Investigating Charmed

Investigating Charmed
Author: Stan Beeler
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2007-11-28
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0857713647

In 1998, the series "Charmed", the story created by Constance M. Burge of three sisters who discover that they are powerful witches, first aired on the WB network. The series ran for eight series and into top-rating DVDs, and has established a continuing presence as cult TV. The world of "Charmed" is distinctively one of female solidarity, with sisters Piper, Prudence, Phoebe and, with the death of Pru, half-sister Paige making up the 'power of three'. In their crusade against the demonic population of their home city of San Francisco, the Halliwell sisters have also inherited their powers and "The Book of Shadows" through the female line. The expert contributors to "Investigating 'Charmed'", all of them fans of the show, explore its nature as ground breaking TV. They debate the status of "Charmed" as third wave feminist narrative, as well as its upturning of notions of sexuality, and its creation of alternative forms of family life. The San Francisco setting is explored as is "Charmed's" brand of witchcraft and fantasy, its mythological antecedents and female heroes. Looking also at the fans' relationship to the show, as well as its novelizations, fan fiction and blogs, the book on this fantastic magical show concludes with a complete Episode Guide.

Investigating Alias

Investigating Alias
Author: Stacey Abbott
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2007-06-29
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0857713639

First aired in 2001, "Alias" is a spy drama with a central action heroine, a complex narrative of moral twists, turns, lies and double-crosses, and an imaginative array of gadgets, gizmos and glamorous costumes. It has become a leading cult television series with a loyal fan following. In the wake of 9/11, "Alias'" themes of doubles and duplicity have been perfectly placed to comment on global relations and the personal paranoias of post 9/11 citizens. But as much as "Alias" reflects contemporary global politics, at its core are themes of family and relationships. The series is ending with a bang in 2006 and "Investigating "Alias"" is the first book to give a full and fascinating examination of the series in its entirety, with a complete episode guide. Placing the series within the wider context of American Quality Television and the spy genre, contributors consider the central role of family, race, gender and moral ambiguity in "Alias". They also focus on the creator of "Alias", JJ Abrams, and discuss the development and influence of the fan world beyond the series with in-depth studies of DVD releases, tie-in, fan and slash fiction. is the first book to give a full and fascinating examination of the series in its entirety, with a complete episode guide.

Investigating 'Charmed'

Investigating 'Charmed'
Author: Karin Elizabeth Beeler
Publisher:
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2007
Genre: Charmed (Television program)
ISBN: 9786000011536

In 1998, the series "Charmed", the story created by Constance M. Burge of three sisters who discover that they are powerful witches, first aired on the WB network. The series ran for eight series and into top-rating DVDs, and has established a continuing presence as cult TV. The world of "Charmed" is distinctively one of female solidarity, with sisters Piper, Prudence, Phoebe and, with the death of Pru, half-sister Paige making up the 'power of three'. In their crusade against the demonic population of their home city of San Francisco, the Halliwell sisters have also inheri.

Investigating Firefly and Serenity

Investigating Firefly and Serenity
Author: Rhonda Wilcox
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2008-07-30
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0857713663

Joss Whedon, probably the first recognised TV auteur, who brought us Buffy and Angel, is also the creator of the remarkable space Western "Firefly" and the major Firefly film "Serenity". "Firefly" ran for twelve hour-long episodes in 2002 before being cancelled by the network. But this premature burial had an extraordinary outcome: the fans - self-named Browncoats - just kept multiplying, buying the dvds, keeping the show alive with blogs, fan fiction, podcasts, their own films, meetings, conferences; their numbers increased when the major Firefly motion picture 'Serenity' was released in 2005.This book is the definitive one on both "Firefly" and "Serenity". It is ambitious, in-depth and comprehensive, covering all aspects, from detailed chapters on scenes and themes, through explorations of the music, the characters, actors and fans. It is written by over 20 of the best US and international Whedon scholars, tv and film critics and writers. It's the must-have book for followers of Whedon and his works and for students of quality and cult tv.

