Reading Television

by John Fiske, John Hartley, John Fiske

Book Overview

Reading Television was the first book to push the boundaries of television studies beyond the insights offered by cultural studies and textual analysis, creating a vibrant new field of study. Using the tools and techniques in this book, it is possible for everyone with a television set to analyze both the programmes, and the culture which produces them.
In this edition, Hartley reflects on recent developments in television studies, and includes...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415323533
• ISBN13: 9780415323536
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 3.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Contribution to Media Literacy

Semiotics is the scientific study of signs. In reading television, one must consider such factors as manifest and latent meanings, source, intended audiences, sponsorship, scheduling, genre, cast, plot, technical aspects, and myriad other variables that all have a bearing on the way a given program will potentially be interpreted by viewers. Reading television is complex. This book provides the terms and the overview of attributing meaning to television content.One should not feel overwhelmed in attempting to understand television, however, as life itself has its own complexities. "Reality is itself a complex system of signs interpreted by members of the culture in exactly the same way as are film or television programmes," the authors write. This book helps you to gain an understanding you would not otherwise have of a ubiquitous medium.