Thinking outside the box : a contemporary television genre reader

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From the Western and sitcom to game shows and reality series, genre has been central to television's identity since the 1940s. This anthology gathers significant scholarship on television genres, examining their origins, evolution, and influence by creators, networks, and viewers. While earlier scholarship viewed television genre as static, this work highlights the malleable and reflective nature of various programs. It begins with a historical and theoretical overview, exploring how genres shape national popular culture. The authors delve into less-studied genres like cartoons, soap operas, and talk shows, emphasizing their critical roles in American society. The book also addresses the blending of genres in recent years, with examples like American Idol and The Osbournes showcasing hybrid programming and the intuitive nature of genre. It concludes with an exploration of American television's global reach and its impact on genre patterns worldwide. This resource is vital for understanding television's past and future, focusing on genre as a significant process in the TV industry's development. With an epilogue serving as a bibliographic guide for further study, the book argues for the importance of genre in media studies, identifying historical continuities and envisioning future trends in television genres.