The Soap Opera Paradigm: Television Programming and Corporate Priorities / Edition 1

by James H. Wittebols

Overview

The Soap Opera Paradigm is an engaging look at the pervasive use of daytime soap opera storytelling techniques in most television program genres, from prime time soap operas and reality shows to the nightly news, coverage of political campaigns, and sports programming. Drawing from a wealth of research, James Wittebols shows how programming techniques have changed over time and what roles media concentration and commercial influences have played in these changes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742520028
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.96(h) x 0.53(d)

About the Author

James H. Wittebols is professor of communication studies at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Acknowledgements Chapter 2 Introduction Part 3 Part I The Soap Opera Paradigm and the Television Industry Chapter 4 1 The Evolution of the Television Industry Chapter 5 2 The Soap Opera as Commodity Form Chapter 6 3 The WWE: Machismo, Melodrama, and Money Part 7 Part II Soap Opera Storytelling in News Chapter 8 4 The Evolution of the ABC and CBS News Divisions Chapter 9 5 TV News: The Show's the Thing Chapter 10 6 Floods of Tears: Natural Disasters in the News Chapter 11 7 All My Primaries: Political Campaigns and Television News Part 12 Part III Soap Opera: The Godzilla Genre Chapter 13 8 Prime Time Storytelling Chapter 14 9 Reality TV: "This is Just Like a Soap" Chapter 15 10 A Little Soap with Your Sports? Chapter 16 Conclusion Chapter 17 References

Editorial Reviews

Wittebol's analysis is sound and well documented. Recommended.

Choice

The Soap Opera Paradigm shows precisely how media conglomeration has changed the forms and content of television's stories, whether fact or fiction. By grafting the assumptions and concerns of serial melodramas on to everything from the nightly news to episodic series in prime time, media conglomerates protect their bottom lines and build brand loyalty while championing a mindset that is overly simplified, highly emotional, and antidemocratic. Wittebols deftly integrates qualitative and quantitative methods with political economy and cultural studies to produce an insightful and engaging account of the serious problems created by deregulation, transindustrial conglomeration, and the melodramatization of television.

Eileen R. Meehan

The Soap Opera Paradigm ranks among the most important works in media studies in a generation. It will be a defining work for the field. Wittebols has methodically documented and brilliantly analyzed major trends in commercial media content, linking them to media structures and assessing their disturbing implications. The Soap Opera Paradigm will be mandatory reading in my classes and will be an invaluable guide to me in my research. I give this book an unconditional recommendation.

Robert W. McChesney

Wittebol's analysis is sound and well documented. Recommended.

Choice Reviews

Wittebol's analysis is sound and well documented. Recommended.

CHOICE