Stories of Oprah : the Oprahfication of American culture

Stories of Oprah is a collection of essays that explores Oprah Winfrey's broad reach as an industry and media brand. Contributors analyze a number of topics touching on the ways in which her cultural output shapes contemporary America. The volume examines how Oprah has fashioned a persona--which emphasizes her rural, poverty-stricken roots over other factors--that helper her popularize her unique blend of New Age spirituality, neoliberal politics, and African American preaching. She packages New Age spirituality through the rhetoric of race, gender, and the black preacher tradition. Oprah's Book Club has reshaped literary publishing, bringing Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, and Cormac McCarthy to a broad number of readers. Her brand extends worldwide through the internet. In this volume, writers analyze her positions on teen sexuality, gender, race, and politics, and the impact of Winfrey's confessional mode on mainstream television news. The book also addresses twenty-first century issues, showing Winfrey's influence on how Americans and Europeans responded to 9/11, and how Harpo Productions created a deracialized film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's classic novel Their Eyes Were Watching God in 2005. Throughout, Stories of Oprah challenges readers to reflect on how Oprah the Industry has reshaped America's culture, history, and politics. Stories Of Oprah Explores Oprah Winfrey's Broad Reach As An Industry And Media Brand. Contributors Analyze A Number Of Topics Touching On The Ways In Which Her Cultural Output Shapes Contemporary America. The Volume Examines How Oprah Has Fashioned A Persona - Which Emphasizes Her Rural, Poverty-stricken Roots Over Other Factors - That Helps Her Popularize Her Unique Blend Of New Age Spirituality, Neoliberal Politics, And African American Preaching. Oprah's Book Club Has Reshaped Literary Publishing, Bringing Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, And Cormac Mccarthy To A Broad Number Of Readers. Her Brand Extends Worldwide Through The Internet. In This Volume Writers Analyze Her Positions On Teen Sexuality, Gender, Race, And Politics, And The Impact Of Winfrey's Confessional Mode On Mainstream Television News. Throughout, Stories Of Oprah Challenges Readers To Reflect On How Oprah The Industry Has Reshaped Americas Culture, History, And Politics.--book Jacket. Introduction : Delineating The Contours Of The Oprah Culture Industry / Kimberly Springer -- Oprah The Woman, Oprah The Empire. Beginnings With O / John Howard -- I'm Everywoman : Oprah Winfrey And Feminist Identification / Jennifer L. Rexroat -- New Age Soul : The Gendered Translation Of New Age Spirituality On The Oprah Winfrey Show / Karlyn Crowley -- Contesting The Oprah Experts. Post(ed)structuralism? : Oprah's Message Boards, Soul Stories, And The Everyday Lives Of Women / Sherra Schick -- Oprah Para Mujeres Chicanas : A Survey Of The Impact Of Oprah's Message On Chicanas / Adriana Katzew And Lilia De Katzew -- Confessions From At-risk Teens : Abstinence, The Social Construction Of Promiscuity, And The Oprah Winfrey Show / Katherine Gregory -- Oprah Goes To Africa : Philanthropic Consumption And Political (dis)engagement / Heather Laine Talley And Monica J. Casper -- The Oprahfication Of Media. Oprah And The New News / Kathleen Dixon And Kacie Jossart -- The Oprahfication Of 9/11 : September 11, The War In Iraq, And The Oprah Winfrey Show / Jaap Kooijman -- From The Nobel To Oprah : Toni Morrison, Body Politics, And Oprah's Book Club / Edith Frampton -- Lost In Translation : Irony And Contradiction In Harpo's Production Of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God / Trystan T. Cotten. Edited By Trystan T. Cotten And Kimberly Springer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 6 Introduction: Delineating the Contours of the Oprah Culture Industry 8 Part I. Oprah the Woman, Oprah the Empire 22 Chapter 1. Beginnings with O 24 Chapter 2. “I’m Everywoman”: Oprah Winfrey and Feminist Identification 40 Chapter 3. New Age Soul: The Gendered Translation of New Age Spirituality on The Oprah Winfrey Show 54 Part II. Contesting the Oprah Experts 70 Chapter 4. Post[ed]structuralism?: Oprah’s Message Boards, Soul Stories, and the Everyday Lives of Women 72 Chapter 5. Oprah para Mujeres Chicanas: A Survey of the Impact of Oprah’s Message on Chicanas 86 Chapter 6. Confessions from At-Risk Teens: Abstinence, the Social Construction of Promiscuity, and The Oprah Winfrey Show 106 Chapter 7. Oprah Goes to Africa: Philanthropic Consumption and Political (Dis)Engagement 120 Part III. The Oprahfication of Media 134 Chapter 8. Oprah and the New News 136 Chapter 9. The Oprahfication of 9/11: September 11, the War in Iraq, and The Oprah Winfrey Show 152 Chapter 10. From the Nobel to Oprah: Toni Morrison, Body Politics, and Oprah’s Book Club 166 Chapter 11. Lost in Translation: Irony and Contradiction in Harpo’s Production of Zora Neale Hurston’s: Their Eyes Were Watching God 182 Contributors 200 Index 204 A 204 B 204 C 204 D 205 E 205 F 206 G 206 H 206 I 206 J 206 K 206 L 206 M 206 N 207 O 207 P 207 R 208 S 208 T 208 U 208 V 208 W 209 Y 209 Z 209 9781604734072 Stories of Oprah is a collection of essays that explores Oprah Winfrey's broad reach as an industry and media brand. Contributors analyze a number of topics touching on the ways in which her cultural output shapes contemporary America. The volume examines how Oprah has fashioned a personawhich emphasizes her rural, poverty-stricken roots over other factorsthat helps her popularize her unique blend of New Age spirituality, neoliberal politics, and African American preaching. She packages New Age spirituality through the rhetoric of race, gender, and the black preacher tradition. Oprah's Book Club has reshaped literary publishing, bringing Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, and Cormac McCarthy to a broad number of readers. Her brand extends worldwide through the internet. In this volume writers analyze her positions on teen sexuality, gender, race, and politics, and the impact of Winfrey's confessional mode on mainstream television news. The book also addresses twenty-first-century issues, showing Winfrey's influence on how Americans and Europeans responded to 9/11, and how Harpo Productions created a deracialized film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's classic novel Their Eyes Were Watching God in 2005. Throughout, Stories of Oprah challenges readers to reflect on how Oprah the Industry has reshaped America's culture, history, and politics.