Michael Samuel – författare

This book explores the role of heritage in contemporary British visual culture through an analysis of a selection of British factual television series.Despite being the most popular genre on British and American television since the late-2000s, factual entertainment is often dismissed for its triviality. As such, it has been left out of discussions concerned with visual depictions of British heritage onscreen, which are typically reserved for costume dramas. This book explores television’s relationship with contemporary nostalgic culture, examining Britain’s relationship with its past, its heritage, and its identity. Focusing on a cross-section of factual television programmes, from talent shows and cooking competitions to children’s television and national live sporting events, the author argues that they not only explicitly reflect the socio-political context and nostalgic culture in Britain in the decade following the 2008 financial crisis but have also been instrumental in shaping it.Proposing a new subgenre of factual entertainment – factual heritage television – this book will be a must-read for scholars and students in television studies, popular culture, history and heritage studies, cultural studies and media studies.

This book explores the role of heritage in contemporary British visual culture through an analysis of a selection of British factual television series.Despite being the most popular genre on British and American television since the late-2000s, factual entertainment is often dismissed for its triviality. As such, it has been left out of discussions concerned with visual depictions of British heritage onscreen, which are typically reserved for costume dramas. This book explores television's relationship with contemporary nostalgic culture, examining Britain's relationship with its past, its heritage, and its identity. Focusing on a cross-section of factual television programmes, from talent shows and cooking competitions to children's television and national live sporting events, the author argues that they not only explicitly reflect the socio-political context and nostalgic culture in Britain in the decade following the 2008 financial crisis but have also been instrumental in shaping it.Proposing a new subgenre of factual entertainment - factual heritage television - this book will be a must-read for scholars and students in television studies, popular culture, history and heritage studies, cultural studies and media studies.

This book explores the role of heritage in contemporary British visual culture through an analysis of a selection of British factual television series.Despite being the most popular genre on British and American television since the late-2000s, factual entertainment is often dismissed for its triviality. As such, it has been left out of discussions concerned with visual depictions of British heritage onscreen, which are typically reserved for costume dramas. This book explores television's relationship with contemporary nostalgic culture, examining Britain's relationship with its past, its heritage, and its identity. Focusing on a cross-section of factual television programmes, from talent shows and cooking competitions to children's television and national live sporting events, the author argues that they not only explicitly reflect the socio-political context and nostalgic culture in Britain in the decade following the 2008 financial crisis but have also been instrumental in shaping it.Proposing a new subgenre of factual entertainment - factual heritage television - this book will be a must-read for scholars and students in television studies, popular culture, history and heritage studies, cultural studies and media studies.

Throughout its limited run beginning in 2014, the HBO series True Detective has presented viewers with unique takes on the American crime drama on television, marked by literary and cinematic influences, heavyweight performances, and an experimental approach to the genre. At times celebrated and opposed, the series has ignited a range of ongoing critical conversations about representations of gender, depictions of place, and narrative forms. True Detective: Critical Essays on the HBO Series includes a breadth of scholarly chapters that cross disciplinary boundaries, interrogate a range of topics, and ultimately promise to further contribute to critical debates surrounding the series.

When Northern Exposure first aired on television in 1990, viewers were introduced to the small fictional town of Cicely, Alaska, and its quirky yet endearing citizens. During its run, Northern Exposure received critical acclaim, winning two Peabody Awards, seven Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes. Though the show was cancelled after six seasons, it has had a profound impact on contemporary television.In Northern Exposure: A Cultural History, Michael Samuel revisits the cult television series and celebrates its legacy, from its surreal narrative to its diverse onscreen representations. Covering the show’s production history, characters, individual episodes, fan culture, and critical response, Samuel reveals Northern Exposure’s wide cultural impact during its time on air and ever since. Complete with an exploration of the town where the series was shot and a comprehensive guide to all 110 episodes, Northern Exposure: A Cultural History is the perfect companion to this classic series. A fascinating and accessible retrospective, this book recalls a cultural moment in American television defined by a series that wasn’t afraid to push boundaries.

This book is an interdisciplinary collection exploring the impact of emergent technologies on the production, distribution and reception of media content in the Asia-Pacific region. Exploring case studies from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand and Australia, as well as American co-productions, this collection takes a Cultural Studies approach to the constantly evolving ways of accessing and interacting with visual content. The study of the social and technological impact of online on-demand services is a burgeoning field of investigation, dating back to the early-2010s. This project will be a valuable update to existing conversations, and a cornerstone for future discussions about topics such as online technologies, popular culture, soft power, and social media.

This book is an interdisciplinary collection exploring the impact of emergent technologies on the production, distribution and reception of media content in the Asia-Pacific region. Exploring case studies from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand and Australia, as well as American co-productions, this collection takes a Cultural Studies approach to the constantly evolving ways of accessing and interacting with visual content. The study of the social and technological impact of online on-demand services is a burgeoning field of investigation, dating back to the early-2010s. This project will be a valuable update to existing conversations, and a cornerstone for future discussions about topics such as online technologies, popular culture, soft power, and social media.

What is television’s capacity to elicit empathy?This book, Television and Empathy, brings together responses from a range of international scholars and interdisciplinary approaches.Television’s serialised form, ensemble casts and depth of storytelling has long granted viewers extended access to a diversity of perspectives. Meanwhile, interactive online technologies and platforms increasingly promise more personal and collective relationships with the small screen than ever before. With chapters exploring series from the UK and US, Australia, Iceland, Netherlands, South Korea and Spain, this cutting-edge collection responds to this juncture of television and affective theory.This collection is essential reading for upper undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers working in screen studies and audience studies, cognitive media theory, digital and cultural studies and psychology

What is television’s capacity to elicit empathy?This book, Television and Empathy, brings together responses from a range of international scholars and interdisciplinary approaches.Television’s serialised form, ensemble casts and depth of storytelling has long granted viewers extended access to a diversity of perspectives. Meanwhile, interactive online technologies and platforms increasingly promise more personal and collective relationships with the small screen than ever before. With chapters exploring series from the UK and US, Australia, Iceland, Netherlands, South Korea and Spain, this cutting-edge collection responds to this juncture of television and affective theory.This collection is essential reading for upper undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers working in screen studies and audience studies, cognitive media theory, digital and cultural studies and psychology