Television and Society

Author: [British] Nicholas Abercrombie, Zhang Yongxi, Bao Gui, Chen Guangming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Television and Society is a textbook. The purpose of writing this book is to help students understand the role of television and society. The book explores the structure of television texts and the ways in which these texts are produced and consumed. Part one is an analysis of television programs as texts, covering topics such as the realism and narrative of television, genres, ideology, the characteristics of television programs and families, as well as the nature of soap operas and news. The second part discusses the issue of television production. This section first examines the overall structure of the television industry, such as the financing and distribution methods of television, television globalization, media expansion, and the political economy of television, among other issues. It then explores the operational mechanisms within television institutions, including the role of producers, the working methods of production teams, television personalities, and producers' discussions on television audience theory. This section also delves into the history of audience research, methods of evaluating audiences, the family environment of television viewing, and television interviews. Television and Society is written in a fluent style, with fresh content, making it an invaluable book for students majoring in mass media studies, cultural studies, and cultural sociology. Table of Contents: Chapter 1 The Importance of Television● Television and the Information Society● View of Television● The Structure of This Book: Text, Producers, and Audience Chapter 2 Television Text● Television and Film● Serial Broadcasting● The Family Characteristics of Television● Narrative Function● Realism● The Ideology of Television● Postmodernism Chapter 3 Television Genres● The Concept of Genre● Soap Operas● Narrative Forms and Structures● What Soap Operas Are About● Changes in Soap Operas● News● The Glasgow Media Group● Reflections of Race and Gender Chapter 4 The Television Industry● The Development of Television● The Structure and Financing of the Television Industry● Ownership of Television● Global Television● The Political Economy of Program Production Chapter 5 Television Production● Producers● Production Teams● Public Opinion and Audience● Changing Systems Chapter 6 The Importance of the Audience● The History of Audience Research● Audience Evaluation● Audience Structure● The Nature of Television● Strong Audiences● International Audiences● Television Fans Chapter 7 Examining the Audience● Television and the Family Environment● Television Conversations● Modes of Viewing and New Audiences● Referential and Critical Frameworks● Referential Frameworks● Critical Frameworks● Alienation and Participation● Active Audiences Chapter 8 Epilogue: Text, Producers, and Audience