| Talk on Television: Audience Participation and Public Debate Contributor(s): Livingstone, Sonia (Author), Lunt, Peter (Author) |
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ISBN: 0415077389 ISBN-13: 9780415077385 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $44.60 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: December 1993 Annotation: "Talk on Television" examines the value and significance of televised public debate, at a time when everyday conversation is increasingly dependent on television. At the same time, more people are are making appearances on these shows to discuss their personal lives and social issues. Analyzing a wide range of programs including "Donohue" and "Oprah Winfrey," the authors draw on interviews with both studio participants and home viewers. Their work, the first audience study of this type of programming, addresses not only a growing genre of media previously ignored, but also points towards contemporary debates in social theory. Livingstone and Lunt ask how the media manages these discussion programs, and whether they are truly providing new "spaces" for the participants. They learn how audiences interpret seeing themselves on the shows, analyze the contribution made by "experts," and unravel the conventions--debate, romance and therapy--that make up the genres. Through this, they consider television's function as a medium of education and information, finally discussing the dangers and opportunities the genre holds for both audience participation and public debate in the future. "Talk on Television" asks questions and presents evidence regarding the active audience, public participation, the significance of public discourse, and the role of the mass-media in the public sphere. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Media Studies |
| Dewey: 302.234 |
| LCCN: 93-15440 |
| Series: Communication & Society (Paperback) |
| Physical Information: 0.69" H x 6.15" W x 9.22" (0.73 lbs) 216 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Not only is everyday conversation increasingly dependent on television, but more and more people are appearing on television to discuss social and personal issues. Is any public good served by these programmes or are they simply trashy entertainment which fills the schedules cheaply? Talk on Television examines the value and significance of televised public debate. Analysing a wide range of programmes including Kilroy, Donohue and The Oprah Winfrey Show, the authors draw on interviews with both the studio participants and with those watching at home. They ask how the media manage discussion programmes and whether the programmes really are providing new 'spaces' for public participators. They find out how audiences interpret the programmes when they appear on the screen themselves, and they unravel the conventions - debate, romance, therapy - which make up the genre. They also consider TV's function as a medium of education and information, finally discussing the dangers and opportunities the genre holds for audience participation and public debate in the future. |