Michael Massey – författare

This thorough and provocative account is an ideal resource book for students following courses in classical studies and classical civilisation.

This book - in the Inside the Ancient World series - is a concise illustrated treatment of the topic of slavery in ancient Rome, aimed at middle school students. It includes many citations of original sources and makes a good first introduction to this important aspect of the ancient world.The authors examine many of the crucial questions raised by the study of ancient slavery. What were the sources, in the Roman empire or on its fringes, for slaves? Once brought to Italy, how were they sold? How many were there in relation to the free population and to what extent was Rome dependent on them? Slaves were often highly educated and were valued member of private households, treated almost as family members. Others in mining, manufacture or gladiatorial schools could be brutalised. The attitudes of Roman Slave owners varied accordingly. Harsh treatment could lead to disastrous slave revolts, like that of Spartacus. On the other hand, slaves could ultimately be given or purchase freedom and, as freedman, even rose to high positions in the ‘civil service’ of the Emperors.

Graduate students of media studies have benefited from a variety of books on television genres, yet lower level students lack resources that focus specifically on TV drama. With this genre now dominating this area of study, it is important for students to have a text that investigates and analyzes individual dramas in detail. Studying TV Drama meets this need. Divided into ten chapters, this general introduction begins with the history of UK TV drama, with a specific section on shows broadcast in the U.S. The remaining nine chapters are case studies of specific TV dramas, addressing the significance of the dramatic mode in the development of the genre and in the history of '"television entertainment" in general; content and narrative structure; representation; dramatic style and form; and technical analysis (camera, sound, editing, mise-en-scène). Chosen case studies are very selective and focus on contemporary and continuing drama likely to be familiar to students (such as Dr. Who) as well as landmark productions (such as Bleak House). US drama as a particular mode is represented by the Hugh Laurie vehicle, House. The dramas selected also represent differences in production style, allowing for diverse analyses.Michael Massey served as head of media education at Southgate School and is a regular contributor toMediaMagazine.