The soap opera, one of U.S. television's longest-running and
most influential formats, is on the brink. Declining ratings have
been attributed to an increasing number of women working outside
the home and to an intensifying competition for viewers' attention
from cable and the Internet. Yet, soaps' influence has expanded,
with serial narratives becoming commonplace on most prime time TV
programs. "The Survival of Soap Opera" investigates the causes of
their dwindling popularity, describes their impact on TV and new
media culture, and gleans lessons from their complex history for
twenty-first-century media industries.
The book contains contributions from established soap scholars
such as Robert C. Allen, Louise Spence, Nancy Baym, and Horace
Newcomb, along with essays and interviews by emerging scholars,
fans and Web site moderators, and soap opera producers, writers,
and actors from ABC's "General Hospital," CBS's "The Young and the
Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful," and other shows. This
diverse group of voices seeks to intervene in the discussion about
the fate of soap operas at a critical juncture, and speaks to
longtime soap viewers, television studies scholars, and media
professionals alike.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!