ABSTRACT
Is television harmful to children? Does it destroy imagination, provode delinquency and violence, undermine family life and have other detrimental effects on children?; The author, himself a parent, teacher and researcher investigates the complex ways in which children actively make meaning and take pleasure from television. Chapters cover the popular debates about children and television from a general and academic perspective. The characteristics of children's talk about television are explored, as children interact with other children and other family members in "family viewing" sessions.; Key concepts which inform children's talk about television are investigated i. e. genre, narrative, character, modality, and agency. Finally, conclusions are presented and issues outlined for further research.; Drawing on theories and ideas developed within media and cultural studies, English, education, psychology, sociology, linguistics and other related areas, this book will be useful to both students and teachers in the field, and to the general reader with an interest in children and the media.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part |36 pages
Part One
chapter |17 pages
Children and Television: The Context of Research and Debate
chapter |17 pages
Rethinking Television Literacy
part |91 pages
Part Two
chapter |3 pages
Making Sense of Television Talk
chapter |18 pages
What are Words Worth?: Interpreting Children's Talk about Television
chapter |42 pages
Talking about Television: Relations, Subjects and Contents
chapter |26 pages
Family Viewing: Text and Context
part |133 pages
Part Three
chapter |4 pages
Elements of Television Literacy
chapter |21 pages
Sorting Out TV: Categorization and Genre
chapter |28 pages
(Re)telling Stories: Versions of Narrative
chapter |33 pages
The Self and Others: Reading Television People
chapter |20 pages
Hidden Persuaders?: Advertising, Resistance and Pleasure
part |35 pages
Part Four