Sensing the City Through Television : Urban Identities in Fictional Drama

Annotation How do fictional representations of the city contribute to our sense of identity? Does this feed back into how we see cities and their cultures? This in-depth analysis with five case studies provides the basis for a critique on the political, sociological and cultural implications of this strand of popular programming. The book features: Queer as Folk The Cops Holding On Homicide-Life on the Street Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Each programme is discussed in terms of structure, content, characterisation, and narrative, and each is placed within a specific ideological context. The case studies represent a broad range of British and American cities and city sub-cultures, while the book draws on the author's exclusive interviews with Tony Garnett, Tony Marchant, and David Snodin. The author further extends his analysis to investigate the intrinsic issues related to the implications of popular and high drama and culture. As one of the first substantial investigations of the city in television drama, this book reflects and contributes to a growing general interest in the politics of representation. This is suitable for accommodation into the popular academic courses on drama and film/media studies both as a textbook and for supplementary reading Front Cover......Page 1 Preliminaries......Page 2 Contents......Page 4 Acknowledgements......Page 5 Sensing the City – Navigating a Journey An Introduction......Page 6 Viewing positions and audiences......Page 7 The Geo-ideological......Page 9 Dramatic Value and Dramatic Realism......Page 10 The Five Case-study Dramas......Page 14 Notes......Page 20 1. Policing the Imagination Tony Garnett’s ‘The Cops’......Page 22 ‘The Cops’ – Series One......Page 24 PC Danny Rylance......Page 32 WPC Natalie Metcalf......Page 34 DC Alan Wakefield......Page 38 ‘The Cops’ – Series Two......Page 41 WPC Amanda Kennett......Page 49 PC Jaz Chundhara, PC Roy Brammell, Karim Ifraz......Page 57 Notes......Page 63 2. The City as a Site of Redemptive Struggle Tony Marchant’s ‘Holding On’......Page 64 Shaun and Gary......Page 66 Florrie, Janet, Chris and Marcus......Page 79 Lloyd and Hilary......Page 84 Claire, Sally, Brenda and Annie......Page 87 Helen and Zahid......Page 93 3. The Fabled City The San Francisco of Armistead Maupin’s ‘Tales of the City’......Page 98 Anna Madrigal......Page 99 Mary Ann Singleton......Page 104 Michael and Mona......Page 111 Tales and More Tales......Page 120 Note......Page 123 4. A Manchester Heterotopia? - ‘Queer as Folk’......Page 124 Queer as Sequinned Space......Page 125 Stuart Alan Jones......Page 128 Vince Tyler......Page 136 Nathan Maloney......Page 145 Happy Families?......Page 152 Notes......Page 161 5. ‘Homicide – Life on the Street’......Page 162 602. Blood Ties (2)......Page 164 604. Birthday......Page 168 606. Saigon Rose......Page 171 607. The Subway......Page 175 608. All is Bright......Page 177 612. Something Sacred......Page 180 Notes......Page 183 Policing the Centre from the Boundary......Page 184 Liberation, Assimilation or Confrontation? Queering City Spaces......Page 187 Sensing the City – more than just Holding On?......Page 191 Notes......Page 192 Back Cover - Book Description......Page 193

How do fictional representations of the city contribute to our sense of identity?  Does this feed back into how we see cities and their cultures?

 

This in-depth analysis with five case studies provides the basis for a critique on the political, sociological and cultural implications of this strand of popular programming.  The book features:

Queer as Folk

The Cops

Holding On

Homicide-Life on the Street

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City

 

Each programme is discussed in terms of structure, content, characterisation, and narrative, and each is placed within a specific ideological context.  The case studies represent a broad range of British and American cities and city sub-cultures, while the book draws on the author's exclusive interviews with Tony Garnett, Tony Marchant, and David Snodin.

 

The author further extends his analysis to investigate the intrinsic issues related to the implications of popular and high drama and culture.

 

As one of the first substantial investigations of the city in television drama, this book reflects and contributes to a growing general interest in the politics of representation.  This is suitable for accommodation into the popular academic courses on drama and film/media studies both as a textbook and for supplementary reading.

An investigation of the fictional representations of the city in contemporary British and American television drama, assessing their political, sociological and cultural implications. The book draws on the following five key case studies for specific and detailed analysis:

* Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City
* Homicide & Life on the Street
* Queer as Folk
* The Cops
* Holding On

Each is discussed in terms of structure, content, characterisation and narrative, and each is placed within its specific ideological context. The case studies are intended to represent an interesting range of British and American cities and city sub-cultures. The author extends his analysis to investigate the intrinsic issues related to the implications of popular and high drama and culture.

This study includes exclusive interviews with the writers and directors of some of the series discussed. This new material provides new insights into the intended presentations of "city" identities for the television. As one of the first substantial investigations of the city in television drama, this book reflects and contributes to a growing general interest in the politics of representation. It is also designed for accommodation into the very popular academic courses on drama and in film and media studies: as a textbook and for supplementary reading.

An investigation of the fictional representations of the city in contemporary British and American television drama, assessing their political, sociological and cultural implications. The book draws on the following five key case studies for specific and detailed analysis: * Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City * Homicide & Life on the Street * Queer as Folk * The Cops * Holding On Each is discussed in terms of structure, content, characterisation and narrative, and each is placed within its specific ideological context. The case studies are intended to represent an interesting range of British and American cities and city sub-cultures. The author extends his analysis to investigate the intrinsic issues related to the implications of popular and high drama and culture. This study includes exclusive interviews with the writers and directors of some of the series discussed. This new material provides new insights into the intended presentations of "city" identities for the television. As one of the first substantial investigations of the city in television drama, this book reflects and contributes to a growing general interest in the politics of representation. It is also designed for accommodation into the very popular academic courses on drama and in film and media studies: as a textbook and for supplementary reading. A British guide to the business side of scriptwriting for television, cinema, and the radio. topics include outlines, pitching one's work, rewriting, ratings and audience research, agents, handling meetings, negotiating contracts, and protecting intellectual property. Although specifics are presented from a British standpoint, some of the generalities of this work may be of interest to American readers. Distributed by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR This is an investigation of the fictional representations of the city in contemporary British and American television drama, assessing their political, sociological and cultural implications. It draws on five key case studies, analyzing the structure, content, characterisation and narrative, and placing each within its specific ideological context.