Television: Technology and Cultural Form

Television: Technology and Cultural Form was first published in 1974, long before the dawn of multi-channel TV, or the reality and celebrity shows that now pack the schedules. Yet Williams' analysis of television's history, its institutions, programmes and practices, and its future prospects, remains remarkably prescient. Williams stresses the importance of technology in shaping the cultural form of television, while always resisting the determinism of McLuhan's dictum that 'the medium is the message'. If the medium really is the message, Williams asks, what is left for us to do or say? Williams argues that, on the contrary, we as viewers have the power to disturb, disrupt and to distract the otherwise cold logic of history and technology — not just because television is part of the fabric of our daily lives, but because new technologies continue to offer opportunities, momentarily outside the sway of transnational corporations or the grasp of media moguls, for new forms of self and political expression.

Details

Keywords

Television

Type

Book

Place of publication

New York City

Publisher

Routledge

Year

2003

Number of pages

172 pages

Language

English

ISBN

9780415314565

Open stacks or available on request

Open stacks

Illustrations

No

Bibliography

Yes

UDC code and author sign

701.17 Wil

Volumes

1

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