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.

aOne of the best aspects of the text is the way that the contributors do not merely typecast fans as those interested in modern and popular culture, but also examine fans of mediums typically considered ahigh culture.a This makes the book much friendlier to pop-culture fans, whose practices are typically considered low-brow and fanatical when compared to someone who holds season tickets to the opera or visits an art gallery every weekend. As a fan, itas nice to see that the behavior is not reduced to unnecessary fanaticism and is examined on a more subjective level.a
--"M/C Reviews"

"Fandom pushes the boundaries of fan studies in bold directions, incorporating high culture fandoms, global fan cultures, fan technologies, and antagonistic anti-fandom, while rethinking the core tenets of fan studies concerning aesthetics, place, intellectual property, and interpretive communities -- all presented with a lively, accessible, and engaging writing style."
--Jason Mittell, Middlebury College

aIf you're an avid news reader, a holder of season's tickets to the symphony, a frequenter of used bookstores, or even if you've been known to scream at referees during televised games, you're a fan. In this exciting collection, we learn about why it is that certain media narratives, images, sounds, and events engage us emotionally, and what that engagement means for us personally and in our relationships with others in the increasingly global marketplace in which we live.a
--Lynn Schofield Clark, author of" From Angels to Aliens"

aA rich compendium of theory, argument, and observation of a wide variety of types of fandomafrom fans of cultural theory to fans of the Sopranos and ofChekhov, from presidents who are fans of country music to fans of the news. As the active aprosumersa of the digital mediaas niche markets come to be increasingly central to their operation, fan studies shows us the emerging dynamics of how the cultural industries are going to work in the future.a
--David Morley, Goldsmiths College, University of London

We are all fans. Whether we log on to Web sites to scrutinize the latest plot turns in "Lost," "stalk" our favorite celebrities on "Gawker," attend gaming conventions, or simply wait with bated breath for the newest "Harry Potter" novel-each of us is a fan. Fandom extends beyond television and film to literature, opera, sports, and pop music, and encompasses both high and low culture.

Fandom brings together leading scholars to examine fans, their practices, and their favorite texts. This unparalleled selection of original essays examines instances across the spectrum of modern cultural consumption from Karl Marx to Paris Hilton, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to backyard wrestling, Bach fugues to Bollywood cinemaA, and nineteenth-century concert halls to computer gaming. Contributors examine fans of high cultural texts and genres, the spaces of fandom, fandom around the globe, the impact of new technologies on fandom, and the legal and historical contexts of fan activity. Fandom is key to understanding modern life in our increasingly mediated and globalized world.

Sexually curious adults can learn how to enjoy bedroom bondage in an easy step-by-step fashion while still being tasteful, playful, and authentic Rope bondage is not just about tying someone up; it is an opportunity for sensuality, creativity, playfulness, connection, and passion. Bondage artist and educator Lee Harrington takes you on a journey through easy step-by-step ties and exercises for bringing you and your partner closer together through this beautiful art form. The second book in the Shibari You Can Use series, More Shibari You Can Use picks up where the first book left off, with all new ties in a playful, down-to-earth, and engaging voice. But it's about more than the bondage. This time you also get a chance to connect more with your partner through a variety of exercises that explore touch, dominance and submission, intimacy, and trust. With beautifully shot images by RiggerJay, this guide offers intermediate techniques for those ready for a challenge, broken down into clear directions for new and experienced "riggers" alike. Find techniques for learning rope bondage negotiation, speed restraint (Texas handcuffs and speed-release corsets), intricate confinement (the reverse box tie and the woven head cage), beautiful erotic rope (from the Triskelion crotch rope to the floral chest harness), and much more. Are you ready to have fun? To deepen your connection with your partner? To create beautiful artwork woven on the human form? To add some spice to your erotic life? Now is your chance. Set aside your concerns about tying someone up, grab this book and some rope, and learn passionate rope bondage for an intimate connection.

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.

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.

A completely updated edition of a seminal work on fans and communities We are all fans. Whether we follow our favorite celebrities on Twitter, attend fan conventions such as Comic Con, or simply wait with bated breath for the next episode of our favorite television drama-each of us is a fan. Recognizing that fandom is not unusual, but rather a universal subculture, the contributions in this book demonstrate that understanding fans--whether of toys, TV shows, celebrities, comics, music, film, or politicians--is vital to an understanding of media audiences, use, engagement, and participatory culture in a digital age. Including eighteen new, original essays covering topics such as activism directed at racism in sports fandom, fan/producer interactions at Comic Con, the impact of new technologies on fandom, and the politics and legality of fanfic, this wide-ranging collection provides diverse approaches to fandom for anyone seeking to understand modern life in our increasingly mediated, globalized and binge-watching world.

In Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond , Lee Harrington discussed how the tools we use in kink and sex go back into spiritual history, and that our sexual explorations have the potential to open us up in the world and beyond. Spirit of Desire opens up that dialogue with thirty-three profoundly personal and diverse stories sharing the revelations, power, connections, and pathways explored in Sacred Kink. Each of these passages is shared from the heart, a glimpse into the intimate. Some of the authors have been on the road for decades, others for a very short time; some have spoken about their passions before, while others are only now putting pen to page. Through their eyes we will dive deep and find new insights into: Catharsis. Clarity. Intimacy. Lust. Devotion. Passion. Beauty. Hope. Energy. Faith. Intention. Fear. Consent. Service. Openness. Suffering. Surrender. Connection. Sacredness. Desire. Forgiveness. Divinity. Epiphany. Love... and much more Whether you are a traveler on the road of sexual expression, a spiritual seeker on a quest for enlightenment, or a curious creature wondering what this is all about... pull up a seat, and be prepared for a dive into journeys that will take your breath away, leave you hot and bothered, have you pondering the nature of love, and meditating on a wide variety of odysseys. Open your heart, open your mind, and get ready to explore these personal explorations of Sacred Kink.

A completely updated edition of a seminal work on fans and communities We are all fans. Whether we follow our favorite celebrities on Twitter, attend fan conventions such as Comic Con, or simply wait with bated breath for the next episode of our favorite television drama-each of us is a fan. Recognizing that fandom is not unusual, but rather a universal subculture, the contributions in this book demonstrate that understanding fans--whether of toys, TV shows, celebrities, comics, music, film, or politicians--is vital to an understanding of media audiences, use, engagement, and participatory culture in a digital age. Including eighteen new, original essays covering topics such as activism directed at racism in sports fandom, fan/producer interactions at Comic Con, the impact of new technologies on fandom, and the politics and legality of fanfic, this wide-ranging collection provides diverse approaches to fandom for anyone seeking to understand modern life in our increasingly mediated, globalized and binge-watching world.

A primer for the sexually adventurous, presenting bedroom bondage in detailed, tasteful tutorials   Japanese-style rope bondage and erotic macramÉ may look complicated and intimidating, but you can learn the basics of this beautiful, sexy art form today. Bondage artist and educator Lee Harrington takes you step by step through a variety of concepts and ties, giving you the tools to make aesthetically rewarding ropework. Each tutorial is broken down into easy-to-follow photographs by RiggerJay with detailed descriptions of each step, including how to tie all those knots. From restrictive poses that limit movement to decorative rope that accentuates the human form, Shibari You Can Use includes instruction on creating Shinju (chest harnesses), Gyaku Ebi (Asian-style hogtie), Ebi or Kuri (shrimp or ball ties), rope corsets, strap-on harnesses and crotch ropes, and much more. How do you discuss your desires? What if you feel silly the first time? Where do you turn if you’re experienced and need new ideas? What about rope care? Open up the pages of Shibari You Can Use to find answers to these and other questions. Pick up this book, shake off your fears about tying someone up, and get some rope, and you too can learn Japanese-style rope bondage and erotic macramÉ.

Some of us have had a moment in the middle of fun and sexual exploration that lead to connecting with the divine or having an epiphany about life that was far from expected. Others have been drawn to the possibilities of finding universal truths between the sheets or in the dungeon for all of their lives. Some are aware that their bodies hold the key towards knowing their spirits, but don't know which doors of desire to unlock. Others have glimpsed the limitless where they have been told that only debauchery lives, and are looking to go back for more. This and more is Sacred Kink. Modern tools of BDSM, fetishism, kink and erotic adventuring have roots that go far back into history, tools that have been used for reaching altered states of consciousness, creating spiritual epiphanies, and changing lives. Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond explores the sacred roots of kink tools, and the ways kink can be used today for sacred workings. Explore and find practical tools involving: - Negotiation, Communication and Aftercare for Sacred Kink - Catharsis, Top Trances and Exorcising Personal Demons - Ordeals, Earning Leathers, and Ending Relationships - Energetically Transmitted Diseases and Solo Sex Magic - Creating Ritual Play Spaces and Dedicated Tools - Developing Rituals for Dominance and Submission - Pain Processing and the Dialysis of Desire - Erotic Shapeshifting and Possession Workings - The Spiritual Calling of Mastery and Slavery - Kink and Chemistry Ethics - ...and so much more. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or have never delved into the depths of adventurous sex and personal truth, you hold in your hand a roadmap, a set of keys, and an invitation to journey on your own path of Sacred Kink.

The intersections of aging, media, and culture are under-explored given trends in population aging, rapid increases in the mediation of everyday life, and the growing cultural significance of media consumption at the global level. This book brings together an international collection of critical scholars, both well-established and up-and-coming, from the various academic disciplines that share a common interest in the future study of aging and media. This anthology of original articles integrates aging theory and media studies through a study of core issues including the media's influence on the construction of "old age," the reciprocal influence of aging on media industries, age-based identities in a mediated world, issues of gender and sexuality in an aging society, and the practical implications of a more integrated approach between the two fields. The chapters explore the intersections between aging and media in the realms of advertising/marketing, television, film, music, celebrity and social media, among others.

