Reading Television

John Fiske was previously Professor of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.John Hartley is Dean of the Creative Industries Faculty at the Queensland Institute of Technology, Australia.

• General Editor’s Preface, Foreword: ‘Reading’ television studies, 1 ‘Reading’ television, 2 Content analysis, 3 The signs of television, 4 The codes of television, 5 The functions of television, 6 Bardic television, 7 Audiences, 8 The modes of television, 9 Dance, 10 Competition, 11 Television realism, 12 A policeman’s lot, Conclusion: something completely different?, References, Further Reading, Index

'This understanding of television is not a simple analysis but it is an extremely rich and convincing one. And in putting it forward the authors provide much of the necessary theory that anyone who wishes to challenge the role of the medium has to comprehend. You don't want to challenge that role? After reading Reading Television, you should do.' - Time Out