Living Without the Screen provides an in-depth study of those American families and individuals who opt not to watch television, exploring the reasons behind their choices, discussing their beliefs about television, and examining the current role of television in the American family. Author Marina Krcmar answers several questions in the volume: What is television? Who are those people who reject it? What are their reasons for doing so? How do they believe their lives are different because of this choice? What impact does this choice have on media research? This volume provides a current, distinctive, and important look at how personal choices on media use are made, and how these choices reflect more broadly on media’s place in today’s society. A compelling exploration of the motivations and rationales for those who choose to live without television, this book is a must-read for scholars and researchers working in children and media, media literacy, sociology, family studies and related areas. It will also be of interest to anyone with questions about media usage and the choices families make regarding the role of media in their lives.
Marina Krcmar is an Associate Professor in the Communication Department of Wake Forest University. Her research focuses on children, adolescents, and the media, and her most recent research has examined the effect of violent video games on adolescents and the role of media consumption in adolescent risk-taking.
Table of ContentsChapter PageAcknowledgementsPrefacePart I: Introduction and OverviewChapter 1 Living Without TelevisionChapter 2 Sample and MethodChapter 3 How Nonviewers Gave Up TelevisionChapter 4 Attitudes Toward Living Without Television Chapter 5 What is Television? Part II: Television as ContentChapter 6 Keeping Out Televised Sex and Violence Chapter 7 Minimizing Consumerism Chapter 8 Politics and Civic Engagement Part III: Television as MediumChapter 9 Autonomous Children Chapter 10 Time UseChapter 11 Encouraging Creativity Chapter 12 Engaging in Real LifePart IV: Television as IndustryChapter 13 Choosing to Be DifferentChapter 14 Battling the IndustryChapter 15 Conclusion