Cult Television

Rating:
Summary: A most admirable trek through cult TV studies
Review: This book is an insightful, and enjoyable, introduction to studies in cult television. This collection of writings deals with shows such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Star Trek," "Doctor Who" and other series central to the genre. One of the strengths of this book is that most essays, while usually attached to a specific television series, are presented in such a '"transparent" style that the reader still benefits from insight without necessarily being familiar with the individual series serving as an illustration of theory/ history given in the essay.
The book begins (after an excellent introduction penned by both editors) with the tradition of "French dressing," namely an academic, hyper-metaphysically abstract essay by a French author. The reader may do well to enter into the book by initially skipping this one and starting instead with
Sara Gwenllian-Jones' " Virtual Reality and Cult Television." Her essay is a quietly (read: somewhat academic) yet vital and enthusiastic exploration of the immersive nature central to the cult television experience.
Several essays deal with cult TV fandom. Each affirms the positive profile of those of us who share that kind of social awareness made manifest by means of our profound love of fantasy and play.

Rating:
Summary: A most admirable trek through cult TV studies
Review: This book is an insightful, and enjoyable, introduction to studies in cult television. This collection of writings deals with shows such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Star Trek," "Doctor Who" and other series central to the genre. One of the strengths of this book is that most essays, while usually attached to a specific television series, are presented in such a '"transparent" style that the reader still benefits from insight without necessarily being familiar with the individual series serving as an illustration of theory/ history given in the essay.
The book begins (after an excellent introduction penned by both editors) with the tradition of "French dressing," namely an academic, hyper-metaphysically abstract essay by a French author. The reader may do well to enter into the book by initially skipping this one and starting instead with
Sara Gwenllian-Jones' " Virtual Reality and Cult Television." Her essay is a quietly (read: somewhat academic) yet vital and enthusiastic exploration of the immersive nature central to the cult television experience.
Several essays deal with cult TV fandom. Each affirms the positive profile of those of us who share that kind of social awareness made manifest by means of our profound love of fantasy and play.