Breaking Bad: Critical Essays on the Contexts, Politics, Style, and Reception of the Television Series, edited by David P. Pierson, explores the contexts, politics, and style of AMC's original series Breaking Bad. The book's first section locates and addresses the series from several contemporary social contexts, including neo-liberalism, its discourses and policies, the cultural obsession with the economy of time and its manipulation, and the epistemological principles and assumptions of Walter White's criminal alias Heisenberg. Section two investigates how the series characterizes and intersects with current cultural politics, such as male angst and the re-emergence of hegemonic masculinity, the complex portrayal of Latinos, and the depiction of physical and mental impairment and disability. The final section takes a close look at the series' distinctive visual, aural, and narrative stylistics. Under examination are Breaking Bad's unique visual style whereby image dominates sound, the distinct role and use of beginning teaser segments to disorient and enlighten audiences, the representation of geographic space and place, the position of narrative songs to complicate viewer identification, and the integral part that emotions play as a form of dramatic action in the series.

This history of public television over the last twenty years shows how powerful political actors and the budget process in the United States have severely restricted the strategic behavior and programming of public TV. This hard-hitting story fills a real void in the literature on the subject and should be required reading for station managers, broadcasters, students and professionals in communications, and public policymakers. The ancillary text with its analysis of organizations theory and models is intended also for undergraduate and graduate students in mass media and communications, public policy, and organizational behavior. This practical analysis of public television funding, organization, and programming opens with an overview of organizations theory and a discussion of two models of organizational behavior. A brief history of public TV policy follows with a description of critical developments under the last four American presidents. The legislative history of the Corporation of Public Broadcasting demonstrates the effects of the budgetary process in TV programming, employment diversity, and services to different audiences. The case study closes with an evaluation of public television in terms of organizational strengths and weaknesses and offers practical suggestions for reform.

This is the first comprehensive study of Nobel Laureate Samuel Beckett's innovative work for the screen. "Samuel Beckett's Plays on Film and Television "provides meticulous analysis of every play Beckett wrote, directed, or adapted for the screen. Herren studies Beckett's use of "memory machines"--technological media for channeling personal, cultural, philosophical, and artistic ghosts from the past. Having conjured these ghosts, Beckett "decomposes" them in order to recompose them for distinctly innovative use. Herren traces this countraditional approach to tradition as Beckett's signature style for film and television. The book concludes with a consideration of the "Beckett on Film" project, where Herren defends the vital need for creative freedom in future productions of Beckett's plays. With this publication, the film and television plays can now assume their rightful place alongside Beckett's remarkable fiction and stage plays, collectively constituting one of the most innovative artistic achievements of the twentieth century.

Watching Jazz: Encounters with Jazz Performance on Screen is the first systematic study of jazz on screen media. Where earlier studies have focused almost entirely on the role and portrayal of jazz in Hollywood film, the present book engages with a plethora of technologies and media from early film and soundies through television to recent developments in digital technologies and online media. Likewise, the authors discuss jazz in the widest sense, ranging from Duke Ellington and Jimmy Dorsey through the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charles Mingus to Pat Metheny. Much of this rich and fascinating material has never been studied in depth before, and what emerges most clearly are the manifold connections between the music and the media on which it was and is being recorded. Its long association with film and television has left its trace in jazz, just as online and social media are subtly shaping it now. Vice versa, visual media have always benefited from focusing on music and this significantly affected their development. The book follows these interrelations, showing how jazz was presented and represented on screen and what this tells us about the music, the people who made it and their audiences. The result is a new approach to jazz and the media, which will be required reading for students of both fields.

Discover the secrets behind creating the costumes for HBO's Game of Thrones in this definitive guide. The official guide to the complete costumes of HBO's landmark television series Game of Thrones. Discover how BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning costume designer Michele Clapton dressed the heroes and villains of Westeros and beyond, including Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark. One of 4 comprehensive and officially licensed Game of Thrones retrospective books from HarperVoyager. * CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED - '...peruse the best of the robes, gowns, coats, and suits of armor that made up the rich fabric of Westeros in Game of Thrones: The Costumes' Vanity Fair * LEARN HOW COSTUMES DEFINED CHARACTERS - 440 pages of in-depth interviews and commentary on how costume design helped convey the evolution of George R.R. Martin's beloved characters such as Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, and Brienne of Tarth. * SEE EXCLUSIVE IMAGES AND DESIGNS - Over 1,000 exclusive and rarely seen images including Michele Clapton's designs and original concept sketches. * HEAR FROM THE SHOW'S CREATORS - Features an exclusive foreword from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. * AN EYECATCHING COFFEE TABLE BOOK - Deluxe 9.75 x 13 inch format. * A PERFECT GIFT FOR GAME OF THRONES FANS - Perfectly timed for the holiday season, this gift will be cherished for a lifetime.

At a time of significant change in the precarious world of female individualization, this collection explores such phenomena by critically incorporating the parameters of popular media culture into the overarching paradigm of gender relations, economics and politics of everyday life.