When Saturday Comes, set in the island city of Galveston, Texas in 1966 (prologue and epilogue 1988), is the story of one woman, Jennifer McClain, and how her tragic death in 1931, at the age of twenty-three, has shaped and altered the lives of three generations of men - her surviving husband, Dewey McClain, now seventy-four, their son, James, four at the time of her death, but now thirty-nine, and David, the ten-year-old son of James. For all three, the summer of 1966 is a journey. For Dewey, it is a journey toward death. For James, an unsuccessful journey toward acceptance of his mother's fate. And for David, it is a dramatic journey into manhood.

aOne of the best aspects of the text is the way that the contributors do not merely typecast fans as those interested in modern and popular culture, but also examine fans of mediums typically considered ahigh culture.a This makes the book much friendlier to pop-culture fans, whose practices are typically considered low-brow and fanatical when compared to someone who holds season tickets to the opera or visits an art gallery every weekend. As a fan, itas nice to see that the behavior is not reduced to unnecessary fanaticism and is examined on a more subjective level.a
--"M/C Reviews"

"Fandom pushes the boundaries of fan studies in bold directions, incorporating high culture fandoms, global fan cultures, fan technologies, and antagonistic anti-fandom, while rethinking the core tenets of fan studies concerning aesthetics, place, intellectual property, and interpretive communities -- all presented with a lively, accessible, and engaging writing style."
--Jason Mittell, Middlebury College

aIf you're an avid news reader, a holder of season's tickets to the symphony, a frequenter of used bookstores, or even if you've been known to scream at referees during televised games, you're a fan. In this exciting collection, we learn about why it is that certain media narratives, images, sounds, and events engage us emotionally, and what that engagement means for us personally and in our relationships with others in the increasingly global marketplace in which we live.a
--Lynn Schofield Clark, author of" From Angels to Aliens"

aA rich compendium of theory, argument, and observation of a wide variety of types of fandomafrom fans of cultural theory to fans of the Sopranos and ofChekhov, from presidents who are fans of country music to fans of the news. As the active aprosumersa of the digital mediaas niche markets come to be increasingly central to their operation, fan studies shows us the emerging dynamics of how the cultural industries are going to work in the future.a
--David Morley, Goldsmiths College, University of London

We are all fans. Whether we log on to Web sites to scrutinize the latest plot turns in "Lost," "stalk" our favorite celebrities on "Gawker," attend gaming conventions, or simply wait with bated breath for the newest "Harry Potter" novel-each of us is a fan. Fandom extends beyond television and film to literature, opera, sports, and pop music, and encompasses both high and low culture.

Fandom brings together leading scholars to examine fans, their practices, and their favorite texts. This unparalleled selection of original essays examines instances across the spectrum of modern cultural consumption from Karl Marx to Paris Hilton, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to backyard wrestling, Bach fugues to Bollywood cinemaA, and nineteenth-century concert halls to computer gaming. Contributors examine fans of high cultural texts and genres, the spaces of fandom, fandom around the globe, the impact of new technologies on fandom, and the legal and historical contexts of fan activity. Fandom is key to understanding modern life in our increasingly mediated and globalized world.

The intersections of aging, media, and culture are under-explored given trends in population aging, rapid increases in the mediation of everyday life, and the growing cultural significance of media consumption at the global level. This book brings together an international collection of critical scholars, both well-established and up-and-coming, from the various academic disciplines that share a common interest in the future study of aging and media. This anthology of original articles integrates aging theory and media studies through a study of core issues including the media's influence on the construction of "old age," the reciprocal influence of aging on media industries, age-based identities in a mediated world, issues of gender and sexuality in an aging society, and the practical implications of a more integrated approach between the two fields. The chapters explore the intersections between aging and media in the realms of advertising/marketing, television, film, music, celebrity and social media, among others.

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.

"Hands-down the best human-with-dog memoir you will ever read!" —THE BARK MAGAZINE In this rich, humorous and insightful memoir, critically-acclaimed author Lee Harrington shares her story of love, loss, dysfunctional relationships, and the shelter dog who put things right. In 1997, New York City hipsters Lee and Ed were at a crossroads. Money was tight, their careers were floundering, their apartment was tiny, and their relationship, frankly, was dysfunctional. Then, on a fateful day in August, they decided on impulse to visit a nearby animal shelter, just to "look at" dogs. In a split-second decision that would change their lives, they brought home Wallace. They quickly realized that this spaniel mix was more than they could handle—he was aggressive, fearful of humans, and seemingly untrainable. Faced with overwhelming new responsibilities, the couple bickered constantly, worried incessantly, and disagreed on nearly every aspect of how to handle the dog. But the one thing they could agree on was that they loved Wallace. And slowly but surely, this love helped transform both the dog and their relationship. And thus, by rescuing an abused spaniel, they ended up rescuing themselves. Funny and heartfelt, this memoir chronicles a couple's changing outlook on their relationship, on their city, and on life through Wallace: a rambunctious, energetic and complicated shelter dog who was transformed by love. And by life in New York City. REX AND THE CITY will resonate with everyone who has ever loved their four-legged friend. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to animal rescue organizations.