critical framework within which period drama is most often appraised, utilising the concept of post-heritage in a nuanced and non-judgemental manner that enables appreciation of each programme on its own terms. The book’s emphasis on diversity and complexity mirrors the breadth of perspectives offered by programmes as varied as Downton Abbey, Upstairs Downstairs, The Crown, Dickensian and recent works by Stephen Poliakoff, amongst others.
This book will appeal to scholars of British television, adaptation, period dramas and broadcast TV, as well as to readers who simply enjoy televisual historical fiction of many hues. It is to be hoped that this book’s thoughtful reappraisal and appreciation of the genre will rekindle and inspire wider interest into a form of television which remains popular, innovative and vibrant.’
Dr Sarah Cardwell, University of Kent, United Kingdom.
Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Post-Heritage Framework 1. Society Dramas of the 2010s 2. Dickens Adaptations Beyond the Bicentenary 3. Matters of Royalty in The Crown 4. Poliakoff and Public Service in the 2010s 5. Conclusion: Post-Heritage Futures