Investigating 'Farscape'

Investigating 'Farscape'
Author: Jes Battis
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2007-03-30
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0857713655

"My name is John Crichton. 'I'm lost'. An astronaut. Shot through a wormhole. In some distant part of the universe. 'I'm trying to stay alive'. Aboard this ship. 'This living ship'. Of escaped prisoners." During its fourth and - for the present - final season, "Farscape" was the Sci-Fi Channel's highest rated original series. With its dedicated fan-base, "Farscape" seasons are still top-billing Sci-Fi DVDs. This first proper analysis of the show, written by a scholar-fan, uncovers "Farscape's" layers and those of the living spaceship Moya. Jes Battis proposes that "Farscape" is as much about bodies, sex and gender, as it is about wormholes, space ships and interstellar warfare. It is this straddling of genres that makes the show so viewable to such a broad audience, of which almost half are women. He explores "Farscape's" language and characters, including Moya, its creation of 'family and home', of masculinity and femininity, and the transformation of an all-American boy.

Edgar G. Ulmer

Edgar G. Ulmer
Author: Gary D. Rhodes
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2009
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9780739125687

Edgar G. Ulmer: Detour on Poverty Row examines the full scope of the career of this often overlooked film auteur, with essays exploring individual films, groups of films (such as his important work in film noir), repetitive themes appearing across the spectrum of his work, and a case study of three essays analyzing The Black Cat (1934).

TV Goes to Hell

TV Goes to Hell
Author: Stacey Abbott
Publisher: ECW Press
Total Pages: 346
Release: 2011-10
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1770900349

As a natural heir to the hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural has risen to prominence with a strong cult following, and this series of essays from contributors around the globe investigates the genre-bending series cultural footprint both in the United States and abroad. The writings explore topics such as folklore, religion, gender and sexuality, comedy, music, and much more, and a brief guide to all the episodes is also included. Supernatural follows brothers Dean and Sam Winchester as they encounter and battle evil beings such as vampires, shapeshifters, ghouls, and ghosts from a multitude of genres including folklore, urban legends, and religious history.

The Essential Cult TV Reader

The Essential Cult TV Reader
Author: David Lavery
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Total Pages: 507
Release: 2021-09-15
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0813181496

The Essential Cult TV Reader is a collection of insightful essays that examine television shows that amass engaged, active fan bases by employing an imaginative approach to programming. Once defined by limited viewership, cult TV has developed its own identity, with some shows gaining large, mainstream audiences. By exploring the defining characteristics of cult TV, The Essential Cult TV Reader traces the development of this once obscure form and explains how cult TV achieved its current status as legitimate television. The essays explore a wide range of cult programs, from early shows such as Star Trek, The Avengers, Dark Shadows, and The Twilight Zone to popular contemporary shows such as Lost, Dexter, and 24, addressing the cultural context that allowed the development of the phenomenon. The contributors investigate the obligations of cult series to their fans, the relationship of camp and cult, the effects of DVD releases and the Internet, and the globalization of cult TV. The Essential Cult TV Reader answers many of the questions surrounding the form while revealing emerging debates on its future.

Lights, Camera, Witchcraft

Lights, Camera, Witchcraft
Author: Heather Greene
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2021-10-08
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 0738768804

Follow the Witch Through Decades of American Entertainment Deviant mistress of the dark arts. Goddess worshipper dancing in the moonlight. Crystal-wielding bookworm with a black hat and broom. We recognize the witch because no industry has been quite so influential in shaping our vision of her as Hollywood. This comprehensive book delves into the fascinating history of witchcraft and witches in American film and television. From Joan the Woman and The Wizard of Oz to Carrie and Charmed, author and film scholar Heather Greene explores how these movies and TV shows helped influence the public image of the witch and profoundly affected how women negotiate their power in a patriarchal society. Greene presents more than two hundred examples spanning silent reels to present-day blockbusters. As you travel through each decade, you'll discover compelling insights into the intersection of entertainment, critical theory, gender studies, and spirituality.