On New Year's Eve 1961, the first broadcast of the Irish television service was made. The initial broadcast featured addresses by the President of the Republic, Eamon de Valera, and the Primate of all Ireland, Cardinal D'Alton. Both expressed concern over the effect television might have on Irish society. The dire warnings issued by both men illustrated the high level of apprehension held by many. This anxiety had been articulated by numerous organizations and interest groups since the debate over television began to take shape in the 1950s. A number of corporations and organizations had expressed a keen interest in building and operating television stations in Ireland. Other groups stepped forward to make the case that their particular interests should be addressed in any service that might be established. From the onset, a coherent policy eluded successive governments, with the fiscally conservative Department of Finance insisting that public television was beyond the means of an under-developed economy, while the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, already responsible for the national radio service, championed a state-run system. The arguments of these and other organizations, including the Catholic Church, Irish language groups, and professional organizations, culminated in the establishment of a Television Commission to recommend public policy. After deliberating for more than a year, the Commission issued a confused and contradictory final report. As Professor Savage shows, the television service that emerged was a synthesis of these opposing positions; an Irish solution to an Irish problem. This volume will be of considerable interest to students and scholars of Ireland as well as public policy and communications.

Remakes are pervasive in today's popular culture, whether they take the form of reboots, "re-imaginings," or overly familiar sequels. Television remakes have proven popular with producers and networks interested in building on the nostalgic capital of past successes (or giving a second chance to underused properties). Some TV remakes have been critical and commercial hits, and others haven't made it past the pilot stage; all have provided valuable material ripe for academic analysis. In Remake Television: Reboot, Re-use, Recycle, edited by Carlen Lavigne, contributors from a variety of backgrounds offer multicultural, multidisciplinary perspectives on remake themes in popular television series, from classic cult favorites such as The Avengers (1961-69) and The X-Files (1993-2002) to current hits like Doctor Who (2005-present) and The Walking Dead (2010-present). Chapters examine what constitutes a remake, and what series changes might tell us about changing historical and cultural contexts-or about the medium of television itself.

It is no coincidence that many of the most celebrated female performers throughout both the 19th and 20th centuries - women widely considered to represent the spirit of their times - were Jewish. Mock traces a lineage that stretches from the first international stage stars, Rachel of the Comedie-Francaise and Sarah Bernhardt, to stars of film and television such as Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and Roseanne. In a unique enquiry, this book embraces issues of gender, sexuality, race, class and nationality through the figure of the Jewish woman to show how a very specific marginal identity has transformed mainstream cultures.

Discover the filmmaking secrets behind HBO and Sky's HOUSE OF THE DRAGON! Witness the genesis of a Targaryen dynasty with this deluxe book that explores the creation of HBO's hit series House of the Dragon. Based on visionary author George R. R. Martin's book Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon charts the earth-shattering events that led to the fall of Westeros's most powerful family, House Targaryen. Brought to the screen by showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik, the ambitious prequel series required a striking new vision that would transport viewers back in time, two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. With unparalleled access to the show's cast and crew, including Condal, Sapochnik, and Martin, this book tells the incredible story of their creative journey, from the initial scriptwriting process to the epic international shoot. Illustrated with a remarkable wealth of concept art, on-set photography, and other key visuals, this is the ultimate companion to House of the Dragon and a must-have for fans. EXCLUSIVE ACCESS: Go behind the scenes of House of the Dragon and discover exclusive insights and secrets from the show's ambitious shoot. REVEALING INTERVIEWS: Go behind the scenes of House of the Dragon through in-depth interviews with showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik, creator George R. R. Martin, and the incredible cast including Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Milly Alcock, and Emily Carey. STUNNING IMAGERY: Explore a treasure trove of never-before-seen images, including concept designs for the show's dragons, locations, and costumes, plus candid on-set photos. OFFICIALLY LICENSED: The only officially licensed making-of book for HBO's House of the Dragon. COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION:The perfect companion to The Art of Game of Thrones and Game of Thrones: The Costumes.

What does it mean to regard cinema as technology? How do special effects change our experience of contemporary film? How important is the Internet to the film industry and film fans? "CineTech" explores these debates and examines the important intersection between film and new media. Providing a comprehensive introduction to the digital practices used in film, this book moves from historical perspectives to up-to-date analysis. Applying these debates through specific case studies, examples are drawn from recent Hollywood blockbusters such as the "Star Wars" prequels and the "Matrix" trilogy. Case studies, exercises, and suggestions for further study make this an ideal resource for courses and student assignments in both film and media studies.

A reporter for the "Los Angeles Times" once noted that a"I Love Lucy" is said to be on the air somewhere in the world 24 hours a day.a That Lucyas madcap antics can be watched anywhere at any time is thanks to television syndication, a booming global marketplace that imports and exports TV shows. Programs from different countries are packaged, bought, and sold all over the world, under the watch of an industry that is extraordinarily lucrative for major studios and production companies.

