Reading Television (New Accents)

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Summary: Contribution to Media Literacy
Review: Semiotics is the scientific study of signs. In reading television, one must consider such factors as manifest and latent meanings, source, intended audiences, sponsorship, scheduling, genre, cast, plot, technical aspects, and myriad other variables that all have a bearing on the way a given program will potentially be interpreted by viewers. Reading television is complex. This book provides the terms and the overview of attributing meaning to television content.

One should not feel overwhelmed in attempting to understand television, however, as life itself has its own complexities. "Reality is itself a complex system of signs interpreted by members of the culture in exactly the same way as are film or television programmes," the authors write. This book helps you to gain an understanding you would not otherwise have of a ubiquitous medium.