Jonathan Gray is Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University. His research and publications examine television and film textuality, audiences, and entertainment´s contribution to the public sphere.
Using our favourite Springfield family as a case study, Watching with The Simpsons examines the textual and social role of parody in offering critical commentary on other television programs and genres.
Jonathan Gray brings together textual theory, discussions of television and the public sphere, and ideas of parody and comedy. Including primary audience research, it focuses on how The Simpsons has been able to talk back to three of television´s key genres - the sitcom, adverts and the news - and on how it holds the potential to short-circuit these genre´s meanings, power, and effects by provoking reinterpretations and offering more media literate recontextualizations.
Examining television and media studies theory, the text of The Simpsons, and the show´s audience, Gray attempts to fully situate the show´s parody and humour within the lived realities of its audiences. In doing so, he further explores the possibilities for popular entertainment television to discuss issues of political and social importance.
A must read for any student of media studies.
|
This is a unique text in it's field which covers four of TV's key genres
Covers apopular tv series that is constantly on repeat in the UK and US
Bright new scholar
Part 1: Reading Through Intertextuality 1. Intertextuality and the Study of Texts Part 2: Watching with the Simpsons 2. Domesticom Parody, Genre, and Critical Intertextuality 3. Ad Parody and The Logic of Television 4. News Parody and the Public Sphere Part 3: Talking with the Simpsons 5. Parody and/as Interpretive Community 6 `The Simpsons Attitude´ Conclusion
'essential reading for fan and academic alike.' - The Velvet Light Trap
Using our favourite Springfield family as a case study, Watching with The Simpsons examines the textual and social role of parody in offering critical commentary on other television programs and genres.
Klappentext
Using our favorite Springfield family as a case study," Watching with The Simpsons examines the textual and social role of parody in offering critical commentary on other television programs and genres.
In this book, Jonathan Gray brings together textual theory, discussions of television and the public sphere, and ideas of parody and comedy. As a study, including primary audience research, it focuses on how "The Simpsons has been able to talk back to three of television's key genres - the sitcom, ads, and the news - and on how it holds the potential to short-circuit these genre's meanings, power, and effects by provoking reinterpretations and offering more media literate recontextualizations.
Through examining television and media studies theory, the text of "The Simpsons, and the show's audience, Gray attempts to fully situate the show's parodic humor within the lived realities of its audiences. In doing so, he further explores the possibilities for popular entertainment television -and particularly comedy- to discuss issues of political and social importance.
