Description
Book SynopsisDerided as simple, dismissed as inferior to film, characterized as a vast wasteland, television nonetheless exerts an undeniable, apparently inescapable power. The secret of television's success may lie in the narrative complexities underlying its seeming simplicity, complexities the author unmasks in her analysis here.
Trade ReviewRemarkably little work (scholarly or otherwise) has been done on television. These four essays provide what may be the most cogent and systematic study of the subject currently available. Thompson is an extremely solid writer with a keen intellect and exceptional analytical skills, and all of these qualities are in evidence here. Simply stated, there is at present no book quite like this one, despite the pressing need for such a book. -- Thomas Schatz, Professor of Radio, Television & Film, University of Texas at Austin
I quite enjoyed reading this book. What I like most about it is its interdisciplinary approach. It shows the insights that an intellectually mature media scholar can have when she crosses disciplinary boundaries--applying analytical principles of one medium to another. I feel strongly that this sort of work should be encouraged. -- Jeremy Butler, Professor of Telecommunications and Film, University of Alabama
Table of ContentsPreface 1. Go with the Flow? Analyzing Television 2. What Do They Think They're Doing? Theory and Practice in Screenwriting 3. The Dispersal of Narrative: Adaptations, Sequels, Serials, Spin-offs, and Sagas 4. The Strange Cases of David Lynch Notes Index
