FTVM 355 Readings

Susan Murray — Radio and the Saliency of a Broadcast Star System

Early television inherited radio's formats, stars, and sponsorship model. Radio established how celebrity, advertising, and audience intimacy shaped broadcasting.

George Lipsitz — The Meaning of Memory

Early sitcoms used working-class and immigrant memories to help audiences adjust to postwar consumerism, suburbanization, and new family ideals.

Thomas Schatz — Desilu, I Love Lucy, and the Rise of Network TV

Desilu helped transform live TV into filmed entertainment. I Love Lucy demonstrated how filmed sitcoms, independent production, and syndication could generate profit.

Christopher Anderson — Disneyland

Disney used television to promote films, merchandise, and its theme park. This cross-promotion established corporate synergy, connecting entertainment with advertising.

Michael Curtin — The Turn Toward Documentary

Networks expanded documentaries to restore credibility and fulfill public-service expectations. Journalism and expertise made TV appear educational and democratically valuable.

Laurie Ouellette — Oasis of the Vast Wasteland

Criticism of popular television reflected elite class and cultural tastes. Reformers like Minow often treated mass audiences as incapable of choosing quality programming.

Allison Perlman — Slavery Before Roots

1960s slavery programs reflected Civil Rights debates. Commercial TV often favored nonviolent integration, while noncommercial TV offered stronger critiques of systemic racism.