Watching TV Is Not Required

"McGrane and Gunderson have put together an extraordinarily provocative stream of sociologically inspired responses to television. Nothing could be more "relevant" to students, and in the right hands, this is a resource for a learning experience that at once maximizes critical and creative thinking. McGrane and Gunderson give new life to sociological thinking." Jack Katz, Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles "A proper companion for a course in intellectual self-defense, this book guides the reader through an intense contemplation of our cultures most popular form of meditation: watching TV. McLuhan, Huxley, and Postman inform this firmly grounded exploration of the everyday manipulations which we happily invite into our lives. Why is the television so powerful? Because we think its not." Terri L. Anderson, Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles "Here's a delightful kiss to break the enchantment that TV has held over our lives for too longor maybe a bracing slap. In any event, what an important and powerful book." Bill McKibbin, author, Deep Economy "McGrane and Gunderson have put together an extraordinarily provocative stream of sociologically inspired responses to television. Nothing could be more "relevant" to students, and in the right hands, this is a resource for a learning experience that at once maximizes critical and creative thinking. McGrane and Gunderson give new life to sociological thinking."Jack Katz, Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles

Barney McGrane has a huge following among lower-division sociology instructors in North America. Barney has taught literally thousands of students at UCLA, UC Irvine, Pitzer, Colby College, and now Chapman University during his career. He is a mesmerizing teacher. John Gunderson has a Ph.D in education from Claremont Graduate School and was named "outstanding masters student of the year" from Chapman University. He teaches as an adjunct at Chapman University

1. TV: Our Third Parent 2. UN-TV: You Are What You Watch 3. TV Is a Place Where We Live 4. Consumerism TV 5. Relationship TV 6. Childrens TV: Sat A.M. Ghetto 7. Mirror TV: Looking Glass Self 8. No TV and Meditation TV