In Global TV, Denise D. Bielb and C. Lee Harrington seek to understand the machinery of this marketplace, its origins and history, its inner workings, and its product management. In so doing, they are led to explore the cultural significance of this global trade, and to ask how it is so remarkably successful despite the inherent cultural differences between shows and local audiences. How do culture-specific genres like American soap operas and Latin telenovelas so easily cross borders and adapt to new cultural surroundings? Why is aThe Nanny, a whose gum-chewing star is from Queens, New York, a smash in Italy? Importantly, Bielby and Harrington also ask which kinds of shows fail. What is lost in translation? Considering such factors as censorship and other such state-specific policies, what are the inevitable constraints of crossing over?

Highly experienced in the field, Bielby and Harrington provide a unique and richly textured look at global television through a cultural lens, one that has an undeniable and complex effect on what shows succeed and which do not on an international scale.

This book is about how the representations of romantic love in television reflect the change and the dilemma of the dominant values in post-socialist Chinese mainstream culture. These values mainly center on the impact of individualism, consumerism, capitalism, and neoliberalism, often referred to as western culture, on the perception of romantic love and self-realization in China. The book focuses on how romantic love, which plays a vital role in China's ideologically highly restricted social environment by empowering people with individual choice, change, and social mobility, must struggle and compromise with the reality, specifically the values and problems emerging in a transitional China. The book also examines how the representation of romantic love celebrates ideals-individual freedom, passion, and gender equality-and promises changes based on individual diligence and talent while simultaneously obstructing the fulfillment of these ideals.

In unabashed celebration of Captain James T. Kirk's singular fighting skills, Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is every Starfleet cadet's must-have training guide for surviving the final frontier. As captain of the legendary U.S.S. Enterprise, James T. Kirk engaged in his share of fisticuffs, besting opponents with a slick combination of moves and guile that remains unmatched. Is there anyone you'd rather have watching your back as you take on Klingons, alien gladiators, genetically engineered supermen, and even the occasional giant walking reptile? Kirk Fu is a series of unarmed combat techniques developed by one of Starfleet's most celebrated starship captains over several years of exploring deep space. A blend of various fighting styles, Kirk Fu incorporates elements of several Earth-based martial arts forms as well as cruder methods employed in bars and back alleys on planets throughout the galaxy. It is as unorthodox in practice as it is unbelievable to behold. Including excerpts from Kirk's own notes and personal logs, the Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is the perfect training guide for surviving the depths of space. With proper training and practice, every Starfleet cadet can become one with Kirk Fu.

Questioning the psychiatric construction of mental distress as 'illness', and challenging existing studies of media stigmatization, Stephen Harper argues that today's media images of mental distress are often sympathetic, yet tend to reproduce the sexist, classist, racist and individualist ideologies of contemporary capitalism.

This book explores Charles De Gaulle's use and strict control of television between 1958 and 1969, highlighting the association between charismatic power and television with regards to legitimizing the Gaullist leadership and determining an evolution towards presidentialism during the Fifth Republic. A protagonist of European political history of the twentieth century, Charles de Gaulle was a pioneer in the use of mass media: in the Second World War he had earned the nickname of General-micro due to his reliance on radio communication; in 1958 he then started an substantive and fruitful use of television, which some of his opponents labelled as 'telecracy'. From difficult beginnings, where he followed the advice of publicity and communication experts, through his masterful TV appearances during the dramatic moments of the Algerian War, to the presidential campaign of 1965 and the crisis of May 1968, the author paints a compelling fresco of de Gaulle as the first TV leader in contemporary European history. The book will appeal to students and scholars interested in the fields of French politics, political communication and political leadership.

In this book, Faye Woods explores the raucous, cheeky, intimate voice of British youth television. This is the first study of a complete television system targeting teens and twenty somethings, chronicling a period of significant industrial change in the early 21st century. British Youth Television offers a snapshot of the complexities of contemporary television from a British standpoint - youth-focused programming that blossomed in the commercial expansion of the digital era, yet indelibly shaped by public service broadcasting, and now finding its feet on proliferating platforms. Considering BBC Three, My Mad Fat Diary, The Inbetweeners, Our War and Made in Chelsea, amongst others; Woods identifies a television that is defiantly British, yet also has a complex transatlantic relationship with US teen TV. This book creates a space for British voices in an academic and cultural landscape dominated by the American teenager.

This book investigates the shifting relationship between performance and subjectivity over the course of the Modern era. Each chapter details a different set of performance strategies designed to grant the subject a stable sense of self-identity, and each explores the fallout from the ultimate failure of these strategies to offer the subject a fixed and enduring image of itself. The conclusion examines the implications of this failure for new Postmodern conceptions of subjectivity and poses questions about the use of performance in the self-fashioning of future generations.

This book offers an interpretation of the myths that shape television images and reinforce this culture's dominant ideology. It provides histories of all television genres and connects developments within each genre to political, social, and cultural shifts in the larger society. This new Second Edition updates the previous edition's close textual analysis of representative series and serials to mid-1993, reflecting the significant changes that have occurred in both the business of television in the United States and in the larger society's dominant ideology. The Second Edition also reflects significant advances in critical theory related to the study of television that have occurred over the past decade, and it incorporates both the structuralist critical position (dominant in the first edition) and a post-structuralist position which moves away from a determinist textual analysis of ideology to a consideration of possible multiple decodings.